Secularism Class 11 Chapter 8 Polity Notes

Last Updated : 15 Apr, 2024

Secularism, a foundational principle in the Indian Constitution, embodies the idea of state neutrality in matters of religion. It ensures that the government remains impartial and does not favor any particular religion or religious group. Secularism forms the bedrock of India’s pluralistic society, allowing diverse religious communities to coexist harmoniously while safeguarding individual freedoms and rights.

Let us discuss secularism in the context of India!

What is Secularism?

Jews have historically been discriminated against in Europe, while Arab minorities face exclusion in Israel.
Subtle discrimination persists against non-Christians in parts of Europe.
Concerns arise regarding religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Secularism remains vital for addressing discrimination globally.

Inter-religious Domination

Every Indian citizen has the right to live freely and honorably in any area of the nation, according to the Indian Constitution.
Many restrictions and forms of prejudice still exist today. For instance, during the 1984 riots, around 2,700 Sikhs were slaughtered.
Many members of a particular community pray on account of their religious recognition. Some incidents are instances of religious oppression.
The main ideology that runs against to all of these manifestations of interreligious sovereignty is secularism.

Intra-religious Domination

An inherent part of the human experience is the sense of loss and isolation.
Philosophy, art, and religion are reactions to certain pains. It is not anti-religious to be secular.
When religion is rationalized, its more orthodox adherents frequently seize control of it.
In several US states, religious fanaticism has become a major issue.
Numerous religions fragment, which occasionally results in sectarian bloodshed and the mistreatment of those who disagree.
Many religions break up into small pieces, leading to periodic sectarian violence and maltreatment of dissenting minorities.
Inter-religious supremacy is not the only indicator of religious dominance. It requires another important structure, most notably the subjugation of people within the same religion. Secularism challenges both intra- and interreligious dominance because it rejects all forms of institutionalized religious power.

Secular State

To be a completely secular state, a state must not only refuse to be theocratic but also should have no formal, legal alliance with any religion. Seperation of religion from state is important but not a sufficient ingredient for secular state. Secular state should be committed to the principles and also goals which are at least partly derived from any non- religious sources. This would include peace, religious freedom, freedom from religiously grounded oppression and so forth.

The state should be separated from organised religion and its institutions for some of these values.

Need of Secular state

1. Preventing Religious Discrimination

Collaborating for mutual enlightenment, utilizing education to alter mindsets.
Highlighting individual instances of sharing and mutual aid to reduce prejudice and suspicion among communities.

2. Role of States in Preventing Religious Conflict

Acknowledging the significant influence of states in public affairs.
Emphasizing the critical role of state functioning in mitigating inter-community conflict and religious discrimination.

3. Preventing Domination by Religious Groups

Stressing the importance of states not being governed by leaders of specific religions.
Noting the negative characteristics of theocratic states, which lack separation between religious and political institutions, often leading to oppression and hierarchy.

4. Separation of State and Religion

Recognizing that merely separating state and religion is insufficient for a truly secular state.
Providing historical examples such as England and Pakistan to illustrate how non-theocratic states may still have close alliances with specific religions.

5. Requirements for a Truly Secular State

Insisting that a secular state must reject theocratic governance and avoid legal alliances with any religion.
Asserting the necessity of committing to principles derived from non-religious sources, including peace, religious freedom, and equality.

6. Separation of Religion and State

Affirming that separation of religion and state is necessary but not solely adequate for achieving secularism.
Arguing that the state must distance itself from organized religion and its institutions to uphold values such as religious freedom and equality.

7. Different Conceptions of Secularism

Comparing the mainstream Western conception, epitomized by the American state, with an alternative conception demonstrated by the Indian state.

8. To be Truly Secular

A state must have no legal or formal alliance with any religion.
A secular state shall be carried out by the goals and principles, which are in part taken from non-religious sources.
These ends must comprise religious freedom, peace, and freedom from religiously grounded persecution, exclusion and discrimination.
To encourage these arrangements, the state must be isolated from the arrangement of religion and its institutions for some of these value’s sake.
The nature and extent of separation may take different forms, depending upon the specific values and the way in which these values are spelt out.

Western Model of Secularism

In the context of America, the Western model of secularism is characterized by the following key aspects:

Separation of Church and State: The United States Constitution’s Establishment Clause prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over others. This separation of church and state ensures that religious institutions do not hold political power and that government actions remain neutral with regard to religion.
Freedom of Religion: The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, prohibiting the government from interfering with individuals’ religious beliefs or practices. This freedom allows Americans to worship according to their conscience or to choose not to practice any religion at all.
Secular Education and Institutions: Public schools and other government institutions in the United States are secular, meaning they are not affiliated with any religious denomination or ideology. While individuals are free to express their religious beliefs in public settings, public schools cannot promote or endorse any particular religion.
Individual Rights and Liberties: American secularism emphasizes the protection of individual rights and liberties, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. Individuals have the right to express their religious beliefs publicly and to participate in religious activities without fear of government interference.
Pluralism and Tolerance: The United States is known for its religious diversity and tolerance. American secularism promotes the idea of religious pluralism, where people of different faiths and beliefs can coexist peacefully. The government ensures equal treatment and protection for all religious groups, fostering social harmony and inclusivity.
Judicial Interpretation: The U.S. Supreme Court plays a crucial role in interpreting and upholding secular principles in American society. Through landmark decisions, such as Engel v. Vitale (1962) and Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), the Court has affirmed the separation of church and state and reinforced the protection of religious freedom.

The Indian Model of Secularism

The Indian model of secularism is distinct from the Western model and is characterized by several unique features shaped by India’s history, diversity, and socio-political context. Here are the key aspects of the Indian model of secularism:

Principle of Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava: The Indian model of secularism is rooted in the principle of sarva dharma sama bhava, which translates to “equal respect for all religions.” This principle emphasizes the equal treatment and respect for all religions, promoting religious harmony and coexistence.
Positive State Intervention: Unlike the Western model, which emphasizes state neutrality in religious matters, the Indian model allows for positive state intervention to promote religious tolerance and secular values. The Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion and mandates that the state intervene to eliminate social inequalities and promote social justice.
Equal Treatment of Religions: While India is officially a secular country, it recognizes the diversity of its population and respects the religious beliefs and practices of all communities. The Indian state provides support and protection to religious minorities, ensuring their rights and freedoms are upheld.
Freedom of Religion with State Regulation: The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens, allowing individuals to profess, practice, and propagate their religion freely. However, the state has the authority to regulate religious practices to maintain public order, morality, and health.
Principle of Secularism in Governance: The Indian Constitution enshrines secularism as one of its fundamental principles. The state is required to remain impartial in matters of religion and refrain from favoring any particular religion or religious group. Government policies and actions are expected to be guided by secular principles and not influenced by religious considerations.
Role of Judiciary: The Indian judiciary plays a significant role in interpreting and upholding secular principles in the country. The Supreme Court of India has delivered several landmark judgments to protect and promote secularism, including upholding the right to freedom of religion and preventing discrimination based on religion.
Challenges and Controversies: Despite the constitutional commitment to secularism, India faces challenges related to communalism, religious intolerance, and sectarian violence. These issues highlight the ongoing struggle to maintain religious harmony and uphold secular values in a diverse and pluralistic society.

Indian vs. Western model of secularism

Aspect	Western Secularism	Indian Secularism
Focus	Emphasis on separation of religion and state	Emphasis on inter-religious equality and diversity
Religious Interference	Mutual exclusion between state and religion	Allows for state engagement with religion if necessary
Policy Basis	No policy based on exclusively religious rationale	State may initiate or support religious reforms
State Aid to Religious Institutions	Prohibited	Allowed for minority communities
Minority Rights	Little scope for community-based or minority rights	Protects rights of both individuals and minority communities
Approach to Religious Reform	No place for state-supported religious reform	State can support religious reforms if needed
Tolerance vs. Equality	Tolerance for religious diversity, neglects inter-religious equality	Emphasis on equality within and between religious communities
State Engagement with Religion	Generally disengages with religion	Can engage with religion positively or negatively
Education	No financial support to religious educational institutions	Support for minority community educational institutions

Criticism of Indian secularism

1. Anti-religious

Secularism opposes institutionalized religious domination, not religion itself.
Protects religious freedom and equality, undermining dogmatic, violent, and exclusivist forms of religious identity.

2. Western Import

Criticism claims secularism is Western and unsuitable for Indian conditions.
Response: Western origins do not invalidate applicability; Indian secularism has unique features derived from both Western and non-Western sources.

3. Minoritism

Accusation of favoring minority rights over majority interests.
Justification: Protecting minority rights is essential to prevent harm and ensure constitutional equality.

4. Interventionist

Criticism labels secularism as coercive and overly interfering with religious freedom.
Response: Indian secularism follows principled distance and supports state-supported religious reform without coercive imposition.

5. Vote Bank Politics

Claim that secularism encourages vote bank politics.
Perspective: In a democracy, politicians naturally seek votes; secular politicians addressing minority concerns aligns with the objective of protecting minority interests.

6. Impossible Project

Assertion that secularism is an unattainable goal due to irreconcilable religious differences.
Response: History demonstrates successful coexistence in diverse societies like India and the Ottoman Empire; Indian secularism reflects a future model for increasingly diverse global societies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, secularism stands as a principled doctrine opposing all forms of religious domination, both inter-religious and intra-religious. It promotes religious freedom, equality, and peaceful coexistence within diverse societies. While subject to criticisms, including accusations of being anti-religious and Western-centric, its implementation, as seen in the Indian model, reflects a dynamic approach tailored to local contexts. Secularism, essential for fostering social harmony and protecting individual liberties, remains a vital framework for building inclusive and pluralistic societies worldwide.

Secularism Class 11 Polity Notes- FAQs

What is secularism?

Secularism is a doctrine that opposes any form of religious and intra-religious domination. It does not oppose religion itself. Secularism cannot be equated with religious tolerance as tolerance may be compatible with religious domination by one group.

On what grounds is the Indian secularism Criticized?

A secular state may interfere in religious matters to bring about social reform. Indian model of secularism is often criticized on the grounds of Vote bank politics, Minorities, Anti-religious, Western import.

What is the Specialty of Indian secularism Class 11?

Indian secularism follows the concept of principled distance which also allows for non-interference. Indian secularism also permits state-supported religious reforms. Personal laws can be seen as manifestations of freedom from inter-religious domination or as instances of intra-religious domination.

What are the four features of secularism?

Equal respect and recognition for all religions by the state.

No discrimination by the state on the basis of religion.

Non-interference in the functioning of any religion by the state.

No official religion in India.

Which state can be called secular state?

A secular state is where its people can follow their perspective religion, but the country does not officially support or oppose any religion.

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