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The pandemic of Corona (COVID-19) reigned like a terror for a long time, claiming the lives of millions across the world. The coronavirus acted as an invisible demon that humanity had to fight against. It spread through contact with infected or affected individuals. A healthy person coming into proximity with an infected patient contracted the disease. People were forced to remain confined to their homes and maintain a safe distance from others suspected of being affected by the disease.
This invisible enemy led governments and public authorities to make it mandatory for people to use masks to protect themselves and curb the spread of the virus. This measure continued as a preventive approach until an effective vaccine or antidote was developed. The Government of India popularized the slogan, “Jab tak dawai nahi, tab tak dhilai nahi”, meaning that until effective medicine was invented, there should be no relaxation in adhering to government measures to control the disease. The entire world waited for the invention of an effective vaccine or medicine to prevent its spread. This approach reflected the timeless saying, “Prevention is better than cure.” Preventing the disease spared people from suffering, as treatment was often painful. Thus, it was always better to avoid the menace rather than waiting to treat it after becoming affected.
The Demand for a Uniform Civil Code
In recent years, many people in India have been calling for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for all citizens, irrespective of differences in religious faith. The demand stems from the perception among sections of the majority community that minority groups governed by personal laws enjoy certain preferential benefits unavailable to the majority. The intention behind this demand is to remove such specific privileges granted under personal laws. Instead, proponents argue that minority communities should be brought under the ambit of the nation’s common laws, which apply to the majority community.
They believe that enforcing a uniform law for all citizens in a democratic country—where everyone enjoys the same democratic rights—is a fair approach. From an equity perspective, those availing equal democratic rights should also bear equal responsibilities and obligations under the nation’s laws. It seems unjust for individuals to claim equal rights while evading general civil laws by taking refuge under personal laws. In developed countries in the West, there is no provision for separate laws based on religious faith. However, in India, constitutional experts chose to recognize personal laws over common national laws, citing religious faith as the basis.
This policy, referred to metaphorically as planting the “seed of the poison tree” (Bishbriksher Beej), was introduced over seven decades ago and has now grown into a massive issue. A significant portion of the population, particularly from the majority community, is demanding that this tree be uprooted by implementing a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens, regardless of their religion.
Can a Uniform Civil Code Bring Equity?
The question arises: will a Uniform Civil Code truly bring equity to the country? Will it address the threats posed by Islamic fundamentalism propagated by some Islamic scholars in India and their foreign supporters in various Islamic countries? The straightforward answer is “No.”
In the current Indian context, the absence of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is an issue but not the most pressing one. Imposing a UCC alone cannot achieve significant progress for the nation. The more urgent problem is the rising tide of intolerance and Islamophobia, which is not only burning the Middle East and the West but also becoming a growing threat to India’s unity, integrity, and harmony. Non-Muslim communities in the Indian subcontinent suffer from the intolerance and hatred propagated by fundamentalist Muslim groups. This undermines Indian society’s safety and security, much like termites that slowly destroy a house.
Thus, the real need of the hour is not a Uniform Civil Code but a Uniform Education System. Islamic fundamentalism in India finds its roots in the education provided in minority-run madrasahs. While a UCC might provide temporary and localized relief, it cannot address the deeper, systemic issues. Only a uniform, liberal education system can act as an antidote to the chronic problems of intolerance, mutual distrust, and hatred among different religious groups that weaken the social fabric and hinder national development.
The Importance of a Uniform Education System
For any standard educational course, the syllabus remains the same for all students in the same class, whether in one school or another affiliated with the same board, such as CBSE. The textbooks, syllabus, and even the question papers are uniform. However, differences in teaching quality, teacher expertise, and student capabilities result in varied learning outcomes and examination scores.
Educated individuals recognize that religious texts are largely literary and philosophical in nature. Typically, the most meritorious students in a class gravitate toward subjects like medicine, engineering, physics, biology, psychology, geography, or economics. Literature and philosophy often attract students from the second or lower academic tiers. Interpretations of the same scriptures also vary widely among educators, leading to differing perspectives.
Islamic literature, originally written in Arabic, is often studied in India through translations. These translations sometimes lose the essence of the original texts. Many madrasah instructors, or maulvis, are less academically accomplished and mostly misinterpret these scriptures due to either erroneous translations or their own limited educational backgrounds. These incomplete and incorrect teachings foster intolerance and Islamophobia, along with hatred toward individuals of other faiths. Many of the students in Madrasahs drop out with incomplete knowledge and many others do not continue further educations. These dropout and incompletely educated madrasah students mostly add to the fundamentalist groups every year and work as a continuous flow to fundamentalism. If it is not prevented, it will be impossible to cure them through a UCC in future. Prevention is a must and not a cure afterwards.
Students taught in this way often develop stronger affiliations with Islamic countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia rather than their own nation, India. This phenomenon, however, is not exclusive to Islamic educational institutions; it may also apply to those run by Hindus, Christians, or other religious communities.
A Way Forward: Unified Education
To eradicate religious intolerance and mutual mistrust and hatred, while fostering equity and a sense of national belonging among all citizens, India must prioritize a Uniform Education System. This system should standardize the curriculum across all schools, including madrasahs and other religious institutions. If religious scriptures are to be included, the basics of all major religions should be taught uniformly to all students, irrespective of faith. Those who wish to specialize further can pursue advanced studies at colleges and universities.
Madrasah education often introduces fundamentalist teachings at the primary level. Many students drop out midway, leaving them partially educated or “half-learned.” As the saying goes, “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” These partially educated individuals are prone to fundamentalist ideologies, spreading intolerance and disrupting social harmony. Unless the flow of such individuals into society is curbed, merely introducing a Uniform Civil Code will be ineffective. It might bring superficial satisfaction to some, but it will not address the nation’s deeper challenges.
Conclusion
The need of the hour is not a Uniform Civil Code but a Uniform Education System. By bringing all schools, madrasahs, and religious institutions under the same umbrella with a standardized curriculum, India can minimize the spread of fundamentalism. Independent bodies like madrasah boards should merge with state education boards to ensure uniformity.
When students from all faiths receive the same education, opportunities for the spread of extremist ideologies will diminish. For instance, in a general secondary school where over 80% of the students were Muslim, religious intolerance was almost nonexistent. However, this harmony was often disrupted when students from madrasahs entered the environment. Bangladesh, too, faces significant challenges due to the dominance of madrasah-educated individuals in state affairs.
If India wishes to sustain its legacy of tolerance and non-violence, the government must prioritize a Uniform Education System over a Uniform Civil Code. Only by reforming education can the nation build a foundation for long-term unity, harmony, and development.
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