INDIAN CONCEPT OF SECULARISM
UPSC GS MAINS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
How is the Indian Concept of Secularism different from the western model of Secularism? Discuss.
Secularism is a doctrine that opposes all form of inter-religious and intra-religious dominations. All secular states have one thing in common that they are neither theocratic nor do they establish a religion.
The western model of secularism denotes separation of religion and state as mutually exclusive i.e. the state will not intervene in the affairs of religion and in the same manner religion will not interfere in the affairs of the state. The western model of secularism is a negative concept.
Indian secularism is fundamentally different from the western secularism. Indian secularism is fundamentally different from the western secularism. Indian secularism does not only focus on religion-state separation but the idea of inter-religious equality is crucial to Indian Conception.
Indian secularism took a distinctive form as a result of interaction between what already existed in a society that had religious diversity and the ideas that came from the west.
Indian secularism has made room for intra-religious domination and is compatible with the idea of state supported religious reform. Example- Indian Constitution bans untouchability. The Indian state may engage with religion negatively to oppose religious tyranny. Indian secularism allows principled state intervention in all religions. Unlike the western secularism, Indian secularism is a positive concept.
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