NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science - Secularism

Q1: Which of the following do you feel are compatible with the idea of secularism? Give reasons.
(a) Absence of domination of one religious group by another.
(b) Recognition of a state religion.
(c) Equal state support to all religions.
(d) Mandatory prayers in schools.
(e) Allowing separate educational institutions for any minority community.
(f) Appointment of temple management bodies by the government.
(g) Intervention of state to ensure entry of Dalits in temples.
Ans:
(a) This idea is compatible because:

• Due to equality, majority of religious people will not dominate minority religious people.
• Minority religious people also enjoy freedom to practicise any belief, way of worship and to preach as well.

(b) It is not compatible because such situation prevails only in religious dominated state.
(c) Equal support to all religions by state cannot be provided because:

• One state can have 10 festivals to be celebrated where as the other may have only 2 or 4.
• The ways of worship are also different which is not possible for state to follow different methods.
• Hence, it should be left on religious community or individual’s will.

(d) It is not compatible because students, teacher and employees are free to adopt their own way to offer prayer.
(e) It is compatible to provide protection and security to people of minority religions group.
(f) It is not compatible to be the direct involvement of state and or government in religious affairs.
(g) It is compatible because:

• The weaker sections will not be denied the freedom to adopt any religion on ground of being lower caste.
• Secularism does not challenge only inter-religious intra-religions domination also.
• State’s efforts promote freedom within religions as well as equality among them.

Q2: Some of the key characteristics of western and Indian model of secularism have got mixed up. Separate them and make a new table.

Ans:

Q3: What do you understand by secularism? Can it be equated with religious tolerance?
Ans:

• 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.
• However, religious tolerance is one of the components of secularism.

Q4: Do you agree with the following statements? Give reasons for supporting or opposing any of them.
(a) Secularism does not allow us to have a religious identity.
(b) Secularism is against inequality within a religious group or between different religious groups.
(c) Secularism has a western-Christian origin. It is not suitable for India.
Ans:
(a) It is opposed because secularism believes and supports protection of religious identity, as being a part of human rights.

(b) It is supported because:

• Secularism is not against inequality.
• It allows religious institutions.
• Secularism believes in equality of all religions.
• The people belonging to different religions or communities enjoy equal opportunity of jobs.

(c) It is opposed because:

• Secularism is neither have western origin nor it is not suitable for India.
• After independence, India has been declared a secular state not to interfere in the religious matters of individuals.
• Its example can be cited even from ancient history when Hindu and Buddhist rulers behaved equally with the people of different religions.

Q5: Indian secularism focuses on more than the religion-state separation. Explain.
Ans:

• Indian secularism does not focus on the religion-state separation alone; it is also concerned with maintaining harmony between different religions and reforming religious practices to protect the social and civil rights of its citizens.
• Indian secularism allows every religion to flourish and develop.
• The Indian state allows the promotion of all religions and treats each of them equally.
• Therefore state does not interfere in religious matters but it checks the influence of religion in public life.

Q6: Explain the concept of principled distance.
Ans:

• According to the concept of principled distance, a secular state may keep a principled distance from religion to promote peace between communities and it may also intervene to protect the rights of specific communities.
• The state gives equal preference to every religion and respects them all equally.However, the state may interfere if religious groups try to exercise their power on the political and social life of the people.
• This balanced distance of state from religious groups is called principled distance.