SECULARISM

Secularism is a political and social philosophy that advocates for the separation of religion from the state. In its essence, it ensures that the state has no official religion and that it remains neutral in matters of faith.

Definition

General: Secularism means that the state does not give shelter to any particular religion.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

“It (secular state) does not mean that we shall not take into consideration the religious sentiment of the people. All that a secular State means is that this Parliament shall not be competent to impose any particular religion upon rest of the people”.

Indira Nehru Gandhi v Rajnarain 1975

SC held that secularism means that State shall have no religion of its own and all persons of the country shall be equally entitled to the freedom of their conscience and have the right freely to profess, practice and propagate any religion.

Origin and Practices

• • Historical Roots: India’s secular identity is rooted in its ancient heritage of multiculturalism and social tolerance.
  • The Term: Coined by George Jacob Holyoake in 1851, it initially referred to a social order separate from religion.
  • The First Amendment of the US constitution in 1791 said, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
  • The third US president Thomas Jefferson’s 1802, talked of a “wall of separation between the church and state.”

Rationales Behind Secularism

• • National Unity: To maintain integrity in a pluralistic society with diverse religious groups.
  • Equality: To prevent the emergence of a theocratic state and ensure no citizen is a “second-class” resident based on faith.
  • Progress: To encourage scientific temper and social advancement, separate from religious dogma.

Secularism Under the Indian Constitution

Category	Articles	Key Provision
Non-Discrimination	Art. 15	State shall not discriminate on grounds of religion.
Equal Opportunity	Art. 16	Equal opportunity in public employment regardless of faith.
Individual Freedom	Art. 25	Right to freedom of conscience; right to profess, practice, and propagate religion.
Group Freedom	Art. 26	Right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
Tax Immunity	Art. 27	No person compelled to pay taxes for the promotion of any specific religion.
Education	Art. 28 & 30	Restrictions on religious instruction in state schools; right of minorities to establish educational institutions.

WESTERN SECULARISM

Western secularism, particularly the model originating from the United States and post-revolutionary France, is often described as a “Negative Secularism.” It is defined by a rigid demarcation between the state and religion.

The Core Features:

• • The “Wall of Separation”: The state cannot intervene in the internal affairs of religious institutions, and religious institutions cannot dictate state policy. There is a total legal and institutional separation between the church and the state.
  • State Neutrality and Non-Support: The state cannot adopt an official religion. The state does not provide financial aid or patronage to religious institutions.
  • Individual-Centric Rights: Every individual has the right to believe, or not believe, in any faith.
  • Religion as a Private Affair: In many Western countries (especially France), religious symbols are often discouraged or banned in public spaces like government schools or offices to maintain a “secular” environment.

INDIAN SECULARISM

The three core features:

• • The State shall permit freedom of practicing any religion.
  • The State shall not associate with any religion.
  • The State shall honour all faiths of equality.

 

Principled Distance Model (Rajiv Bhargva): The state is not identified with any religion, but it can intervene in religious practices to achieve social reform (e.g., banning Untouchability or Triple Talaq).

After the Constituent Assembly debate, mainly two views of secularism emerged;

• • One is Gandhi’s view, and the other is Nehru’s views. Gandhi’s opinion was based on Sarva Dharma Sambhave. equality for all religions. According to him, religion cannot be separated from public life. He said that religion is important for him, and he will respect other religions also.
  • Nehru followed the principle Dharma Nirpeksha. According to him, religion should be a private matter and should not guide public life.

WESTERN VS. INDIAN SECULARISM

Feature	Western Secularism	Indian Secularism
Separation	Absolute (Wall of Separation).	Principled Distance (Flexible).
Intervention	State cannot intervene in religion.	State can intervene for social reform (e.g., banning Sati).
Focus	Individual Rights.	Individual and Minority Community Rights.
State Aid	No financial support to religion.	State provides aid to religious schools.
Philosophy	Religion is private.	Equal respect for all religions (Sarva Dharma Sambhava).

Western secularism rose against one religion-Christian or Church, the society was by and large homogeneous in terms of diversity and economic conditions.

India, on the other hand, was a multi-cultural and multi-religious society since ancient times and secularism evolved under this ecosystem which inhered a positive and inclusive characteristics. Therefore, in essence, the main difference is positive and inclusive secularism in India vs. negative and exclusive Western secularism.

That is why, now when due to globalisation and rise of cosmopolitan type global society, the Western countries including France are supposed to learn from India.

SECULARISM THROUGH CASE LAWS

Kesavananda Bharati Case, 1973	Secularism was considered a part of the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution.
Indira Nehru Gandhi Case, 1975	“Secularism means that State shall have no religion of its own and all persons of the country shall be equally entitled to the freedom of their conscience and have the right freely to profess, practice and propagate any religion”.
S R. Bommai Case, 1994	"In matters of State, religion has no place and if the Constitution requires the State to be secular in thought and action, the same requirement attaches to political parties as well. The Constitution does not recognize, it does not permit, mixing religion and State power. That is the constitutional injunction”.
Abhiram Singh Case, 2017	The Court held that secularism does not say that the State should stay aloof from religion instead it should give equal treatment to every religion.

Challenges of Secularism

• • Communalism: The use of religion for political mobilization and ethnic identity.
  • Politicization: Using religious institutions for “vote bank” politics.
  • Uniform Civil Code: The ongoing debate over personal laws (marriage, divorce) versus a single secular law for all citizens.
  • Pseudo-Secularism: A term used by critics to describe what they perceive as the “appeasement” of minorities at the expense of the majority.

Key Takeaways

• • The “One Size Does Not Fit All” Principle: Secularism has evolved differently based on historical needs. The Western model emerged to end the interference of the Church in state affairs, while the Indian model evolved to foster harmony in a deeply pluralistic society.
  • A Tool for Social Justice: Beyond just separating religion and politics, secularism acts as a shield for minorities and a vehicle for social reform. It allows the state to intervene against regressive practices, ensuring that “Popular Morality” does not override “Constitutional Morality.”
  • The Global Challenge: In the 21st century, both models face challenges from rising majoritarianism and the struggle to balance religious expression with a neutral public sphere. The success of secularism today depends on its ability to adapt to multiculturalism without compromising on universal human rights.

Conclusion

As societies become more interconnected, the secular ideal remains the most viable path toward a fair and inclusive global order. Ultimately, it is the only governance model that can truly guarantee dignity for the individual and stability for a diverse nation.

“Secularism is not an absence of religion, but a presence of respect for all faiths and the supremacy of the law above all.”

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