SECULARISM IN INDIA
I. INTRODUCTION
Secularism is the principle of human conduct based on naturalistic considerations not involved with religion. One can say that it is separation of religion from civil affairs and that the state may be broaden to a similar position seeking to remove or minimize the role of religion in any public sphere. [1] Religion should not be involved in the ordinary activities of the country. India is a vast country so there are many religions and traditions, and this tends to spice peoples feelings and people mix up their religion and this creates a lot of misunderstanding and problems. The belief that religion should not be involved in the ordinary social and political activities of a country. [2] This topic has been a debate since the countrys independence in 1947. This topic is traced back to the British colonial era. The British adopted a rule which was not good for us Indian, the rule was Divide and Rule. The British controls the diverse religious and cultural groups in the country. After the independence, the secular values were incorporated into the constitution, aiming that the state is unified, and everyone treats everyone equally and no one is bias towards ones religion.
II. SECULARISM IN INDIAN CONSTITUTION
The Indian constitution is very unique and one-of-a-kind constitution. It is neither anti-religion like some socialist constitution nor does it create a wall of separate between the state and the religion that its people believe. After Indias independence the secular values were incorporated into the constitution. Religion is very important in the Indian society and seeks to maintain a balance between the rights of individual to practice their faith and the need for a secular state. There have been many cases which challenges the fundamental rights saying that if one is practicing their own religion, but it interferes with the states overall mindset then people come to the court claiming that what they did is within their own interest of their religion and faith.
1) Preamble: the word secular was added to the preamble of the constitution in 1976. It is a fundamental feature of the constitution and revolves around it. Further in the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, 1976 it was also deemed to be secular.[3]
2) Article 15: Discrimination occurs when an individual or a group of people are treated differently or taken advantage of compared to another person under a similar situation. Therefore Article 15 was enacted to prevent such discrimination. It prevents any kind of discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. It ensures that the state cannot discriminate against any individual such as access to public roads and transport.[4]
3) Article 25-28: This article guarantees the right to practice and propagate any religion. Under the Indian constitution from articles 25-28 guarantee the right to freedom of religion. In India, it is one of the six fundamental rights promised under Articles 25-28. These articles ensure that any individual has the Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion. They can manage their own affairs. [5]
III. CHALLENGES TO SECULARISM IN INDIA
There are several challenges.
1) Religious violence: There are many religions in India and because of that there are always clash between each religion. Clashes like the Muslim and Gujarat in 2002. This is a prevailing issue and often people who are deepen engrossed in their religions tend to have difference with people who have faith in another religion.
2) Personal laws: personal laws that vary by religious community has led to demands for their reform or abolition, as they are seen as a source of inequality and injustice.
3) Political parties and religious organization: political parties with fundamentalist religious organisations. Hindu community behind a resurgent Hindu nationalism have raised concerns about the role of secularism in Indian politics.
4) Constitutional amendments : there have been many changes to the Indian constitution like the 42nd which added the word secularism and socialist to the preamble.
IV. MEDIA AND SECULARISM
Media plays a crucial in influencing and shaping public opinion. The relationship between media and secularism can be complicated and it is very interconnected. As media controls information and through that they can control narrative. Media can promote certain values and morality through its power and influence. For example, the media can promote inclusivity and tolerance among people. It can create awareness by showing people the consequences of negative behaviour and promoting positive values. Further, it can also set standards for people to behave in a certain way or live in certain lifestyle by showing role models with positive behaviour. Than It can also provide education and information on many various topics. For example, TV and newspapers can create awareness among people by providing them with information on social issues and policies.[6] The media can face many challenges while trying to promote secularism. Such as facing political pressures or may be biased. As media can control the narratives through information there have been many times instances of bias reporting. Further in many communal conflicts media has given false information. The media can also be either secular or religious. If it religious then it will lean toward a certain community more and it will see issues aligned with its ideology and thus lack different points of view. This will lead to religious consumers only having faith in what they believe. However, as compared to secular media it will be more open and diverse to various people from many backgrounds. This makes the secular media more favourable than religious media in making people more aware.[7]
V. CONCLUSION
Secularism is a complex concept. Although India is a secular state but there are still problems and challenges that one faces. This shows that we need a nuanced understanding and approach to secularism in India. So to solve the challenges it is important that the state and the society and the religious institutions work together and promote a more inclusive place for everyone. Without any discrimination. A more inclusive and tolerant society can be achieved through concerted efforts. There should be a unified education and awareness so that there is no trouble within the state.
VI. REFERENCES
[1] Secularism, available at : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism (last visited on December 29, 2023).
[2]Secularism, available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/secularism (last visited on December 29, 2023).
[3] Preamble to the Indian Constitution, available at : https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/preamble-to-the-indian-constitution (last visited on December 29,2023).
[4] Article 15 of the Indian Constitution, available at : https://blog.ipleaders.in/article-15/# (last visited on December 29,2023).
[5] Right to Freedom of Religion: Article 25 to 28 of Indian Constitution, available at : https://byjusexamprep.com/upsc-exam/right-to-freedom-of-religion-article-25-to-28#:~ (last visited on December 29,2023).
[6] ROLE OF MEDIA IN DEVELOPING VALUES AND MORALITY, available at : https://prepwithharshita.com/role-of-media-in-developing-values-and-morality/# (last visited on December 29, 2023).
[7] SECULAR MEDIA AND THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, available at : https://atlascorps.org/secular-media-and-the-religious-communities/ (last visited on December 29, 2023).
