It's for individuals to decide, say community members

The recent high court ruling, besides upholding the right of a citizen not to identify with any religion, also touched the bedrock of identity in many ways. Religious leaders dna spoke to, looked at the court directive and what the petition had to say, in two ways.

The court order stated that no person could be forced to declare his religion. The petitioners' lawyer Surel Shah had also submitted that though they were believers, "The lord himself has never asked that a religion be formed after him". They had instead questioned the faith followed in the name of god or prophets.

While all religious leaders stated that it was ultimately an individual's choice, and that the court ruling may have some positive outfall in reducing religious discrimination, they also felt technicalities of the argument aside, religious identities described a person's faith.

"Technically they are right that Christ did not ask people to form a religion. But through his teachings and practices that evolved, and as per scriptures people followed, a religion evolved. The issue is debatable. But in any case, people are free to chose not to mention religion. In such matters the Church has always felt the law of the land should take precedence," said Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesperson of Archdiocese of Bombay.

Religion, said community members, means getting back to the original.

"The 're' in religion, like in recollect, mean going back. Religion is about going back to the original eternal dharma. The goal of all religions ultimately is service of god," said Shyamananda Das, one of the heads of ISCKON, at Chowpatty.

Maulana Mustaqeem Azmi, who agreed, said: "There are many columns; now you can add one more, for the atheist. Ultimately he too is following a religion of 'no' religion. Religions are there so that one can identify with the values of the religion one follows. The HC order will help where there is discrimination. But some people think of only what is useless. They are either mad or have some wrong motive."