Is marriage of a Hindu man to a Muslim woman crime in India?

Need to take a hard stand or dump Secularism forever

The definition of secularism, as per western schools of thought, is one and simple - a doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations or a permanent separation between religion and the state. But the same is completely missing in the Indian context at the moment where it has become more synonymous with capitulation to Islamic fundamentalism and minorityism. Myriad instances are there to prove this latest chronicle but none can put it across better than a marriage between a Hindu and Muslim. If the groom is Muslim and bride is Hindu, it’s the perfect sort of secularism but the reverse is communal indisputably.  And this alleged antithesis has become synonymous with the lot of Sandip Sarkar and his wife Nasima Yasmin who married on November 21, 2010 and authenticated in the “Special Marriage Act” on December 28, 2010.

While Sandip resides in village Salash, Tapan, P.S. Tapan, Nasima was living in Asharubasti, P.S. Chopra (both in District: South Dinajpur, Bengal) and all problems, including harassments and life threats, started once Sandip brought his wife to his ancestral residence. A complaint of kidnap has already been filed by Nasima’s parents while two MLAs, votaries of distorted secularism, Hamidur Rehman, independent MLA supported by Congress of Chopra and Bacchu Hansda, Trinamool Congress MLA of Tapan, are leaving no stone unturned to meddle in this private affair.

Nasima is courageous enough to face all these onrushes and has already complaint of a conspiracy between her parents and politicians to terminate the marriage, done by her willfully and devoid of any external pressure. As per Nasima, Bacchu Hansda had convinced her some days back to return forever and he retreated only when she threatened to commit self-annihilation. But Hamidur Rehman is more stubborn and is gnashing his teeth as a Muslim lady has married a Hindu and agrees to live as a Hindu. He has stated clearly that Sandip has got to prove his legal marriage and then a solution can be accomplished.

The newly married couple is living in abject fear of losing life and so, Sandip, working in a private mobile company in Siliguri, can’t think to go to his office even. Albeit Nasima has contacted West Bengal Commission for Women and Sm. Jyotsna Agarwal, member of the Commission, has assured that pertinent measures will be adopted fast after talking with the Chairperson, the fear refuses to die down.

Can this despair of Sandip and Nasima brought to an end? Is India for momins only?