In this essay you will learn about secularism in India. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1. Secularism and India 2. Secularism and Indian Constitution 3. Salient Features 4. Critical Assessment.
List of Essays on Secularism in India
Essay Contents:
- Essay on Secularism and India
- Essay on Secularism and Indian Constitution
- Essay on the Salient Features of Indian Secularism
- Essay on the Critical Assessment of Secularism in India
Essay # 1. Secularism and India:
One of the important features of Indian constitution is providing for a secular state in independent India. It becomes still more significant when viewed from die fact that the country was partitioned in 1947 on the basis of two nations theory and India’s relations with new born Islamic State of Pakistan are even now not at all happy. The hatred created by communal frenzy is very much there.
In this connection it may, however, be mentioned that die word secularism’ was not used in the original constitution, though Arts 23, 24 and 25 guaranteed to all individuals freedom of conscience and right to practice and propagate one’s own religion. It was only with the passing of 42nd Constitution Amendment Act that this term was not only used but also included in die Preamble of the Constitution.
Secularism is a term which it is difficult to define. D.E. Smith in his India As a Secular State has defined it by saying that, “The Secular state is a State which guarantees individual and corporate freedom of religion, deals with the individual as a citizen irrespective of his religion, is not constitutionally connected to a particular religion, nor does it seek either to promote or interfere with religion.”
It has no concern with religion and denotes absence of connection with religion.
Thus, secular education means a system of education from which religion is absent. In simple words it can be said dial it is separation of state from church. It is, in fact, an ideology which is based on theory of life as against that of religion. Shorter Oxford Dictionary has defined secularism by saying that it is a doctrine which believes that morality should be based solely on regard to well being of mankind of the present life to the exclusion of all considerations drawn from belief in God or in die future state.
But commonly it is believed that a secular state is one which does not make any distinction or discrimination on ground of religion or community against any person which professes any particular form of religious faith. No religion in such a state receives any patronage and that no citizen in such a state will receive any preferential treatment on religious grounds by the state.
But individually everyone shall have full liberty to peacefully profess practice and propagate a religion of his choice. Thus, religion and state function in two separate areas and try to keep away from each other’s activities. The state does not deal with the individual on the basis of religions considerations and does not recognise any religion as religion of the state.
In this connection it may be pointed out that separation of religion from state does not necessarily mean secularism.
In so far India is concerned traditionally people belonging to different religions show respect to all religions, religious gods and scriptures. The people have almost always enjoyed freedom to profess, preach and propagate the religion of their choice and this tradition has been upheld by our constitution fathers.
Essay # 2. Secularism and Indian Constitution:
One of the basic structures of constitution of India is secularism. According to Supreme Court rulings even the Parliament of India cannot change it by enacting any amendment of the constitution. The ideology of secularism was preached by Congress leaders during their freedom struggle and is now the pivot of all our activities.
It is now a pail of Preamble of the Constitution, which is key to it. Art 14 of the constitution makes it amply clear that the state shall not deny any person equality before law or equal protection of law within the territory of India.
Art 15 (1) (2) also states that die state shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion, race and caste. It is further stated that none will be subjected to any liability or disability on ground of religion.
Art 16 (1 )(2) also provides that on religions grounds none shall be made in-eligible or discriminated against in matter of public employment and admission to any educational institution maintained by the state. Art 17 has made practice of untouchability as an offence punishable under the law.
Art 25(1) clearly states that all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and have right to profess, practice and propagate my religion. Art 26 permits every religions denomination right to establish and maintain institutions for religions purposes and to manage its own religions affairs.
Art 27 provides that no person shall be compelled to pay any lax for the promotion or maintenance of any particular religions denomination.
Art 28 provides that no religious instructions shall be compulsorily provided in any state funded or maintained educational institution. Art 29 and 30 give right to every community to establish and administer an educational institution of its choice. Basu is of die view that, “Sum total of all above provisions makes our state more secular than even the United State of America.”
In the constitution special provisions have also been made about religious minorities. Art 31 gives these minorities the right to establish educational institutions of their choice and the state shall not discriminate while making grants to these institutions on the ground that they are under management of a minority whether based on religion or language.
Art 41 of die Constitution provides for die enactment of civil code applicable to all citizens of India irrespective of their religions pursuations. While clarifying the objective of Art 30, Chief Justice Ray observed, “Whole object of conferring die right on minorities under Art 30 is to ensure that there will he equality between the majority and minority. If die minorities do not have such special protection, they will be denied equality.”
3. Salient Features of Indian Secularism:
Secularism in India has three essential features. Firstly, it is liberal which means that the constitution not only ensures religious equality and liberty to all Indian citizens but also it protects basic rights and privileges of all religious communities which reside in India. Then another principle of secularism in India is that it is not absolute but qualified one which means that religious freedom is subject to certain conditions like public order, morality and health of the people.
Moreover, the judiciary is to decide whether any restrictions imposed by the state on freedom of conscience as guaranteed to the people of India under Art 25 of the constitution are consistent or not with the basic philosophy of secularism. Then third principle is that it is dynamic and not a static ideology because while it disallows religion to interfere in politics, it allows state to take steps for promoting social welfare.
The government can even change personal law of community, if necessary.
Then its another feature in India secularism helps using religion to secure obedience to state laws.
Essay # 4. Critical Assessment of Secularism in India:
Secularism is basic features of Constitution of India but this concept has not very favourably been evaluated by some scholars. Dr. D.L. Smith is of die view that, “The system under which government grants in aid are given to educational institutions conducted by religious bodies is inconsistent with a strict interpretation of the secular states.
The system involves an indirect subsidization of religion by the state and thus violate basic principle of secularism. He has said that educational institutions run by religious bodies are started with the primary aim of promoting and achieving religious objectives so as to secure an opportunity for directly imparting religious education and also to develop religions atmosphere.
But some steps have already been taken to ensure that secularism in India takes a concrete shape. In 1955 untouchability offences Act was passed. Seats are reserved in educational institutions, jobs and legislative bodies. In the Council of Ministers both at the centre as well as in die states due representations is given to the members of minority communities.
Dr. Zakir Hussain Fakharuddin Ali Ahmed and Giani Zail Singh is who were elevated to the highest office of the country i.e., the Presidentship belonged to minority communities and could get this positions only because of India’s policy of secularism.
In the services, both in civil and military, those belonging to all communities are given the highest position. Not only this, but in India people belonging to different communities live side by side with each other and have cordial neighbourly and business relations. They participate in festivities and festivals of each other’s communities.
But unfortunately the idea, philosophy and ideology of secularism which forms basic structure of die constitution has not got very deep roots in India. One reason for this is that there is wide spread feeling that Congress party which is ruling the country since independence has used it to appease the minority communities at the cost of Hindu majority community instead of developing this ideology in its proper perspectives.
Not only this, but it is also said that the party at very stages lost such senior stawarts like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Patcl, Maulana Azad and many other who by their actions and ideas would have provided roots to it. Moreover, secularism is new concept in the present sense of the term, which like every other concept will take its own time and at present badly needs dynamic leadership to propagate it, which at present is missing.
Political leadership in India is not required to use die name of religion for promoting political ends or promoting party cause. But in India each political party fully exploits the name of religious for getting political mileage. Political leaders approach religion leaders for getting votes for their parties.
Religious communities are given concessions and policy of appeasement is followed. Not only this but efforts are made to develop as vote bank by political parties. Thus, political parties instead of strengthening secularism, weaken it, though all this is done in die name of secularism.
Secularism and communalism cannot go hand-in-hand but in India feelings of communalism and love for one’s own religion is far more stronger than die forces of secularism. Structure of secularism which is built with great difficulty over the year gets serious jolt with one communal riot, breaks out which because of active communal forces and leaders, is not infrequent in India.
In India very many institutional institutions are run, managed and controlled by religious bodies, which from the very beginning provide religious rather than secular education. This very much weakens secularism. Even those who are employed in government run institutions do not have strong secular feelings and thus do not enthiasticuscally provide secular ideas to the students.
In India vast majority consists of die Hindus followed by other religious communities.
Traditionally all religious communities have religious outlook which these are not prepared to give up because these do not find anything attractive in secularism in preference to their religion. One more reason which is responsible for weakness of secularism in India is that over the years the governments which came to power have failed to evolve a just economic- order.
The poverty has increased and the people have developed a feeling that secularism has failed to solve country’s economic problems.
Though in the country secularism is getting some roots but with the passing of time forces of communalism too are becoming strong. It will take a long tune before forces of secularism become strong enough to over ride those of communalism. It not only needs patience but political parties will also have to make sacrifices by not exploiting religion for meeting their political ends.
These will have to give up religious vote bank concept and stop exploiting communal forces for meeting narrow political ends. The ideology of secularism will have to be propagated and the masses will have to be convinced about its utility in the national interests on the one hand and for economic development of die country on the other.