Secularism is the principle of the separation of government institutions and persons mandated to represent the state from religious institution and religious dignitaries (the attainment of such is termed secularity). One manifestation of secularism is asserting the right to be free from religious rule and teachings, or, in a state declared to be neutral on matters of belief, from the imposition by government of religion or religious practices upon its people.Another manifestation of secularism is the view that public activities and decisions, especially political ones, should be uninfluenced by religious beliefs or practices.
Secularism draws its intellectual roots from Greek and Roman philosophers such as Epicurus and Marcus Aurelius; from Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Denis Diderot, Voltaire, Baruch Spinoza, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine; and from more recent freethinkers and atheists such as Robert Ingersoll, Bertrand Russell, and Christopher Hitchens. It shifts the focus from religion to other ‘temporal’ and ‘this-worldly’ things with emphasis on nature, reason, science, and development.
The objectives of secular state are
• All people are treated equally
• There should be no official religion
• People can change their religion if they wish to
• All religions and it's views and accepted and valued
• Respect fo all religions
• Respect and accepting religious views
• All religions are equal
• The government doesn't have power over religion
• Tolerance over other religions
• Anyone can follow any religion
• There is no official religion of India
• All people, no matter of what their religion is, are eligible to vote
• All religious practices can be done
• People can wear their religious symbols