SECULARISM

UNIT 12
SECULARISM
The term secularism is derived from the Latin word ‘secular’, which means the ‘present age or
generation’. Secularism is associated with the broader understanding of social progress and rational
behavior. Thus, the progress of human society brought up the concept of secularism as a form of social
practice in the modern rational society. This is meant to reduce the authority of religion in the sphere
of moral consensus. Secularism as a concept came into existence in Europe first to describe transfer of
territories from the Church domination to rational authority which is the ‘state’. The legal rational
authority or the state considered as non-religious or neutral authority can administer all the religious
and non-religious communities in an unbiased way.
A sociological understanding of secularism deserves a more general and wider understanding. In
secularism, religion loses its traditional authority of control over economy, polity, justice, health, family
and so on. In 1851, secularism led to a rational movement under an ideological formation of progress
as a positive attitude. Peter Berger holds that secularism means progress in which a section of society
and culture move away from religious domination of institutions. Generally, secularism means a system
of political and social philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faith and worship. The origin of
secularism in Europe was through the ‘doctrine that morality should be based on the well-being of
man in the present life, without regard to religious belief ’. Indian state defines in its policy that India
maintains Dharma nirpekshta which means religious Secularism neutrality. For Mahatma Gandhi and
Maulana Azad secularism meant sarvadharma sadbhavna ‘goodwill towards all religions’.
WESTERN MODEL OF
SECULARISM
All secular states have one thing in common: they are neither theocratic nor do they establish a
religion. However, in most commonly prevalent conceptions, inspired mainly by the American
model, separation of religion and state is understood as mutual exclusion: the state will not
intervene in the affairs of religion and, in the same manner, religion will not interfere in the
affairs of the state. Each has a separate sphere of its own with independent jurisdiction.
The state cannot aid any religious institution. It cannot give financial support to educational
institutions run by religious communities. Nor can it hinder the activities of religious
communities, as long as they are within the broad limits set by the law of the land. For example,
if a religious institution forbids a woman from becoming a priest, then the state can do little
about it. If a religious community excommunicates its dissenters, the state can only be a silent
witness. If a particular religion forbids the entry of some of its members in the sanctum of its
temple, then the state has no option but to let the matter rest exactly where it is. On this view,
religion is a private matter, not a matter of state policy or law.
INDIAN MODEL OF SECULARISM
The advent of western modernity brought to the fore hitherto 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. Thus 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 interreligious domination. Indian
secularism equally opposed the oppression of dalits and women within Hinduism, 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. This is its first important difference from mainstream western
secularism.
Connected to it is the second difference. Indian secularism deals not only with religious freedom of individuals but
also with religious freedom of minority communities. A third difference is this. Since a secular state must be
concerned equally with intra-religious domination, Indian secularism has made room for and is compatible with
the idea of state-supported religious reform. Thus, the Indian constitution bans untouchability. The Indian state
has enacted several laws abolishing child marriage and lifting the taboo on inter-caste marriage sanctioned by
Hinduism. Thus, the Indian Constitution grants all religious minorities the right to establish and maintain their
own educational institutions which may receive assistance from the state. All these complex strategies can be
adopted by the state to promote the values of peace, freedom and equality.
SECULARISM AND INDIAN
CONSTITUTION
There is a clear incorporation of all the basic principles of secularism into various provisions of constitution. The term ‘Secular’ was
added to the preamble by the forty-second constitution Amendment Act of 1976, (India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic,
republic).
It emphasise the fact that constitutionally, India is a secular country which has no State religion. And that the state shall recognise and
accept all religions, not favour or patronize any particular religion.
While Article 14 grants equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all, Article 15 enlarges the concept of secularism to
the widest possible extent by prohibiting discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Article 16 (1) guarantees equality of opportunity to all citizens in matters of public employment and reiterates that there would be no
discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth and residence.
Article 25 provides ‘Freedom of Conscience’, that is, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely
profess, practise and propagate religion.
As per Article 26, every religious group or individual has the right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable
purposes and to manage its own affairs in matters of religion.
As per Article 27, the state shall not compel any citizen to pay any taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religion or
religious institution.
Article 28 allows educational institutions maintained by different religious groups to impart religious instruction. Article 29 and Article
30 provides cultural and educational rights to the minorities.
Article 51A i.e. Fundamental Duties obliges all the citizens to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood and to value
and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIAN
SECULARISM
Equality of all religions: Indian secularism guarantees equal status and treatment to all religions, without any
discrimination or preference for any particular religion.
State neutrality: Indian secularism requires the state to remain neutral towards religion and not promote any
particular religion or religious practices.
Freedom of religion: Indian secularism guarantees the freedom of individuals to practice, profess, and propagate their
religion without any interference from the state.
Protection of minority rights: Indian secularism aims to protect the rights and interests of minorities, including their
religious and cultural rights, through various constitutional provisions.
Separation of religion and state: Indian secularism requires the separation of religion and state, where the state
should not interfere in religious affairs and religion should not interfere in state affairs.
Pluralism: Indian secularism recognizes and respects the diversity of religions and cultures in the country, promoting
harmony and coexistence among different communities.
Inclusiveness: Indian secularism encourages the participation and representation of all religions and communities in
the political, social, and economic life of the country.
Secularism and Scientific Education: Indian education is based on the Western system and is scientific. It does not
reinforce any religious teachings or beliefs. Secularism in India upholds the principles of scientific education.
Secularism as Humanism: Indian secularism is humane and does not depend on the spiritual beliefs or values of
any particular religion. It considers people as “citizens” rather than “sympathizers of a religion.” It is based on the
principles of humanism.
Secularism as Universal Faith: Indian secularism is a universal faith that is not limited to the religious beliefs of a
few countries. The secular ideals of India are a collection of both Eastern and Western values. As stated in the Rig
Veda, “Truth is one; sages call it by various names.”
Secularism as a Means of Modernization: Indian secularism is not based on orthodox, obsolete, and narrow
beliefs. It is a replica of modern values, progressive thoughts, and a scientific outlook. It aims to modernize the
country by adopting a secular approach.
Secularism as Cultural Heritage: Indian secularism is rooted in the rich ancient culture of the country. It respects
traditional customs, beliefs, and practices and protects them in the interest of citizens. It is an essential part of
the cultural heritage of India.
ADVANTAGES OF SECULARISM
Cultural Enrichment: By embracing secularism during the freedom struggle and after independence, India
was able to overcome the communal tensions caused by both historical theocratic regimes and the British
“divide and rule” policy.
Excelling Democracy: India’s successful democracy over the past seven decades has been marked by the
adoption of secularism, which has helped to promote progress and inclusivity in governance.
Peace and Stability: Secularism has fostered a culture of tolerance and respect for different religions in
India, promoting social harmony and reducing the risk of communal violence.
Minority Protection: Secularism has played an important role in preventing the domination of major
religious groups over minority groups, and in resisting religious persecution of minority communities. This
has helped to reduce the incidence of communal riots and promote greater religious freedom in India.
Economic Growth: Embracing secularism could help India become one of the world’s fastest-growing
economies, reducing the risk of famines and improving overall living standards. By promoting a more
open and inclusive outlook, secularism can also help to drive innovation and creativity in India’s economy.
CHALLENGES TO SECULARISM
Communal politics: This refers to the use of religion as a basis for political mobilization, often to the exclusion of other
groups. In India, communal politics has been a major challenge to secularism, with various political parties and groups
seeking to mobilize voters along religious lines. For example, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been accused of
pursuing a Hindu nationalist agenda, while some regional parties have sought to mobilize Muslim voters by appealing
to their religious identity.
Forced conversion: This refers to the practice of coercing individuals or communities to convert to a different religion.
In India, forced conversion has been a contentious issue, with some groups accusing others of using violence or other
means to convert people to their religion. For example, some Hindu nationalist groups have accused Christian
missionaries of using inducements or force to convert Hindus, while some Muslim groups have been accused of
pressuring non-Muslims to convert to Islam.
Pseudo-secularism: This refers to the practice of claiming to support secularism while actually favoring one religion
over others. In India, this has been a common accusation against political parties and leaders who claim to be secular
but are seen as favoring one religious group. For example, some critics have accused the Indian National Congress
party of practicing pseudo-secularism by favoring Muslims over Hindus in its policies and programs.
Growing fundamentalism: This refers to the rise of extremist religious views that reject secularism and promote a
narrow, exclusionary vision of society. In India, there have been concerns about growing fundamentalism among
some religious groups, particularly among some Hindu nationalist groups. For example, some Hindu nationalist
groups have been accused of promoting a narrow vision of Hinduism that excludes other religions and promotes a
hostile attitude towards minorities.
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Failure of the Constitutional values: This refers to the erosion of the principles of secularism and other
constitutional values, such as equality and freedom of religion. In India, there have been concerns about the
erosion of these values in recent years, with some political leaders and groups openly challenging the idea of a
secular state. For example, some leaders have called for the implementation of a uniform civil code that would
override personal laws based on religious traditions, while others have openly advocated for a Hindu state.
Minority seclusion: This refers to the practice of minority communities isolating themselves from the larger
society, often due to fear or mistrust. In India, there have been concerns about minority seclusion among some
religious communities, particularly Muslims. For example, some Muslim neighborhoods or areas have been
seen as self-contained enclaves that are separated from the larger society and may be more prone to
radicalization.
Growing radicalism: This refers to the rise of extremist ideologies that reject mainstream values and promote
violence or other forms of extremism. In India, there have been concerns about growing radicalism among
some religious groups, particularly among some Islamist groups. For example, some Islamist groups have been
accused of promoting violent ideologies and carrying out terrorist attacks against civilians or government
targets.
STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT
TO PROMOTE SECULARISM
42nd Constitutional Amendment Act (1976): It added the term “Secular” to the Preamble of the Constitution and declared India a secular
state.
Creation of Ministry of Minority Affairs (2006): The Ministry of Minority Affairs was created with the aim of protecting the rights of
minorities and promoting their socio-economic development.
National Integration Council: The National Integration Council was set up to promote communal harmony and national integration. It aims to
identify and address the causes of communal tensions and take steps to prevent their recurrence.
Sachar Committee: The Sachar Committee was set up in 2005 to study the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims in India. The
committee submitted its report in 2006 and made recommendations to improve the condition of Muslims in the country.
Ranganath Mishra Commission: The Ranganath Mishra Commission was set up in 2005 to study the issue of reservation for religious
minorities in educational institutions and government jobs. The commission recommended that reservation be provided to religious
minorities on par with Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Abolition of Separate Electorate (Universal Adult Franchise): The government abolished the system of Separate Electorate and introduced
the Universal Adult Franchise. This ensured that every citizen, irrespective of religion, caste, or gender, had an equal right to vote.
Various welfare schemes: The government has implemented various welfare schemes for the upliftment of minorities, such as the Prime
Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for Minorities, Multi-Sectoral Development Programme, and the Maulana Azad Education Foundation.
POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM
Party-political secularism, born around 40 years ago, is a nefarious doctrine practised by all
political parties, including by so-called ‘secular forces’. This secularism has dispelled all values
from the core idea and replaced them with opportunism. '® Opportunistic distance (engagement
or disengagement), but mainly opportunistic alliance with religious communities, particularly for
the sake of immediate electoral benefit, is its unspoken slogan. 2 e Indifferent to freedom and
equality-based religious reform, it has removed critical from the term ‘critical respect’ and
bizarrey interpreted ‘respect’ to mean cutting deals with aggressive or orthodox sections of
religious groups.
Today, Indian constitutional secularism is swallowed up by this party-political secularism, with
not a little help from the Opposition, media and judiciary. e Yet, it is not time yet to pronounce
the death of constitutional secularism. Grounded in millennia-old pluralist traditions, it cannot
easily be brushed aside. Instead, the word ‘setback’ makes more sense
WAY FORWARD
There is a need for a shift of focus from a politically-led project to a socially-driven movement
forjustice. ° Also, a shift of emphasis from inter-religious to intra-religious issues. e Such focus on
intra-relisious issues may allow deeper introspection within, multiple dissenting voices to
resurface, create conditions to root out intra-religious injustices, and make its members free and
equal. 7 ¢ Europe's secularism provided a principle to fight intra-religious oppressions. e In India,
secularism was not only a project of civic friendship among religious communities but also of
opposition to religion-based caste and gender oppressions. e Acollective push from young men
and women’ may help strengthen the social struggle of emancipation from intra-religious
injustices... ' e Inter-religious issues also should’not be ignored. 7 e Distance, freedom from
mutual obsession, give communities breathing space. e Each can now explore resources within
to construct new ways of living together