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Secularism
Q. How is the Indian concept of secularism different from the Western model of secularism? Discuss.
Approach:
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Answer:
Secularism is the principle that determines the relationship between the State and the religion. It plays an important role in a diverse country like India. The 42nd amendment to the Constitution of India amended the Preamble of the Constitution declaring India as a secular nation. In India secularism means the State views all religions as equal i.e., it has equal affinity towards all religions.
Differences Between Western-Secularism and Indian-Secularism:
| Western-Secularism | Indian-Secularism |
| In the West, the State is separate from the functioning of all religious institutions and groups. | Secularism in India means that the state is neutral to all religious groups but not necessarily separate. |
| The state believes in total non-interference of religion. The state is allowed to curtail the rights of citizens if religion is causing hindrance in the functioning of the state. | In India, the concept is not restricted to the question of how religious groups should be treated. Instead, the essence of secularism lies in forging a positive relationship between the state and religion. |
| The Western concept of Secularism does not believe in an open display of religion except for places of worship. | In India, all expression of Religion is manifested equally with support from the state. |
| The distinction between state and religion is clear and set in stone. | There is no clear distinction between the state and religion in India. |
| The concept of secularism first came about in the mid-17th Century concepts of Enlightenment which were enshrined first in the Constitution of France following the French Revolution (5 May 1789 – 9 November 1799). | Although the concept of secularism was rudimentary practiced in ancient and medieval India, the term secularism was enshrined in the Constitution of India with the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. |
| The state treats all religions with equal indifference. It does not aid any religious institutions through financial means or tax them. | The state gives financial aid to religious institutions and taxes them as well. |
| A single uniform code of law is used to dispense justice regardless of religious background. | Although the law is the same for all citizens, certain personal laws with regard to marriage and property rights are different for every community. But they are all given equal consideration under the Indian Penal Code. |
Thus, Indian secularism is broader than western in a way, it provides the state a chance to reform the evils in any religion keeping the rights of individuals intact. The state in India walked a tightrope between the requirement of religious liberty and the demand for equality and justice. Secularism in India simply has to be different from the western liberal model that does not recognize communities, and dictates strict separation between religious and political institutions.
