2. Understanding Secularism

Imagine yourself as a Hindu or Muslim living in a part of the United States of America where Christian fundamentalism is very powerful. Suppose that despite being a US citizen, no one is willing to rent their house to you. How would this make you feel? Would it not make you feel resentful? What if you decided to complain against this discrimination and were told to go back to India. Would this not make you feel angry? Your anger could take two forms. First, you might react by saying that Christians should get the same treatment in places where Hindus and Muslims are in a majority. This is a form of retaliation. Or, you might take the view that there should be justice for all. You may fight, stating that no one should be discriminated against on grounds of their religious practices and beliefs. This statement rests on the assumption that all forms of domination related to religion should end. This is the essence of secularism. In this chapter, you will read more about what this means in the Indian context.

Secularism is essentially about ensuring that no individual is discriminated against or treated unfairly based on their religious beliefs. The text asks the reader to imagine being a member of a religious minority facing discrimination and anger over that treatment. It suggests two reactions: one is retaliatory, advocating for equal treatment of Christians in Hindu or Muslim majority areas, which leads to more division; the other is a call for universal justice, where everyone advocates for fairness regardless of religious background. This illustrates that secularism is about working towards a society where no religion dominates over others.

To make this relatable, think about a school where one group of students is favored over others during decisions about group projects or sports teams because of their ethnicity or background. If one group always wins because they are ‘the majority’, other students might feel resentful and may retaliate. However, a better approach would be for everyone to advocate for equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their background, similar to what secularism strives for in society.

As discussed above, the most important aspect of secularism is its separation of religion from State power. This is important for a country to function democratically. Almost all countries of the world will have more than one religious group living in them. Within these religious groups, there will most likely be one group that is in a majority. If this majority religious group has access to State power, then it could quite easily use this power and financial resources to discriminate against and persecute persons of other religions. This tyranny of the majority could result in the discrimination, coercion and at times even the killing of religious minorities. The majority could quite easily prevent minorities from practising their religions. Any form of domination based on religion is in violation of the rights that a democratic society guarantees to each and every citizen irrespective of their religion.

This chunk emphasizes the significance of separating religion from state powers to uphold democracy. It warns that if a majority religion controls state power, they might impose their beliefs on others, leading to the suppression or elimination of minority religions. This state of majority tyranny effectively denies the fundamental rights promised to all citizens in a democratic framework by enabling discrimination and violence against those who hold different beliefs.

Consider a country where the dominant religious group has the most political influence. If this group decides to create laws that favor its own beliefs and practices, such as requiring everyone to follow specific dietary laws, those from other religions may be punished for not adhering to these laws. An analogy here might be a sports league where one team consistently changes the rules to benefit itself, leaving other teams unable to compete fairly or participate at all.

The Indian Constitution mandates that the Indian State be secular. According to the Constitution, only a secular State can realise its objectives to ensure the following: 1. that one religious community does not dominate another; 2. that some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community; 3. that the State does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.

This section outlines the specific ways in which Indian secularism aims to function. The Constitution emphasizes that no religious community should have power over another, individuals within a community should not dominate each other, and the government must not impose one religion over others. This framework is meant to protect individual rights and ensure equality, reflecting secular principles.

Imagine a neighborhood with multiple cultural backgrounds. Just like a community center would offer resources and activities that respect and include all cultures, Indian secularism provides a framework that respects and honors all religions equally without favoring one over another.

The Indian State works in various ways to prevent the above domination. First, it uses a strategy of distancing itself from religion. The Indian State is not ruled by a religious group and nor does it support any one religion. In India, government spaces like law courts, police stations, government schools and offices are not supposed to display or promote any one religion.

In order to uphold secularism, the Indian government maintains a distance from religious matters. This means that public institutions are neutral and do not promote any religion, ensuring that all citizens feel equally represented and respected regardless of their beliefs. The separation helps to foster an inclusive society where governance is not influenced by religious preferences.

Think of a public library where all books are available for everyone to read. The library doesn’t promote one religion or belief system, rather, it provides access to a variety of perspectives. This mirrors how government institutions in India should operate without favoring any religion.

The third way in which Indian secularism works to prevent the domination listed earlier is through a strategy of intervention. You read earlier in this chapter about untouchability. This is a good example where members of the same religion (‘upper-caste’ Hindus) dominate other members (some ‘lower castes’) within it. In order to prevent this religion-based exclusion and discrimination of ‘lower castes’, the Indian Constitution bans untouchability.

This section explains that the Indian state not only stays away from religion but also intervenes when necessary to protect the rights of individuals who may be oppressed within their religious contexts. The example of untouchability illustrates how the Constitution actively works to abolish discrimination and uphold the rights of marginalized individuals, ensuring all citizens are treated equally.

Consider a referee in a sports game who steps in when one team is unfairly playing against another. By enforcing rules against fouls, the referee ensures that the game is fair and equitable, similar to how the state intervenes when certain practices infringe upon the rights and equality of citizens.

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