Mains Marathon

Approach

• Define secularism in general and in the Indian context.
• Indian secularism is a model of principled distance
• Contrast this with the Western model of absolute separation.
• End with a scholarly remark.

Introduction

Secularism refers to the ideological framework that ensures the separation of religion from the state and guarantees religious freedom to all individuals. However, the model of secularism differs across political systems. While Western secularism emphasizes a strict separation between religion and the state, Indian secularism follows a distinct path, termed as “principled distance” by political theorist Rajeev Bhargava.

Body

Indian Secularism and the Principle of Balanced Engagement

• Indian secularism is not rooted in the idea of the state being anti-religious or irreligious.
• Instead, it embodies a principled distance where the state may engage with or disengage from religions based on the context and values such as social justice, equality, and reform.
• The Indian Constitution allows the state to intervene in religious affairs to eliminate discrimination and uphold fundamental rights. Examples include:
  • Abolition of untouchability under Article 17.
  • Reforms in temple entry and religious practices to ensure equality.
  • Regulation of religious institutions under laws like the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act.
  • Invalidation of Triple Talaq through the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
• At the same time, the state respects religious freedom through Articles 25 to 28, allowing all citizens the right to profess, practice, and propagate their religion.

Contrast with the Western (Absolute Separation) Model

• Western secularism, especially in the U.S. and France, is based on the notion of absolute separation.
• The First Amendment in the U.S. restricts state interference in religious affairs. This model treats religion as a private affair, separate from the functioning of the public and political domain.
• In France, the principle of laïcité enforces strict non-interference. For example, religious symbols like the hijab are banned in public institutions.
• Such rigid separation is not always suited for deeply diverse and religiously plural societies like India, where religion often intersects with social and cultural life.

Conclusion

Thus, Indian secularism embodies a dynamic and context-sensitive approach. Indian secularism’s model of principled distance reflects a deliberate constitutional choice to adapt secularism to a complex, plural society. As Rajeev Bhargava rightly observes: “Indian secularism is not anti-religious; it is multi-value and multi-principled, emphasizing freedom, equality, and reform.”