Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism
What is Secularism?
In the Indian context, secularism means the separation of religion from the State. The Indian Constitution mandates that the Indian State be secular. A secular state is one that:
- Does not officially promote any one religion as the state religion.
- Ensures that one religious community does not dominate another.
- Guarantees that the State does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.
- Ensures that some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
Why is it Important to Separate Religion from the State?
Separating religion from state power is crucial for a democracy to function effectively. The tyranny of the majority could result in discrimination, coercion and at times even the killing of religious minorities. Therefore, the separation of State and religion is essential to protect the freedom of individuals to exit from their religion, embrace another religion, or have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently.
What is Indian Secularism?
The Indian Constitution ensures secular principles through its Fundamental Rights. The state can intervene in religious affairs in order to end a social practice that it believes discriminates and excludes, and that violates the Fundamental Rights of lower castes. For example, the Indian Constitution banned untouchability.
In Indian secularism, the State is not strictly separate from religion but it maintains a principled distance vis-à-vis religion. This means that any interference in religion by the State has to be based on the ideals laid out in the Constitution.
Difference between Indian and American Secularism
There is one significant way in which Indian secularism differs from the dominant understanding of secularism as practised in the United States of America.
- American Secularism: There is a strict separation between religion and the state. The legislature cannot declare any religion as the official one, nor can they give preference to one religion.
- Indian Secularism: The State can intervene in religious affairs. For instance, the state intervenes to abolish practices like untouchability or ensure equal inheritance rights for all religions. This intervention is to ensure that all citizens are treated equally.
Exercise Questions and Answers
1. List the different types of religious practice that you find in your neighbourhood.
In my neighbourhood, I observe a variety of religious practices. Hindus visit temples for prayers, celebrate festivals like Diwali and Holi, and perform bhajans. Muslims offer namaz five times a day, observe fasting during Ramadan, and celebrate Eid. Sikhs visit the Gurudwara, listen to Gurbani, and celebrate festivals like Gurpurab and Baisakhi. Christians attend church on Sundays for Mass and celebrate Christmas and Easter. This diversity shows a peaceful coexistence of different faiths.
2. Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practise infanticide?
Yes, the government will definitely intervene. Indian secularism allows the state to intervene in religious matters to end social practices that violate Fundamental Rights. Infanticide is a heinous crime and a gross violation of the Right to Life (Article 21). The government would step in to uphold the law and protect the child's life, irrespective of the religious claims made by the group.
3. What is the main difference between the Indian and American models of secularism?
The main difference lies in the strictness of the separation between state and religion. In American secularism, there is a strict wall of separation; the state cannot interfere in religious affairs, and religion cannot interfere in state affairs. In Indian secularism, the state maintains a 'principled distance' from religion. This means the state can intervene in religious personal laws and practices to uphold constitutional values like equality and justice (e.g., banning untouchability).
4. The Indian State both keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. How is this contradictory?
This is not a contradiction but a nuanced approach. The Indian state keeps away from religion by not having an official state religion and not favouring any particular faith. However, it intervenes when religious practices violate the fundamental rights of citizens, especially the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The intervention is not to promote or suppress a religion but to ensure social reform and justice for all citizens, as mandated by the Constitution.
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