I detest it.

Not ‘a’ religion. Not the fact that one subscribes to a religion. But the very idea of blinding yourself in a belief if it comes in the way of others. It pulls people down, it pulls a nation down, it makes us incompatible with one another. It comes in the way of co-existence. It hampers development and growth.

And you know what? Every religion does it. The supernatural forces don’t - their disciples do. The books might not - the interpretation does. And how long are we going to keep consoling ourselves into believing that the root cause is not the religion, but the interpretation? Religion doesn’t mean harm - but it inflicts damage on us if it blinds us to extremism. Similarly, I didn’t wake up one day intending to despise the idea of religion, but if it leads us to destruction, then such a belief can be damned.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m not asking people to give up their religious beliefs for the ’cause of the nation’ - that’s not it. Religious harmony is what we need. But, pray tell me, of what use are some religious beliefs when they come in the way of development? Or worse - when they come in the way of one another?

The Ram Setu issue has provoked many to write about it. More importantly, write and do little, and since I’m no different, here I am with my opinion - not on the project itself - but on my take on religion.

Before that, a quick reality check, if I may. Are we a secular nation, or are we pretending to be one? Secularism in India means we separate religious beliefs from national interests. It calls for the exclusion of religious considerations from civil affairs.

Those who agree that we are indeed secular, or those who want us to be secular, ought to oppose any force that denies the development. Yes, no one is asking for the cancellation of the project, but even a ‘realignment’ incurs a heavy cost on an already corrupt set of coffers. Do we want that?

I grew up on Amar Chitra Kathas, and I was in total awe of the epic Ramayana. Every single bit, including the construction of the bridge. But, pray tell me, what’s the big deal about it in today’s day and age? The place serves a purpose, a materialistic purpose - if you may - then why the big hulla over it?

Some people do claim that there is no documented proof if Ram ever existed. To me, Ram’s existence is not to be questioned. It’s simply irrelevant. Can we quantify the damage to Hindu heritage if indeed Sethu Samudram goes through? Does it amount to more than the benefits? Can’t we just live with the damage?

If we go on living in this cover-up of secularism, then we would have hit the brakes on our development - as a nation and as a race of people - while we allow religious extremists to hamper it. The Sethu Samudram project holds the same interest with me as the fact that Beyonce Knowles missed a kiss at an award ceremony. I don’t care about the project one bit.

What I do care about, is development.

In which case, religion and all other irrelevant matters must take the backseat, thank you very much. When I sit back and look at what our nation and our people have been through, it’s disheartening. The Bombay blasts. Godhra riots. Babri Masjid. Hyderabad blasts. Many more come to mind. Lives, wasted. Yes - they are political issues and not religious - but the fuel and they key lies with religious extremism. No one can deny that.

And, hey, India was supposed to be the spiritual answer to the world? We pride on co-existence and on religious harmony - and yes, there haven’t exactly been rivers of blood compared to what other nations might have gone through if they had a million beliefs bundled in one nation - but when it comes in the way of taking life, it sucks.

Hence, I detest religion - primarily because of the intensity it carries with it, and the brainwashing capabilities, notwithstanding the peace it brings to the heart. It’s the extremism that murders it. For me, it divides us at a very, very granular level. In our minds, our hearts, and our souls. Religious extremism makes a man kill his own kind. It’s what we would call the work of Satan.

I’ll hit the brakes here, with a few quotes from the Dalai Lama, an individual I respect above most mortals.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life.

My nation is now sprinting ahead, trying to break free from the iron leash that restricts it from reaching prosperity and communal harmony. We must all work towards taking it forward.

Call me agnostic, call me an atheist, but the Gods can sit this one out.