Morality and society
30-Sep-2024
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Kajal Chatterjee
Whether a pluralistic society will see equal respect, honour and rights for the citizens of all denominations or turn out to be a "majoritarian" one would fully depend upon the moral quality of the individuals or group at the helm of State affairs.
When sporting hijab is being prohibited, discouraged or frowned upon in many non-Islamic countries around the world, New Zealand had proved itself as a bright exception in this regard under the leadership of the then Prime minister Jacinda Ardern who ensured promotion of a dress associated with people who are basically settlers in that country !
Through her decision to induct the hijab as part of its police uniform, Ardern had shown to the world what the essence of democracy is all about. Far from trying to kill diversity so as to establish a homogeneous way of life in the society which is actually nothing but crude desire of ensuring cultural dominance of majority or "mainstream" be it through language race or religion; an ideal democracy strives to literally accord equal status to each and every linguistic religious cultural groups residing within the country respecting their ethos sentiments sensitivities attire to dietary habits.
(To be contd)