Ideological debates in the country's politics are often seen revolving around history, religion and ancient texts. Recently, the statements given by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding Manusmriti and old Indian texts have created a stir in the political and social circles. Well-known writer and thinker Dilip Mandal, known for his outspoken comments on this entire incident, has made a sharp counterattack. Dilip Mandal has openly talked about ancient systems and religious texts in the context of Rahul Gandhi's statement. To strengthen his argument, he has given examples not only of Indian texts but also of the Western religious text Bible. His statement has come at a time when once again a vigorous debate has erupted in the country regarding the Constitution, social justice, equality and the relevance of ancient systems, in which various political and social analysts are putting forward their arguments. Why did Rahul Gandhi's Manusmriti statement heat up politics? Whenever there is talk of ideological freedom, caste system or equality in Indian politics, mention of ancient texts often comes up. In his statements, Rahul Gandhi had tried to underline how old systems and texts have been depriving a large section of the society of their rights. His approach was considered a necessary step towards social reform by a large section of the country, while people of traditional ideology also expressed strong objection to it. Meanwhile, thinker Dilip Mandal, adding a new dimension to this entire debate, said that the restrictions of ancient texts or memories cannot be used as the basis for running today's modern, scientific and democratic era. He believes that the Constitution is the only and most sacred text of today's time which gives every citizen the right to equality and freedom without any discrimination. Dilip Mandal's big point with the example of Bible and history: Taking forward his sharp rebuttal and analysis, Dilip Mandal cited history and world scriptures. Giving examples of the Bible and other historical texts, he tried to explain that almost all the ancient texts of the world were composed according to the social, political and geographical conditions of that time. The progress that human civilization has made over time through science, education and democratic values cannot be kept tied to old systems. Mandal argued that if today's society is to move forward, we must leave behind the stereotypes and restrictions of the past that promote inequality or discrimination among humans. His statement emphasizes that modern day decisions should be taken only on the basis of modern constitution, logic and scientific approach and not out of fear of any ancient tradition. Social Justice, Constitution and the future of modern India The scope of this entire debate is not limited to just one statement, rather it has become a serious topic related to the social fabric and future direction of India. On one hand, political parties put these issues before the public as part of their ideological agenda, while on the other hand, the intellectual class sees it as a fight for equality and rights. In a country as diverse as India, where on one hand there is deep respect for traditions, on the other hand there is no less competition to adopt modernity and constitutional values. After Rahul Gandhi's statement and Dilip Mandal's comment, now the discussion has again intensified whether the Constitution should be the only guide for running today's society or the teachings of ancient texts are equally relevant. However, this ideological churning has once again given rise to a new debate in the political and intellectual circles of the country, which is sure to have an impact on social debates in the coming days.
