{"id":9523,"date":"2020-08-13T18:54:52","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T13:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/?p=9523"},"modified":"2020-08-13T18:54:52","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T13:24:52","slug":"the-future-of-indian-secularism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/the-future-of-indian-secularism\/","title":{"rendered":"The future of Indian secularism"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\">Relevance: Mains: G.S paper I: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &amp; secularism. &amp; G.S paper II: Indian Constitution\u2014historical underpinnings, evolution, features &amp; Sociology: Politics and Society: \u00a0Secularization<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/socialissuesindia.files.wordpress.com\/2018\/05\/secularism-hindus-burden1.jpg?w=584\" alt=\"The Absurdity of \u201cIndian Secularism\u201d | Issues and Challenges in India\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>Context:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The\u00a0participation of Prime Minister in the ground breaking ceremony of\u00a0Ayodhya\u00a0Ram Temple has revived the debate on Secularism.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>What is Secularism?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"9\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Secularism means separation of religion from political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life, religion being treated as a purely personal matter.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"10\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">It emphasized dissociation of the\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">state from religion<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0and full freedom to all religions and tolerance of all religions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"11\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">It also stands for equal opportunities for followers of all religions, and no discrimination and partiality on grounds of religion.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"12\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A secular person is one who does not owe his moral values to any religion. His values are the product of his rational and scientific thinking.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>What is\u00a0India\u2019s\u00a0Secularism\u00a0unique?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">India\u2019s\u00a0Constitutional secularism is marked by at least two features.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>First, critical respect for all religions.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"13\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Unlike some secularisms,\u00a0India\u2019s secularism\u00a0is not blindly anti-religious but respects religion.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"14\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Unlike the secularisms of pre-dominantly single religious societies,\u00a0India\u2019s Secularism\u00a0respects not one but all religions.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"15\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Indian philosophy of secularism is related to<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0\u201cSarva\u00a0Dharma\u00a0Sambhava\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202fwhich\u00a0means that destination of the paths followed by all religions is the same, though the paths themselves may be different. It essentially\u00a0means equal respect to all religions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"327\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"16\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">However, given the virtual impossibility of distinguishing the religious from the social, as B.R. Ambedkar famously observed,\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">every aspect<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">of religious doctrine or practice cannot be respected<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Respect for religion must be accompanied by critique.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>Second, Principled Distance from all religions<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"328\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"17\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Indian state abandons strict separation but keeps a principled distance from all religions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"328\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"18\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">This means that State must\u00a0intervenes\u00a0whenever religious groups promote communal disharmony and discrimination on grounds of religion (an inter-religious matter) or are unable to protect their own members from the oppressions they perpetuate (an intra-religious issue).\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"328\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"19\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">For instance, it cannot tolerate untouchability or leave all personal laws as they are.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"328\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"20\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Thus,\u00a0State\u00a0has to constantly decide when to engage or disengage, help or hinder religion depending entirely on which of these\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">enhances our constitutional commitment to freedom, equality and fraternity.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"328\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"21\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Secularism\u00a0is\u00a0not only a project of civic friendship among religious communities but also of opposition to religion-based caste and gender oppressions<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/image.slidesharecdn.com\/constructionofsecularandsacred-130327012922-phpapp02\/95\/construction-of-secular-and-sacred-religion-5-638.jpg?cb=1364347858\" alt=\"Construction of Secular and Sacred Religion\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>Challenges with\u00a0India\u2019s\u00a0Secularism<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"329\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"22\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Misusing\u00a0for Electoral benefits<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">:\u00a0Opportunistic distance (engagement or disengagement), mainly opportunistic alliance with religious communities, particularly for the sake of immediate electoral benefit<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"329\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"23\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Neglecting the Core Idea of Indian\u00a0Secularism<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">:\u00a0Political parties have\u00a0bizarrely interpreted \u2018respect\u2019 to mean cutting deals with aggressive or orthodox sections of religious groups\u202fat times\u00a0igniting communal violence.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"329\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"24\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Victimization of Communities<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">:\u00a0Principled intervention by State in one religion is viewed as discriminatory treatment by fringe sections of society leading to Politicisation of Secularism<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"329\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"25\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Politicisation of any one religious group leads to the\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">competitive politicisation<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202fof other groups, thereby resulting in inter-religious conflict.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"329\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"26\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Requires\u00a0Continuous Civic Participation<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">:\u00a0India\u2019s constitutional secularism cannot be sustained by governments alone but requires collective commitment from an impartial judiciary, a scrupulous media, civil society activists, and an alert citizenry<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/image.slidesharecdn.com\/chapter15-religion-180328053945\/95\/chapter-15-religion-44-638.jpg?cb=1522215756\" alt=\"Chapter 15 religion\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>Way Ahead<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"330\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"27\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">There is need to shift focus from a politically-led Secularism project to a socially-driven movement for justice.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"330\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"28\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Second, a shift of emphasis from inter-religious to intra-religious issues, without completely ignoring\u00a0inter-religious issues<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Indian secularism is not an end in itself but a\u202f<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">means to address religious plurality<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202fand sought to achieve peaceful coexistence of different religions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/image.slidesharecdn.com\/beliefsinsociety-140606105203-phpapp02\/95\/unit-3-sociology-beliefs-in-society-34-638.jpg?cb=1402051988\" alt=\"Unit 3 Sociology: Beliefs in society\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>For more such notes, Articles, News &amp; Views Join our Telegram Channel.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Telegram Link\" href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/triumphias\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>https:\/\/t.me\/triumphias<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Click the link below to see the details about the UPSC \u2013Civils courses offered by Triumph IAS.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" title=\"Courses available\" href=\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/pages-all-courses.php\">https:\/\/triumphias.com\/pages-all-courses.php<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Relevance: Mains: G.S paper I: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &amp; secularism. &amp; G.S paper II: Indian Constitution\u2014historical underpinnings, evolution, features<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[392],"class_list":["post-9523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-union-public-service-commission-upsc"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9523"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9524,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9523\/revisions\/9524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}