Secularism in India is both a tradition and a commitment. As a tradition, it is thousands of years old, dating back to the days of the Indus Valley Civilisation. As a commitment, it is enshrined in the Constitution of Indian which its people have given to them selves constituting India into a Sover eign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic. The evolution and growth of Indian secularism with all its triumphs and tensions, both as a conceptand an ideology, is a fascinating study, a golden chapter in the history of India. Indian secularism is different from the western model. In fact it is diametrically opposed to it. While western secularism rejects all religious systems, Indian secularism accepts and respects all religions. Again while western secularism arose out of a conflict between the Church and the State, Indian secularism unfolded itself from a social necessity which arose out of cultural compulsions. Similarly, while western secularism stands for improving material conditions of human beings, in the Indian model it is the mind which rules the matter enriching the quality of life and the concept of nation-hood at the same time. When a student at Oxford asked Jawaharlal Nehru what he meant by secularism, Nehru who knew secularism much more than many replied: ‘Equal protection by the State to all religions’. The definition stands till today.
Constitution of India, Secularism, State, country, Religion, everybody, Articles, Threats, Citizens, Communal Violence, Nation, Politicians
