UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions: Secularism | Indian Society for UPSC CSE PDF Download

What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism? (UPSC GS1 2019)

Secularism in India is different from western concept. It stands for mutual respect, understanding and tolerance for all the religions, major or minor and accepting difference of opinions. Context to the Challenges faced by Indian Society: However, there are many incidents like Mob lynching in name of religion which questions this concept in India. The death and violence of people in name of cow protection. The dilemma and abnormal behavior over conversion issues.
Political violence especially at the time of elections. Communal violence, extremism and spread of hatred among the people. These affect the way of life of people in various parts of the country. Cultural practices are the living ways of life of people, individual or collective, in the political, economic, social spheres.
Various challenges faced by the cultural practices in name of secularism are: 

• Intolerance and Violence: This leads to lack of tolerance and respect for each other. Deaths and violence in name of cow protection are examples of this. 
• Majoritarianism: This reflect upon use of religion for political mobilization of the people and spreading hatred against the minorities may be it Muslims, like case of Muzaffarnagar, Sikhs as in 1984, Christians as in Kandhamal. 
• Radicalization: The people are taken into believing ideologies which are extreme and may harm unity and integrity of the country. Security situations can be faced by the expansion of terrorism and exploitation of the vulnerable masses. 
• Fundamentalism: The belief in the fundamentals can pave way to deviant behavior leading to disruption of normal life in the name of religion. 
• Alienation: The people get distanced away from their traditional roots and feel socially, psychologically distance from other people in name of religion. The people going to Middle east for ISIS etc is an example of this. Moreover the various challenges may hamper the inclusiveness of Indian democratic culture by promoting the ideological alienation. The above can result in Distance from Education, Employability, Excellence, fraternity and dignity of individual. 

Conclusion 
Thus, the challenges to the cultural practices in the name of secularism are several, affecting the people’s rights to life and liberty, dignity and fraternity. However, in essence, our cultural practices are founded upon the principles and philosophies of tolerance, non-violence, truth, VasudhaivKutumbakam( world is one family), etc, which in turn are reflected in our modern constitutional principles. Thus, following them in practice would act as an effective check and balance against the challenges of modern times.

Topics Covered - Indian Secularism