Secularism in India
Secularism in India
Secularism in India
Secularism in India
1) Introduction
Secularism in India refers to the equal status and treatment of all religions.
Proclaimed in the amended Preamble to the Constitution of our country. It reads as follow: “We,
the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular,
Democratic, Republic”, etc.
2) Importance of Secularism
These two achievements have stood the test of time and set the goal of the nation on religious and
political fronts.
The State, remaining free from religious obligations, can take a tolerant attitude towards every
religion and can pursue the ideal of achieving the well-being of the people, irrespective of caste,
creed, religion etc.
Secularism in India is a positive, revolutionary and comprehensive concept which takes within its
sweep all the communities in India following several religions.
Diversity as a political project can only be effective with secularism as a working foundational value
We are marching fairly rapidly to the goal of universal brotherhood. In this age of universal
fraternity the narrow concept of theocracy has absolutely no place.
Article 14--equality before law; article 15--prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race,
caste, sex or place of birth
The provisions relating to “Right of Freedom of Religion” of the Articles 25 & 28 of the Constitution
of India make India a secular state.
To make assurance doubly sure, the 42nd amendment of the constitution inserts the term “secular”
in the preamble of the constitution.
Article 25 of Indian Constitution grants freedom to every citizen of India to profess, practice and
propagate his own religion.
www.insightsonindia.com Page 1
Insights Mind maps
The constitution, in the preamble professes to secure to all its citizen’s liberty of belief, faith and
worship.
Caste system or untouchability cannot be practised in the case of entry into public Hindu temples.
Article 29 of the Indian constitution assures that the state shall not impose on a minority
community any culture other than its own.
Art. 30 grant the minority community, the right to establish and administer their own educational
institution.
4) Challenges / Concerns
a) Till now no progress has been made in the evolution of a uniform Civil Code and today its
adoption appears to be more problematic than it was at the time when the Constitution was
framed.
b) Minority community compelled the Government to enact legislation closer to its Personal Law
and, therefore, religiously more acceptable.
c) The vulnerable point in India is the deep religious sentiment prevailing among its different
religious communities.
d) Such limitations indicate that the path leading to a truly secular society in India is strewn with
numerous hurdles.
a) The Supreme Court had observed in the Bommai case that if religion is not separated from
politics, the religion of the ruling party tends to become the state religion.
b) It is very often seen that in the time of elections most of the political parties completely forget
this noble ideal of secularism and woo the voters even on communal or cast lines.
a) The failure of the government to evolve a just economic order and eliminate poverty also gave a
serious setback to secularism.
a) Many public rituals and ceremonials like bhoomi pujan, breaking of coconuts on inaugural
occasions, performing of ‘aarti’ and applying to ‘tilak’ are perceived by Hindus as cultural or
nationalistic expressions, but to non-Hindus these are manifestations of Hindu culture.
b) Such rituals are performed even on state functions and therefore, create unnecessary
misgivings about the neutrality of the State.
www.insightsonindia.com Page 2
Insights Mind maps
propagation of religion and large-scale conversions, particularly in the tribal areas and of persons
below the poverty line
a) demolition of the Babri Masjid, anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and other places in 1984
d) Banning of cow slaughter leading to curtailment of freedom of persons about what to eat and
restricting their freedom to carry on any profession and trade.
The fundamental right of persons to practise any profession contained in article 19 (1) (g) of the
Constitution has been over-ridden by article 48.
Since secularism has been declared as a part of the basic structure of the Constitution,
governments must be made accountable for implementing it.
Define the word “minority”. The concept of secularism is based on recognition and protection of
minorities. The two cannot be separated.
Separation of religion from politics. It is of such urgency that no time should be wasted in bringing
this about.
It is the duty of the secular and democratic forces to rally behind those political forces that really
profess and practice secularism.
In a secular state, religion is expected to be a purely personal and private matter and is not
supposed to have anything to do with the governance of the country.
b) Unless all eligible voters participate in the elections, the accountability of the political parties
cannot be established fully.
c) The second is making 50 per cent plus one vote necessary to win.
d) The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) has also invited
attention to this matter
e) The Election Commission has also favoured this suggestion and has said that it sees no difficulty
in its implementation.
6) Conclusion
www.insightsonindia.com Page 3
Insights Mind maps
This will be possible only if there is a real political, social and intellectual commitment to it
www.insightsonindia.com Page 4