Although the word secular was not enshrined in the Indian Constitution until the 42nd

Amendment in 1976 when it was inserted in the Preamble, it does not suggest that
secularism was not one of the core values of our Constitution till then. As a matter of
fact, there is unanimity in the opinion that the founding fathers of the nation were
particular and clear about the necessity of establishing a secular State after achieving
independence.
Several articles were provided for smooth governance of the country along secular
lines. The purpose of inserting the word secular was to make apparent and reemphasize what was already imbibed in the life of the nation.
Secularism was important for India from another point of view. The anti-colonial struggle
tended to provoke separatist and divisive forces and ideologies just to define
themselves and make their individual identity felt and recognized in other quarters. This
posed a potential threat to the coherence of the new nation in the infancy of its
independence. Secularism provided a way for people to co-exist in civility despite
religious disparities.
It was perhaps the only prudent option for reconstructing a nation which had a great
cultural heritage but lay fragmented with polarised identities that had emerged and
consolidated themselves during the British rule which had thrived on the policy of divide
and rule.
A secular state means that the government shall not formulate policies which
discriminate between various religious communities that live in its different parts. All the
citizens shall enjoy equal rights irrespective of different religious beliefs. Secularism has
three main components, viz.: (i) the grant of right of freedom of religious beliefs and
practices; (ii) equality of all religions; and (iii) the distancing of the State from all
religious groups.
These components signify that the secular State is not against religion per se. It gives
freedom to religious beliefs and practices to each sect. Extending the idea further, it
grants equality to all religious groups. This holds a paramount significance because it is

based, inter alia on religious tolerance. It is not a mere doctrine but a way of life in a
country like ours which is inhabited by people having different religious tenets, where
rumours, misunderstandings and religious intolerance can quickly create tension
between religious communities and lead to ethnic clashes. Secularism in this case
backed with the legal sanction, puts reins on divisive forces and violence.
The equality of religious and the distancing of State from all religious groups also serve
the purpose of assuring the minorities that they hold an equally important place in
society and country and that they would not be discriminated against. Correspondingly,
it is also a message to the majority groups that they would not be treated as privileged
class in any manner. Secularism therefore discouraged the pretensions, that the
majority religion had any bullying rights in the body politique of the country.
Secularism forms three fundamental rights in Part III of the Constitution, namely: the
Right to Equality, the Right to Freedom of Religion and the Cultural and Educational
Rights.
Article 14 of the Constitution prohibits the State from denying to any person, equality
before law or equal protection of law. Article 15 states that there will be no discrimination
against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any
one of them. Further, Section (2) says that no citizen shall on grounds only of religion,
race, caste, sex, place of birth or any one of them be subject to any disability, liability,
restriction or condition with regard to (a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and
places of public entertainment or (b) the use of wells, tanks, bathing Ghats, roads and
places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the
use of general public.
Similarly, Article 16 relates to the equality of opportunity to all the citizens of the State in
the matter of employment or appointment to any office of the State. Religion, among
other factors, cannot be a ground for ineligibility or disqualification. Article 17 declares
abolition of untouchability and its practice in any form. Article 25(i) says that subject to
public order, morality and health and to other provisions of this part, all persons are
equally entitled to freedom of conscience, and the right freely to profess, practice and
propagate religion. Positively, this right safeguards the right to religious freedom and

negatively it prohibits the State from compelling by law any person to practice any
particular creed or religion.
The recognition of this right to freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and
propagation of religion, however, shall not affect the operation of any existing law or
prevent the State from making any law, regulating or restricting any economic, financial,
political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice (15-2a).
Nothing in this Article shall affect any provision of social welfare and reform or throwing
open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of
the Hindus (25-2b).
The reference to Hindus shall be construed as including a reference to persons
professing the Sikhs, Jain or Buddhist religious, and the reference to Hindu religious
institution shall be construed accordingly. The act of practice is concerned primarily
with religious worship, ritual and observations. Propagation is concerned with the right
to communicate beliefs to another person or to expound the tenets of ones religion, but
does not include a right to forcible conversions.
It is believed that the logic behind constitutional guarantee of religious practices is that
they are as much a part of the religion as faith or doctrine. Equality of religions is
imperative to promote secularism.
Similarly, there are provisions for equality in cultural and educational rights for different
groups without any discrimination. India is a unique country in many respects. Its
vastness, abundance, richness and variety have led to the growth of many thoughts and
habits. In such a variety, the dominance of one particular thought is not possible. That is
why many thoughts, cultural habits and religious practices have co-existed in the
country. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Parsees and Jews live in
India. The people and the government respect the ideas and practices of all peoples
which include religions, social, economic and political fields. The people have
developed a broad outlook and believe in the concept of live and let live.
The concept of co-existence has not been confined to the geographical and political
boundaries of the country. Since ancient times the Indians have been preaching the

concept of Vasundhaiva Kutumbakan or the whole world is a family. Thus, Indias

secularism has its roots in the universal outlook of promoting the message of peace and
harmony. World peace has been Indias watchword and the high values of humanism its
philosophy.
The detractors of secularism in India cry themselves hoarse in alleging that
discriminations are rampant, arrogance is widespread among the racial upper classes
and castes in major parts of rural India and ethnic clashes between different
communities keep on occurring. There are problems aplenty regarding differences
between different communities which keep on resurfacing every now and then, etc.
They also cite the example of creation of a separate nation of Pakistan out of India as a
proof that the Hindus and Muslims could not live together.
We can refute these charges as stray incidents in any society. Even in countries
inhabited by a single race or religion there are incidents of violence. Difference of
opinion is natural part of human thinking. Discrimination or preference for personal
vested interests may be exercised by people who are morally depraved. Such people
exist in every nation and society.
Secularism is an integral part of Indian legal system. It is also the thought process of a
vast majority of people of different religions because the underlying belief of such
religion is that God is one and all men are created equal

Secularism in India
Meaning of Secularism in India:
Secularism in India refers to the equal status and treatment of all religions.
The dictionary meaning of the word secularism is skepticism in matters of religion. But
we, in India, use the work in a broader sense. We use the word to mean impartiality or
non-interference by the Government of the country in matters of religion. Independent
India is one of the largest states in the world of today with a population of nearly 120
crores. This vast population is made up of people professing different religions like

Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity etc. and practicing different religious
rites.
One of Indias guiding principles in impartiality in religious matters. India wants her
citizens to cling to any religion they like without any government interference. And this
noble decision of the Indian Government is unequivocally proclaimed in the amended
Preamble to the Constitution of our country.
Importance of Secularism in India:

Secularism and Democracy are two remarkable achievements of independent India.

These two achievements have stood the test of time and set the goal of the nation on
religious and political fronts. The State, remaining free from religious obligations, can
take a tolerant attitude towards every religion and can pursue the ideal of achieving the
well-being of the people, irrespective of caste, creed, religion etc.
Challenges and Threats to Secularism in India:

Secularism is, no doubt, an ideal principle. But in practice it is not so easy to follow. The
vulnerable point in India is the deep religious sentiment prevailing among its different
religious communities.
Both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists in India are whipping up this sentiment of the
staunch adherents of these religions, most of whom are either illiterate or semi-literate.
This is a threat to the Secular principles of India.
India, moreover, has failed to fulfill some of the important conditions laid in the
Constitution. Education has not been given the priority that it deserves. The condition of
backwardness poverty, population explosion and environmental pollution prevails in
the country in alarming proportions. The fundamentalists fish in this troubled water.
The secular parties, too, cannot exonerate themselves from their share of blame. They
cannot ignore the existence of fanaticism in the body politic. It is very often seen that in
the time of elections most of the political parties completely forget this noble ideal of
secularism and woo the voters even on communal or cast lines. These acts are not

done out of ignorance, but are due to compromise of convenience. It is the duty of the
secular and democratic forces to rally behind those political forces that really profess
and practice secularism.