NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 2 - The Indian Constitution Understanding Secularism

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED
 

Q.1. List the different types of religious practice that you find in your neighbourhood. This could be different forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites, different kinds of religious music and singing, etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practice?
 Ans. Different types of religious practice:
(i) Jagran
(ii) Kirtan
(iii) Namaj
(iv) Mass
(v) Havan Yes, this indicates freedom of religious practice.
 

Q.2. Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.
 Ans. The government will surely intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide. Needless to say that the practice of infanticide is a crime. Under this practice the life of a newly-born child is killed. The law does not allow anyone to kill a life.
 

Q.3. Complete the following table:

Ans.

 

Q.4. Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different religions? What does this indicate?
 Ans. Holidays in a school calendar for different religions:

Q.5. Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.
 Ans. Different views are followed even within the same religion. As for example, only in the Hindu religion, we have hundreds of deities worshipped by different groups of people. Similarly, in Muslim community, there are Shiyas and Shunnis. In Jainas, there are Shwetambar and Digambar sects. In Buddha Dharma, there are Hinayaans and Mahayaans.
 

Q.6. The Indian State both keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. This idea can be quite confusing. Discuss this once again in class using examples from the chapter as well as those that you might have come up with.
 Ans. India is a land of complex ideas. It is difficult to understand what it really wants. There are many ideals in the Constitution but practices are quite different from them. In many cases we see laws explain a concept in a different way. But people interpret it differently. Law itself in some cases act differently. As for example, in a secular state law has nothing to say in any of the religions practices but when the dominance of upper castes in religion was brought to question the law took favour of the lower 
castes. This interference of the State creates confusion.
 

Q.7. This poster alongside highlights the need for ‘Peace’. It says, “Peace is a never-ending process.....It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests.” Write in your own words what you think the above sentences are trying to convey? How does it relate to the need for religious tolerance?

This chapter had three drawings on religious tolerance made by students of your age. Design your own poster on religious tolerance for your peers.
 Ans. This poster conveys a message for the establishment of peace in the society. The message explains that peace is a long-cherished process. But in this process we cannot ignore the differences or overlook our common interests. It means peace can be brought only after establishing a coordination between the common interests. Religious tolerance is the most sensitive issue in this sense.

Note: Students are suggested to design their own posters on religious tolerance.