Other articles on the Secularism series : MTM – 24 Constitution and Secularism https://fotisedu.com/mtm-24-constitution-and-secularism/

Secularism : Meaning , Objectives , Characteristics , Importance https://fotisedu.com/secularism-meaning-objectives-characteristics-importance/

MTM – 23 Secularism and Education https://fotisedu.com/mtm-23-secularism-and-education/

MTM – 22 Indian concept of secularism vs Western concept of secularism https://fotisedu.com/mtm-22-indian-concept-of-secularism-vs-western-concept-of-secularism/

India is a land of multi-religious faith and multi-cultural beliefs. It is the birth place of four major religions; Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. In our country people of diverse religions and beliefs have been living peacefully for a long time.

Modern nationstates are multi-religious states, hence there is a need for tolerance of all religions. The concept of secularism is aimed at creating a society in which people of religious beliefs or people who do not belong to any religion can live together in harmony and peace.

Secularism – a historical context

Emperor Ashoka was the first great emperor to announce as early as 3rd century BC (BCE) that the state would not prosecute any religious sect. In his 12th Rock Edict, Ashoka made an appeal not only for the
tolerance of all religious sects but also to develop a spirit of great respect towards them.

The Mughal emperor Akbar followed the policy of religious toleration. His propagation of Din-i-Illahi (Divine Faith) and Sulh-e-Kul (Peace and harmony among religions) were advocated for religious toleration.

Rajaram Mohan Roy, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar were some of the noted individuals held high in public regards who contributed towards the spread of secularism in the various spheres of Indian society. Secularism is invaluable for a society like India which is
characterised by religious diversity.

Impact of western modernity on Indian secularism

The advent of western modernity, brought to the notice, neglected and marginalised notions of equality in Indian thought. It sharpened these ideas and helped us to focus on equality within the community.

It also ushered ideas of inter-community equality to replace the notion of hierarchy. Its operation is done through three factors- (a) Scientific and rational education (b) Legislation and social reforms (c) Urbanization and industrialisation.

So, Indian secularism took on a distinct form as a result of an interaction between what already existed in a society that had religious diversity and the ideas that came from the west. It resulted in equal focus on intra-religious and inter-religious domination.

Secularism – in modern context

Secularism is an ideology that emphasizes the separation of religion and the state and the neutrality of the government with respect to religious beliefs.

It has broadly two meanings:

(a) Separation of religion from the state i.e. Dharm Nirpekshta.

(b) Equal respect to all religions by state i.e. Sarva Dharma Samabhava.

The Indian constitution aims for a secular state where all religions are treated equally.
The Indian State is secular and works in various ways to prevent religious domination. Secularism undoubtedly helps and aspires to enable every citizen to enjoy fully blessings of life, liberty and happiness.

The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights that are based on secular principles. It is one of the glowing achievement on Indian democracy. Secularism allows us to live in civility. It compels people to respect other religion. It grants equal rights to the people in respect of their religious faith. It is
desirable for a country like India.

Views of eminent leaders on Secularism

Gandhi ji’s views-

“Religion is a personal matter which should have no place in politics“- in 1942

“Religion is the personal affair of each individual. It must not be mixed up with politics or national affairs” – in 1947

“I do not except of any dreams to develop one religion i.e. to be wholly Hindu or wholly Christian or wholly Mussalman, but I want it to be wholly tolerant, with its religions working side by side with one another”

Dr. B.R Ambedkar’s view-

His main concern was to bring heterogeneous communities under one roof, in a nation divided on caste lines.

Jawaharlal Nehru’s view-

“India will be a land of many faiths, equally honoured and respected, but of one national outlook.”

Nehru’s view was – “Equal protection by the state to all religion“. He wanted a secular state to be one that “protects all religions but does not favour one at the expense of others and does not itself adopt any religion as the state religion.”

Distinctiveness of Indian secularism

Indian Secularism equally opposed oppression of dalits and women within Hinduism. It also opposes the discrimination against women within Indian Islam or Christianity and the possible threats that a majority community might pose to the rights of the minority religious communities.

Indian Secularism deals not only with religious freedom of individuals but also with religious freedom of minority communities i.e. individual has the right to profess religion of his /her choice. Likewise, religious minority also have a right to exist and to maintain their own culture and educational institutions.

Indian Secularism has made room for and is compatible with the idea of state- supported religious reform. For example- Indian constitution bans untouchability under Article 17. There is also abolition of child marriage and lifting the taboo on inter-caste marriage sanctioned by Hinduism.

The Indian state may engage with religion negatively to oppose religious tyranny. It may also choose a positive mode of engagement. Thus, the Indian constitution grants all religious minorities, the rights to establish and maintain their own educational institutions, which may receive assistance from the state.

Evaluation of Indian model of Secularism

Indian secularism has been subjected to various criticisms. Some of these are:

It is argued that Indian secularism advocates minority rights and favours minoritism. However, the constitution protects the most fundamental interest of minorities.

It has been argued by some that secularism threatens religious identity. However, secularism is against institutionalized religious domination. This is not the same as being anti-religious.

Another criticism is that secularism is linked to Christianity, that it is western and, therefore, unsuited to Indian conditions. However, the mutual exclusion of religion and state, which is supposed to be the ideal of western secular societies, is not the defining feature of all secular states.

There is argument that secularism encourages the politics of vote banks.

It is claimed that secularism is coercive and interventionist and it interferes excessively with the religious freedom of communities. However, Indian secularism follows the concept of principled distance, which also allows for non-interference.

Challenges to Indian secularism

There is political interference in religion and vice versa. Increasing interference of religion in politics is a major challenge facing the secular state. Candidates for elections are selected based on religious considerations, and votes are cast based on religious sentiments.

Events in the past like the demolition of the Babri Masjid, anti-Sikh riots in 1984, Mumbai riots in 1992 and 1993, Godhra riots in 2002, etc., have shown the well-established problem of communalism raising its head now, and then.

There are feelings of insecurity in religious minorities still today. This makes it difficult to create a secular society. While Muslims constitute 14 percent of the Indian population, they comprise only 2.5 percent of the Indian bureaucracy.

In recent years, there have been stray incidences of youth being inspired and radicalized by groups like ISIS, posing a threat to the secular fabric of the nation.

Religious intolerance is also on the rise recently.

Measures to strengthen secularism in India

To strengthen secularism in India following steps can be taken:

Education is a means to effect change in the mindset of people. Individual examples of sharing and mutual help could reduce prejudice and suspicion between communities.

Movements for social reform, like Uniform Civil Code, will have to be organized and public opinion mobilized. Also, Minorities should be encouraged to participate in the mainstream of national life.
Communal politics and vote bank politics need to be replaced by secular politics to ensure religious tolerance.

Strong measures need to be taken to combat religious extremism and promote a culture of tolerance and mutual respect.

Ensuring equal access to education, employment, and other opportunities, as well as protecting minority communities from violence and hate crimes.