Secularism

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the principles of secularism and its relevance in a democratic society.
2. Analyze the distinctive features of Indian secularism.
3. Explore various criticisms of secularism and possible defenses.
4. Differentiate between inter-religious and intra-religious domination.
5. Recognize the significance of religious tolerance, freedom, and equality.

The Meaning of Secularism

Secularism addresses the challenge of ensuring equality in a society where different religious groups coexist. Despite being a widely debated concept, secularism faces opposition from various sections of society, including politicians, academics, and religious groups.

1. Definition: Secularism, at its core, is a doctrine that seeks to eliminate all forms of religious domination.
2. Global Examples: In places like Israel and Europe, religious minorities face discrimination, demonstrating the ongoing relevance of secularism in contemporary society.
3. In India: The Constitution ensures that every citizen has the right to live with dignity and freedom. However, the reality shows persistent discrimination, often based on religious identity.

Important Note
Secularism does not imply hostility towards religion but focuses on ensuring that no group, whether a majority or minority, dominates others based on religious differences.

Types of Domination: Inter-religious and Intra-religious

Inter-religious Domination

Historically and in modern times, inter-religious domination is a recurring issue. In India, incidents like the 1984 Sikh Massacre, the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits, and the 2002 Gujarat riots are reminders of how religious identity has been weaponized to persecute certain groups.

1. Commonality: These events are examples of how one community uses religious identity to discriminate against and persecute another.
2. Violation of Basic Freedoms: In each case, the freedom and dignity of citizens are compromised.
3. Relevance of Secularism: Secularism aims to prevent such inter-religious domination and ensure equality among all religious communities.

Intra-religious Domination

Secularism also addresses intra-religious domination, where conservative factions within a religion suppress dissent and perpetuate inequality, especially against women and marginalized groups like Dalits.

1. Discrimination within Religions: Almost no religion treats its male and female members equally, and social hierarchies within religious groups lead to oppression.
2. Examples: Hinduism, for example, has long discriminated against Dalits, barring them from temples. Similarly, in some areas, women are not allowed to enter Hindu temples.
3. Opposition to Intra-religious Domination: Secularism fights not only inter-religious but also intra-religious domination, promoting freedom and equality within religious communities.

Important Concept
Intra-religious domination is just as harmful as inter-religious domination. Secularism’s aim is to create a society where no group or individual faces oppression, even within their own religious community.

Secular State

A secular state prevents any religious group from dominating others. It is essential to promote peace, freedom, and equality among all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation.

1. Theocracy: A state governed by religious authorities is called a theocracy, where the separation of religious and political power is absent. Examples include Papal States and the Taliban.
2. Non-theocratic States: While non-theocratic states do not have formal religious governance, many continue to have a close alliance with a particular religion. For example, England in the 16th century favored the Anglican Church, and Pakistan today has Sunni Islam as its official religion.
3. True Secular State: For a state to be truly secular, it must not only avoid theocratic governance but also maintain no formal alliance with any religion. The state must promote religious freedom, oppose oppression, and foster inter-religious and intra-religious equality.

Western Model of Secularism

The Western model, particularly exemplified by the American system, focuses on the separation of religion and state through mutual exclusion.

1. Separation of Religion and State: In this model, religion and the state operate in separate spheres, with no interference in each other’s affairs.
2. Freedom of Religion: Religious communities are free to manage their own affairs, as long as they adhere to the law of the land.
3. Private Matter: Religion is considered a private matter, with no influence on state policy or law. This model emphasizes individual freedom and equality.

Important Note
Western secularism focuses on individual rights and separation from religious institutions but often neglects community-based rights and issues of inter-religious equality.

Indian Model of Secularism

Indian secularism differs fundamentally from the Western model, as it emerged from the unique context of religious diversity in India.

1. Religious Tolerance: Unlike the West, where secularism grew from the need to separate church and state, Indian secularism arose from a long history of religious tolerance.
2. Equal Focus on All Forms of Domination: Indian secularism addresses both inter-religious and intra-religious domination. It fights the oppression of Dalits and women within Hinduism, the discrimination in Islam, and the threats posed by the majority community to minorities.
3. Community Rights: Indian secularism recognizes the rights of minorities to maintain their culture and institutions, ensuring both individual and community-based freedoms.

Important Concept
Indian secularism not only seeks equality between religions but also within religions. It accommodates the freedom of minority communities to practice their traditions while encouraging state-supported religious reforms.

Nehru on Secularism

Jawaharlal Nehru, a key figure in Indian secularism, advocated for a state that protects all religions without favoring one over the other.

1. Opposition to Communalism: Nehru firmly opposed communalism, especially that of the majority community, which threatened the unity of India.
2. Secularism as National Unity: For Nehru, secularism was essential not only for equality but also for ensuring the integrity and unity of the nation.
3. State Intervention in Religion: Nehru believed that the state could intervene in religion to bring about social reforms, such as abolishing caste discrimination, dowry, and sati.

Multi-column Table: Comparison of Western and Indian Secularism

Aspect	Western Secularism	Indian Secularism
Separation of Church-State	Strict, with no interference between the two	Allows state to intervene for promoting equality
Focus on Equality	Focus on individual equality	Focus on both individual and community rights
Community Rights	Neglects community-based rights	Recognizes rights of religious minorities
Religious Reforms	Does not support state-sponsored reforms	Allows state-supported reforms for social equality
Principles	Based on mutual exclusion	Based on mutual respect and intervention if necessary

Criticisms of Indian Secularism

Indian secularism has been subject to multiple criticisms, each of which raises important questions about its relevance and practice.

Anti-religious

A common criticism is that secularism is anti-religious. However, secularism opposes only institutionalized religious domination and not religion itself.

1. Threat to Religious Identity: Critics argue that secularism undermines religious identity, but secularism actually promotes religious freedom and equality.
2. Undermining Exclusivism: Secularism may undermine exclusivist forms of religious identity that foster hatred, but it protects the broader freedom of religion.

Western Import

Another criticism is that secularism is a western import unsuited to India. While some elements of Indian secularism may have Western origins, the concept has evolved within the Indian context to address the unique challenges of religious diversity.

1. Cultural Relevance: Indian secularism, with its focus on inter-religious coexistence and community rights, differs significantly from Western models.
2. Origins: Secularism in India draws from both Western and non-Western traditions, making it relevant to Indian society.

Minor

itism

Critics also accuse Indian secularism of promoting minoritism, where minority rights are given undue importance at the expense of the majority.

1. Justification: Minority rights are necessary to protect the fundamental interests of minority communities, especially when their rights and freedoms are at risk.
2. Example: Just as society must make accommodations for disabled individuals, it must also ensure that minorities have the same access to their rights as the majority.

Blockquote MCQ
Which of the following is NOT a feature of Indian secularism?
a. Recognition of minority rights
b. Theocratic governance
c. State intervention for social reform
Answer: b. Theocratic governance

Interventionist

Another criticism is that Indian secularism is too interventionist, particularly in matters of religion. While Indian secularism does permit state intervention in religion, it also allows for non-interference when necessary.

1. Principled Distance: Indian secularism follows the principle of “principled distance,” meaning the state can either intervene or not, depending on the context.
2. State-supported Religious Reform: While the state supports religious reforms, these reforms aim to promote equality and social justice, rather than coercion.

Vote Bank Politics

Some argue that secularism encourages vote bank politics, where politicians pander to minority groups for electoral gain. While this may happen in some cases, the real question is whether the interests of these groups are being addressed or exploited.

1. Politicians’ Role: In a democracy, it is natural for politicians to seek votes from different groups. The issue lies in whether these votes translate into benefits for the group.
2. No Injustice: If vote bank politics does not lead to injustice for other groups, then it is not inherently problematic.

Impossible Project

Finally, critics claim that secularism is an impossible project, given the deep religious differences that exist in society. However, history shows that peaceful coexistence is achievable, as seen in Indian civilization and the Ottoman Empire.

1. Empirical Evidence: The diversity of Indian society demonstrates that secularism can work, and the world watches India’s experiment with great interest as it mirrors the future of global societies.

In conclusion, Indian secularism is a complex and evolving doctrine that balances individual rights, community freedoms, and social reforms. Its unique features set it apart from Western models, making it an essential framework for managing religious diversity in India and offering a potential model for the world.