Dear Haider Saheb,

 

Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

 

If I may let me add one clarification re the interpretation of Ghalib's couplet. It is not a question of seeking refuge (pnaheiN) in faith. I am arguing that there is no option but to rely on blind faith. This is because reason cannot supply the first principles of a worldview. Those first principles willy nilly have to come from faith. Reason is too feabile and too faulty. As a consequence, belief systems such as secularism, which purportedly base themselves on reason alone are expressing the following blind faith:

 

"I know that reason is faulty, incomplete and inadequate for giving me a worldview and provide answers to many of my questions but I take reason to be my sole guiding principle as a blind faith in reason".

 

To me this is a faith with reason as "the" principle serving as a virtual Godhead; and a believer in the above statement is a true believer acting in faith. Note that I am NOT suggesting that this is good or bad, right or wrong; it is a value-neutral statement of fact as I see it.

 

I would be very curious to have your comments on my interpretation, not simply whether you agree or disagree with my interpretation but whether you see my interpretation as logical or does it have loopholes.

 

Best wishes for thoughtful discussion,

Abrar