The conceptual vocabularies of secularism and minority rights in India (original) (raw)

Secularism in India: A Constitutional Imperative or A Necessary Evil

Instead of Indian secularism, the complexity of secularism in India gives a thrilling account to acknowledge the process of Indianization of a European entity. As history shows the expansion of a civilizational state, India has been continuing with its credibility to accommodate all the religious divisions, racial coherence and cultural pluralism. With the advancement of a democratic constitution, various attempts have been made to protect the values of India but the religious mentality of millions never get satisfied. The problems of secularism in India has been manifold, however the political landscape, within a safety barrack, is working for electoral maintenance. Indian model of secularism, from its beginning, has dramatically been witnessing a balance between constitutional provisions and political identification. The political engagements and rising humanitarian violence impose a serious threat for accepting a European idea that has been treated as an abused child. This paper tries to demonstrate the complex nature of secularism with diverse interpretations, in contrast the applicability of secularism in India seems necessary but largely an evil.

Revisiting Secularism: Secularism and Secularisation-A Bibliographical Essay

Economic and Political Weekly

Tracing the trajectory of "secularism" studies, this essay brings out a critique of the evolutionary perspective that pronounced a waning of the "religious" in a predominantly "secular" "modern" world. In the face of global and local realities that negate any strict boundaries between the "secular", "religious" and "political", many western and non-western debates on secularism have creatively re-envisaged the concept and highlighted its variegated meanings. Yet, these have been unable to locate secularism in lived phenomenological realities. This bibliographical essay discusses works that may not be categorised as "secularism" studies and yet offer insights into the interaction between religious, cultural, political and secular aspects of society, while attempting to unentangle the different, but related, processes of "secularism" and "secularisation". It is the secularisation process that needs academic attention to understand the complex interaction between the "secular" and the "religious".

Tayloring Indian Secularity: What has Changed Because of Secularism?

Christian Inquiry on Polity (IVP India), 2017

Does the principle of secularism, and particularly, the idea of a secular state, presuppose certain doctrines, whether in the form of theological beliefs or as worldviews that define cultural reasoning? Is something more than a mere adoption of a secular Constitution necessary for the ideals of the Constitution to become a reality? If secularism itself presupposes certain doctrines, then conflicts within a pluralistic context could be anticipated not only despite secularism but also because of it. The compatibility between secularism and the comprehensive doctrine in the society demands that we locate the ontology of the secular. I have explored the secular as the prodigal child of Christianity (prodigalized through the calculus of disenchantment, individual autonomy, and authenticity) which wanders into various cultures and finds itself a home (not necessarily a happy one) to become a foster child in the Indian sub-continent. This creates a cross-pressure, a consequence of two opposing moods being felt simultaneously: a sense of belonging and a sense of alienation. For the very first time, one belongs to this independent nation-state and not subject to either a monarchy or a princely state nor is one governed by a foreign power, whether Moghul or British. By virtue of now being larger than any of its former socio-political avatars, India begins to command an incontestable allegiance from its citizenry. However, the cost of assuming this larger identity means having to subscribe to a doctrine that is alien to its culture. Hence the cross-pressure! In this article, I have tried to explore what such cross-pressure means for Hindu orthodoxy.

Origin and Evaluation of Secularism in India *

2017

ABSRACT: The present paper purports to examine and analyse the concept of secularism in the context of world in general and India in particular. India is a secular state in the same way as it is a democratic state. Secularism is the only way of development in plural society like ours. It is not a new phenomenon in India. We find its roots in the reign of Ashok the Great. But the occurrence of communal riots in the recent year indicates that the Indian govt has failed to establish a secular state. Communal politics, religious militancy, poverty. Illiteracy and political corruption are posing serious threats to secularism. But the present turmoil will certainly be over if sincere efforts with more stable secular policy are made, Majority of the problems will automatically be solved and the country will become an abode of peace, progress and prosperity.

Secularism - Understanding its True Meaning and Intent

The Constitution of India grant a Secular identity to our nation. However, the word 'secularism' is often mired into controversies not only because of the sensitivity of the subject it entails but also because of a lack of consensus on what Secularism actually stands for. It is understood, interpreted and applied in different situations in different ways according to the interest sought to be advanced. The biggest sufferer in this conundrum is often the general public which acts and reacts based on such contorted interpretations. Be it the contemporary contentious issues like Citizen (Amendment) Act, 2019, the Uniform Civil Code or the numerous religious riots which have blemished the secular landscape of the country, it is the common man who is always in the line of fire. And somehow, the common man still plays into the hands of their political puppeteers and even comes out on the street in the name of religion, if influenced enough. The religious sentiments of communities have been exploited over centuries by those with own vested interests by instilling fears of religious persecution or oppression. The latest weapon in the armoury of the exploiters is the word 'secularism' which, ironically, is sourced from nowhere else but our revered Constitution. This makes it absolutely essential that an honest attempt is made to understand what Secularism actually means so that the secular tenets envisioned by our founding forefathers can be truly appreciated and put into practice. Therefore, this paper deals with different aspects of Secularism and tries to put into perspective the real meaning of this widely interpreted or misinterpreted word.

SECULARISM: ITS CONTENT AND CONTEXT

This paper addresses two sets of questions. First, questions about the meaning of secularism and second questions about its justification and implementation. It is argued that Charles Taylor's recent efforts to redefine secularism for a time when we have gone ‗beyond toleration' to multiculturalism in liberal politics, are based on plausible (and laudable) political considerations that affect the question of justification and implementation, but leave unaffected the question of the meaning and content of secularism. An alternative conceptualization of secularism is offered, from the one he proposes, while also addressing his deep and understandable concerns about the politics of secularism for our time. In the characterization of secularism offered, it turns out that secularism has its point and meaning, not in some decontextualized philosophical argument, but only in contexts that owe to specific historical trajectories, with specific political goals to be met.

Secularism in India: Myth or Reality

Pakistan Horizon , 2019

Frequent incidents of religious intolerance are quite surprising for many of us, as India is better known for its secular and democratic ideals. However, the recent wave of violence motivated (instigated) by Hindutva politics has raised many questions about the authenticity of the Indian claim of being a secular state. A secular state refers to the concept that there must be a clear separation of religion from state affairs and a secular state must refrain itself from indulging with any religious affiliation. In contrast to the provisions guaranteed in the Indian constitution regarding the protection of rights of minorities, freedom of religion and non-discrimination of people irrespective of their caste, race, gender and religion appears mainly theoretical which still needs to be implemented in its original spirit aspired by its architect, B. R. Ambedker.1 However, the constant rise and influence of Hindutva based political actors upon policy matters and government affairs seems to obliterate the existing face of Indian secularism rather than to physically implement its theoretical ideals. To support my argument this paper provides a historical background of emerging religious extremism in India and causes of frequent violence on communal grounds whereas the qualitative method of research has been adopted to explore the topic under discussion.