Secularism Class 11 Political Science

What is Secularism?

Inter-Religious Dominations

Inter-religious Domination is a situation where a Community, religion dominates the other. Suppressing religious minority happens to be the major cause of the Inter-Religious Dominations.
Example: The Constitution of India facilitates its citizens by the right to equality and the right to live freely and with dignity but there are some forms of discrimination that continue in reality:

• More than 2,700 Sikhs were massacred in Delhi and many other parts of the country in 1984. The families of the victims feel that the guilty were not punished.
• Several thousands of Hindu Kashmiri Pandits have been forced to leave their homes in the Kashmir valley; they have not been able to return to their homes for more than two decades.
• More than 1,000 persons, mostly Muslims, were massacred during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002. The surviving members of many of these families could not go back to the villages in which they lived.

In all the above-mentioned examples we saw religious discrimination in one form or the other. Here, one community is targeted and victimized on the account of their religious identity.

Intra-religious Dominations

• Thus religious domination cannot be identified only with interreligious domination. It takes another conspicuous form, namely, intra-religious domination.
• Intra religious domination: situations where a community/religion dominates its own members. For example, Dalits are at a very low hierarchy and they are treated inhumanely and like slaves by upper castes.
• In religions such as Hinduism, some sections have faced persistent discrimination. For example, Dalits have been barred from entering Hindu temples. In some parts of the country, Hindu women cannot enter temples.
• When religion is organised, it is frequently taken over by its most conservative faction, which does not tolerate any dissent. Religious fundamentalism in parts of the US has become a big problem and endangers peace both within the country and outside. Many religions fragment into sects which leads to frequent sectarian violence and persecution of dissenting minorities.

What is a Secular State?

A secular state is one that does not favor any specific religion and separates itself from religious institutions. This separation is crucial in promoting peace, religious freedom, and equality among different religious groups. Let's break down the concept of a secular state and why it's important.

Preventing Religious Discrimination:

• Working together for mutual enlightenment through education to change people's mindsets.
• Sharing individual examples of mutual help to reduce prejudice and suspicion between communities.
• Stories of cross-community heroism can inspire harmony.

State Power and Religious Conflict:

• Modern states wield significant public power, impacting inter-community conflicts.
• State structure plays a crucial role in preventing religious conflict and promoting harmony.

Role of the State in Preventing Domination:

• A state should not be controlled by religious leaders to avoid theocratic rule.
• Theocratic states lack separation between religious and political institutions, leading to hierarchies and oppressions.

Secularism Beyond Separation:

• True secularism goes beyond mere separation from religion and needs no formal alliance with any belief system.
• A secular state should derive its principles from non-religious sources, focusing on peace, religious freedom, and equality.
• Internal dissent and religious equality can be compromised in states with close ties to a specific religion.

Forms of Secularism:

• The nature and extent of separation between state and religion may vary based on the values it aims to promote.
• Examples include the mainstream Western model, exemplified by the American state, and an alternative model seen in India.

Western Model of Secularism

Secular states have a common trait: they are neither run by religious leaders nor do they promote any specific religion. The idea, often influenced by the American model, is that religion and government should stay separate.In this setup, the state doesn't interfere with religion, and religion doesn't meddle in state affairs. Both have their own areas of control. State decisions should not be based solely on religion, and public policies should not favor one religion over another. If this boundary is crossed, it means religion is wrongly influencing the state. Similarly, the state should not fund religious groups or interfere with their activities unless they break the law.

• Mutual Exclusion: In secular states, religion and government operate independently. The state should not make decisions based solely on religious beliefs, and religion should not dictate state policies.
• Separation of Spheres: Each entity, religion, and the state, has its own area of influence and should not encroach upon the other's jurisdiction. For instance, the state shouldn't financially support religious schools.
• Religious Practices: The state cannot interfere with internal religious matters, such as who can become a priest or who can enter a temple. If a religious community excludes members, the state cannot intervene.
• Individual Freedom and Equality: Secularism emphasizes individual liberties and equality, not group rights. This means that communities cannot always follow their own practices if they conflict with individual rights.
• Historical Context: In Western societies, where religious homogeneity was more common, the focus was often on issues within a single religion. Inter-religious equality and minority rights were sometimes overlooked.
• State-Supported Religious Reform: Mainstream secularism typically doesn't involve the state promoting religious change. This stems from the idea that the state should remain separate from religious matters.

The Indian Model of Secularism

Indian secularism is often compared to Western secularism, but a careful look at the Indian Constitution reveals that they are fundamentally different. Indian secularism places a strong emphasis on inter-religious equality rather than just separation of church and state.

Origin and Context:

• Indian secularism emerged in a society already rich in religious diversity, predating Western modern ideas and nationalism.
• There was a culture of inter-religious tolerance in India, but tolerance can sometimes mask religious dominance and limit freedoms.

Impact of Western Modernity:

• Western modernity highlighted ideas of equality within Indian thought, shifting focus to equality within and between communities.
• This reshaped Indian secularism to oppose domination within Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and protect minority rights.

Distinctive Features:

• Indian secularism not only protects individuals' religious freedoms but also safeguards those of minority communities.
• It allows for state-supported religious reforms, such as banning untouchability and child marriage.
• The state can engage with religion positively or negatively to promote peace, freedom, and equality.

State and Religion Interaction:

• The Indian state is secular as it doesn't endorse any religion and maintains a sophisticated policy for religious equality.
• It can intervene in religion to oppose tyranny or support positive engagement, like supporting minority educational institutions.

Complexity of Indian Secularism:

• Indian secularism goes beyond mere equal respect for religions, involving state intervention in all religions for peace and equality.
• The state may show disrespect towards certain aspects of religions, like rejecting caste-hierarchies.

Criticisms of Indian Secularism

• The belief that secularism opposes religion is common.
• Indian secularism opposes certain forms of religious identity, specifically those that are dogmatic, violent, fanatical, and exclusivist, and promote hatred for other religions.
• However, the value of what is being undermined should be evaluated before determining whether it is deserving of protection or not.

Western Import

The concept of secularism is often debated, especially in the context of India. Some argue that secularism is a Western idea and may not fit well with Indian society. However, this criticism is not as straightforward as it may seem. Let's break down the key points and implications of this argument.

Origin of Many Things in India:

• India has adopted various Western inventions and concepts, like trousers, the internet, and parliamentary democracy. 
• This raises the question: does it matter where an idea originates if it serves a purpose?

Secularism and State Autonomy:
Western secular states emerged by challenging the dominance of religious institutions in societal and political matters. True secularism involves the state having its own independent goals and decisions.

• Varieties of Secularism:
  Not all secular states follow the strict separation of religion and state seen in Western countries. Different societies interpret secularism in ways that suit their unique circumstances.
• Indian Secularism:
  India has developed its own version of secularism, blending Western influences with its traditional values of peaceful coexistence among diverse religious communities. This form of secularism is not a mere copy of Western ideas but a product of India's historical and cultural context.

Minoritism

Indian secularism is often criticized for favoring minority rights. Imagine a scenario on a train where a conflict arises between smokers and a non-smoker. Initially, a vote seems fair to resolve the issue. However, if the non-smoker has asthma, the situation changes. In cases of fundamental interests, majority voting may not be fair. Similarly, minority rights in a society are crucial to protect fundamental interests.

Minority Rights Justified:

• Example: Imagine a scenario of an auditorium accessible only by stairs. While most can climb, some, like the elderly or physically challenged, cannot. Providing a ramp or lift isn't a special privilege; it ensures equal access for all.
• Explanation: Minority rights, like the ramp example, aren't about special treatment but ensuring equal opportunities for everyone in society.

Protecting Fundamental Interests:

• Example: If a non-smoker on a train has asthma, their right to a smoke-free environment is a fundamental interest that shouldn't be overruled by a majority vote.
• Explanation: In situations involving fundamental interests, like health or safety, minority rights must prevail over majority decisions.

Fairness and Democracy:

• Example: In a democratic setup, decisions by majority vote work well for trivial matters like smoking on a train, but not for issues concerning fundamental rights.
• Explanation: Democracy ensures fairness, but when it comes to protecting essential interests, individual or minority rights must take precedence.

Interventionist

In the context of Indian secularism, there is a debate about whether it is overly intrusive on religious freedom or if it strikes the right balance. Let's break down the key points and discuss them in simpler terms.

Indian Secularism:

• Indian secularism is often criticized for being too involved in religious matters, but this criticism may not fully understand its principles.
• Indian secularism does not mean complete separation of religion from the state. Instead, it maintains a respectful distance while allowing for some intervention when necessary.
• The concept of principled distance in Indian secularism means that the state can choose when to intervene in religious affairs without being excessively coercive.

State-Supported Religious Reform:

• Indian secularism allows for state-supported religious reform, but this does not always mean imposing changes forcefully from above.
• Personal laws, which govern matters like marriage and inheritance based on different religions, are a significant aspect of debate in Indian secularism.

Debate on Personal Laws:

• The issue of personal laws poses a dilemma for the Indian state, as they can be viewed as either protecting community-specific rights or as violating the principles of equality and justice.
• Personal laws are seen as either ensuring freedom from inter-religious dominance or perpetuating intra-religious inequalities.

Reforming Personal Laws:

• There is a call for reforming personal laws to uphold minority rights and gender equality without resorting to coercion or complete disengagement by the state.
• The state should play a role as a facilitator by supporting progressive and inclusive voices within religious communities to bring about constructive change.

Vote Bank Politics

The concept of vote bank politics in a secular democracy like India involves politicians targeting specific social or religious groups to secure their votes. This practice raises questions about whether such politics truly serve the welfare of the groups involved or if it leads to marginalization and social divisions.

• Politicians Seeking Votes: In a democracy, politicians naturally seek votes as part of their job. It's a fundamental aspect of democratic politics.
• Motivation Behind Seeking Votes: The crucial question is why politicians are seeking votes. Are they doing it solely for personal gain or power, or are they also considering the welfare of the group they target?
• Success of Secular Politics: If politicians targeting minority groups manage to fulfill their needs and desires, it can be seen as a success of the secular agenda, which aims to safeguard minority interests.
• Potential Injustice: If the welfare of one group comes at the expense of others, especially the majority, it can lead to new forms of injustice and social discord.
• Distortion of Electoral Politics: Vote bank politics can distort electoral processes when a group is mobilized en masse to vote for a particular candidate or party, disregarding individual diversity within the group.
• Short-term Gains vs. Long-term Development: Emphasizing short-term electoral gains over long-term societal development can be detrimental, as it may lead to neglect of substantial issues and genuine community problems.
• Social Division and Resource Competition: Competitive vote bank politics can exacerbate social divisions by portraying various groups as rivals competing for limited resources.
• Minority Appeasement: In some cases, vote bank politics may lead to minority appeasement, where the interests of a minority group are prioritized over the principles of equality for all citizens. This can result in further alienation and marginalization of the minority group.
• Challenges in Social Reform: Due to the focus on vote bank politics, addressing social reform within minority groups becomes challenging, as the diversity within these groups may not be properly acknowledged or addressed.

Impossible Project

Secularism is a concept that some people say won't work because it tries to solve a problem that seems unsolvable - the idea that people with very different religious beliefs can't live peacefully together. However, this argument doesn't hold up when we look at history. In India and in other places like the Ottoman Empire, people with diverse beliefs have lived together successfully. Critics might argue that this was possible because people accepted living in a society where everyone had a specific place in a hierarchy. They say that in today's world, where equality is a big value, this kind of setup wouldn't work.

Secularism's Potential: 

• Indian secularism is like a glimpse into the future of the world. 
• It's like a big experiment that's being closely watched globally. 
• This is because as people move around more due to things like globalization and migration, many countries are becoming more like India, with lots of different cultures and religions all mixed together.

Historical Examples: 

• In the past, societies like the Ottoman Empire showed that people with different beliefs can coexist peacefully, even if it was under a system where everyone had a set place. 
• This challenges the idea that diverse societies can't live in harmony.

Global Interest: 

• The rest of the world, especially places like Europe and America, are paying close attention to how India handles its diverse society. 
• They see it as a glimpse into what their own futures might look like as they become more culturally mixed.