Understanding Secularism Summary Class 8 NCERT Summary Chapter 2

What is Secularism?

Secularism refers to this separation of religion from the State.

Why is it Important to Separate Religion from the State?

• Separating religion from State power is crucial for a democratic society.
• Most countries have multiple religious groups living together.
  • If a majority religious group controls the State, it might misuse that power against other religions.
• It is essential to protect the freedom of individuals to follow the religion they choose.
• Any form of religious dominance violates the rights guaranteed to all citizens in a democratic society.
• Majority rule can lead to discrimination, coercion, and even violence against religious minorities.

What is Indian Secularism?

• The Constitution states that a secular State must ensure:
  • No one religious community dominates another;
  • No members of a religious community dominate others within that community;
  • The State does not enforce a specific religion or restrict individual religious freedom.

• The Indian State is not ruled by a religious group and nor does it support any one religion.
• In India, government spaces like law courts, police stations, government schools and offices are not supposed to display or promote any one religion.
• In order to respect the sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices, the State makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities. For example: a sikh while riding bike can wear pugri (turban) instead of helmet.
• Indian secularism prevents the domination of majority over minority is through a strategy of intervention. For example: Untouchability was religion-based exclusion and discrimination of ‘lower castes’ in Hindu so the Indian Constitution bans untouchability.

How Indian secularism different from that of other democratic countries?

• In American secularism, there is a strict separation between religion and the State, whereas Indian secularism allows the State to intervene in religious matters.
• The Indian Constitution guarantees Fundamental Rights based on these secular principles.