Caste, Religion & Ethinicity in Indian Politics - 2 - UPSC PDF Download

Secularism

Secularism is a fundamental principle of modern democratic societies, allowing people from diverse religious backgrounds to live together harmoniously. However, in India, secularism faces challenges from communal forces, which threaten the idea of a democratic society. The secular state, its structures, and secular politics are all under threat from growing forces of communalism that have their roots in various social, political, historical, economic, and electoral factors. A struggle against communalism has to be a struggle against more than communalism itself; it has to be part of a larger struggle for a more participatory and egalitarian model of society. This struggle should involve a re-examination of cultural traditions and an active engagement with questions of tradition and culture, as culture is a crucial axis around which much communal mobilization occurs.

Secularism: Understanding its Meaning and Definition

Secularism is a concept that emerged in the West as a response to religious conflicts and the need to separate the state from the Church. Its origins may be rooted in Christianity, but its application has evolved to be relevant to other cultures as well. It is essential for modern democratic nation-states to ensure a strong sense of shared identity, where citizenship takes precedence over other identities such as family, race, class, and religion. The term was coined by George Jacob Holyoake in the 19th century, and it implies not only the separation of Church and state but also individual freedom. The Enlightenment in Europe further emphasized reason over religion, leading to a distinction between secular and religious concerns. However, this does not necessarily imply hostility between the two but rather exclusivity. In India, secularism is seen as a philosophy that enables harmonious coexistence among diverse religious communities and a state that respects and grants freedom to all religions.

Key Points:

• Origin of secularism in the West and its relevance to other cultures
• Importance of secularism in modern democratic nation-states
• Coining of the term by George Jacob Holyoake and its implications
• Influence of the Enlightenment and the emphasis on reason
• Distinction between secular and religious concerns
• Indian understanding of secularism as a harmonious coexistence philosophy

The Indian Constitution and Secularism

The Indian Constitution and its commitment to secularism aimed to ensure the separation of religious and non-religious institutions, promote inter-communal solidarity, and protect the structure of ordinary life in India. Despite the term "secular" not being originally featured in the Indian Constitution, it was later incorporated through the forty-second amendment in 1976. The Constitution guarantees both individual and collective freedom of religion through Articles 25-28, ensuring that the state would not discriminate against citizens based on religion. However, recent incidents of violent attacks on religious minorities and the rise of sectarian interests have challenged the practice of secularism in India, leading to a drift away from the original framework of the Constitution.

1. Adoption of Secular Principles: The deteriorating Hindu-Muslim relations and the Partition were the major factors that influenced the adoption of secular principles in the Indian Constitution. This aimed at avoiding communal conflicts and preventing a Partition-like scenario.
2. Inclusion of Religion in Cultural Matters: Religion was included as a guideline in matters of cultural import, such as granting separate rights to minority religious communities, to enable them to live with dignity, and recognizing that a uniform charter of rights was not necessary for national integration.
3. Principle of Non-Discrimination: Articles 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution guarantee that the state shall not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, and that no Indian citizen would be discriminated against in matters of public employment on the basis of religion.
4. Freedom of Religion: Article 25 guarantees the freedom of conscience and the right to freely propagate, profess, and practice any religion.
5. Establishment and Management of Religious Institutions: Article 28 gives the freedom to all religions to set up trusts and institutions, acquire property, and manage their own affairs.
6. Non-Discrimination in Voting and Representation: Articles 325 and 326 provide for the principle of non-discrimination among citizens in the area of voting and representation on the basis of religion, race, or sex.

Despite the constitutional provisions supporting secularism, the increasing influence of sectarian interests and incidents of violence against religious minorities have challenged the practice of secularism in India. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the Indian Constitution in upholding its secular principles and the need for further measures to ensure the protection of religious freedom and inter-communal solidarity.

Communal Challenge to Secularism

Despite the presence of a secular framework and institutional support for secularism in India, the rapid advance of capitalism has not resulted in the expected decline of religious influence on people's lives. Instead, communalism has intensified, posing a challenge to secularism. This raises questions about the factors contributing to this trend.

The Decline of Secularism and the Rise of Communalism in India

The decline of secularism in India can be attributed to various factors such as the character of the national movement, electoral politics, and the nature of capitalist development. This decline has led to the rise of communalism, which poses a significant challenge to the secular fabric of the Indian state.

• Character of the National Movement: The Indian bourgeoisie failed to build a strong, secular nation after independence, leading to the fragility of the Indian nation. The nationalist discourse relied heavily on religious idioms and symbols, particularly from Hinduism, and did not facilitate a creative dialogue between communities. This resulted in a non-negotiated form of secularism, which has become increasingly difficult to defend against communal challenges.
• Electoral Politics and the Decline of Democratic Institutions: The commitment to secular ideals by major political parties, especially the Congress party, has been compromised due to electoral compulsions. The politics of vote banks and majoritarianism has led to the downplaying of broader social issues and the spread of communal politics. The Congress party's shift to a techno-bureaucratic-military approach has further alienated the masses and discredited democratic politics, leaving a void that has been occupied by communal forces.
• Nature of Capitalist Development and Character of the Indian Ruling Class: The uneven capitalist development in India has heightened social tensions and provided fertile ground for the promotion of narrow and exclusivist interests. The dissatisfaction and alienation felt by the masses due to increasing economic disparities are being channeled into revivalist religiosity, often supported by the media. This has led to a deliberate attempt to widen the mass base of religious appeal and create a more 'universal Hinduism'.

The decline of secularism in India is a complex issue resulting from the interplay of various factors, such as the character of the national movement, electoral politics, and the nature of capitalist development. The rise of communalism poses a major challenge to the secular fabric of the Indian state and needs to be addressed through a combination of strategies, including fostering a genuine dialogue between communities, reviving democratic politics, and addressing the root causes of social and economic disparities.

The Anti-Modernist Challenge to Secularism

The secular state and its institutions in India face significant challenges from the growing forces of communalism, driven by social, political, historical, economic, and electoral factors. Intellectual and academic literature increasingly questions the appropriateness of the secular state in India, with some arguing that the Western concept of secularism is not suitable for Indian society.

• Prominent Indian scholar Ashish Nandy contends that the Western understanding of secularism, which is fundamentally opposed to religion, has exhausted its possibilities. He argues that the modern nation-state's secularism, development, and nationalism ideologies are seen as violent ideas, as the state justifies the use of violence to defend them. Nandy also criticizes the fact that the state cannot ensure that secularism, development, and nationalism do not become intolerant faiths themselves.
• Furthermore, Nandy believes that the core principles of a modern nation-state, such as objectification, scientistic, and bureaucratic rationality, can only breed violence. The elite in such states view religion or ethnicity as obstacles to nation-building and state formation, leading to domination and violence in the name of progress and modernity. This type of secularism, Nandy suggests, has been imposed on a populace that never wished to separate religion from politics, ultimately leading to communal politics and breeding communalism.

In summary, the anti-modernist challenge to secularism in India is rooted in the idea that the Western concept of secularism is not appropriate for Indian society. Critics argue that secularism, as practiced in the modern nation-state, breeds communalism and violence, and that a more inclusive and tolerant approach to religion and politics is needed.

Key Points:

• Growing challenges to secularism in India from communalism and intellectual critiques
• Western concept of secularism seen as unsuitable for Indian society
• Ashish Nandy's criticism of the violence and intolerance bred by secularism, development, and nationalism ideologies
• The imposition of secularism on a population that never intended to separate religion from politics, leading to communal politics
• The need for a more inclusive and tolerant approach to religion and politics in India

What is the Way Out?

• Combating Communalism through a Holistic Approach: To address the communal challenges to secularism, it is essential to adopt a holistic approach that encompasses the struggle against all forms of injustice, hierarchy, and oppression. This would involve joining hands with various movements, such as the feminist movement, the Dalit movement, and other organizations representing marginalized sections of society, in order to create a unified secular response to communalism.
• Integrating Secularism into the Democratic Transformation Process: Manoranjan Mohanty argues that secularism can only be meaningful if it becomes an integral part of the overall process of democratic transformation. This would require moving away from an authoritarian state-imposed secularism and instead focusing on a more inclusive and participatory model that challenges socio-political domination.
• Re-examining Cultural Traditions and Engaging with Cultural Questions: A crucial aspect of addressing communal challenges is to re-examine and engage with cultural traditions, as culture plays a significant role in communal mobilization. This would involve exploring and understanding the cultural aspects that contribute to communal tensions and finding ways to promote cultural harmony and inclusivity.
• Secularism as Part of the Struggle for Dignity and Freedom: The struggle for secularism should be seen as part of the broader struggle of the ordinary people of India for their right to a life that is dignified and politically, economically, and culturally free. This would involve promoting secular values and principles at the grassroots level, empowering marginalized communities, and fostering a sense of unity and shared values among diverse sections of society.

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Caste, Religion & Ethinicity in Indian Politics

What is the origin of secularism and how is it relevant to non-Western cultures?

Secularism originated in the West as a response to religious conflicts and the need to separate the state from the Church. Although its roots are in Christianity, its application has evolved to be relevant to other cultures, including India, where secularism is seen as a philosophy that enables harmonious coexistence among diverse religious communities.

How does the Indian Constitution support secularism?

The Indian Constitution guarantees both individual and collective freedom of religion through Articles 25-28, ensuring that the state would not discriminate against citizens based on religion. It also includes provisions for non-discrimination in matters of public employment, voting, and representation, as well as the establishment and management of religious institutions.

What factors have contributed to the decline of secularism and the rise of communalism in India?

Factors such as the character of the national movement, electoral politics, and the nature of capitalist development have contributed to the decline of secularism in India. This decline has led to the rise of communalism, which poses a significant challenge to the secular fabric of the Indian state.

What is the anti-modernist challenge to secularism in India?

The anti-modernist challenge to secularism in India is rooted in the idea that the Western concept of secularism is not appropriate for Indian society. Critics argue that secularism, as practiced in the modern nation-state, breeds communalism and violence, and that a more inclusive and tolerant approach to religion and politics is needed.

How can India address the communal challenges to secularism?

To address the communal challenges to secularism, India needs to adopt a holistic approach that encompasses the struggle against all forms of injustice, hierarchy, and oppression. This would involve integrating secularism into the democratic transformation process, re-examining cultural traditions, and engaging with cultural questions to promote harmony and inclusivity. Additionally, the struggle for secularism should be seen as part of the broader struggle for dignity and freedom for all citizens.