In history, there are
various instances of discrimination, exclusion, persecution and torture on the
grounds of religion and in a civilized world no one wishes for such
discrimination based on the religion.
Hence Indian
constitution speaks about values like Secularism.·
Secularism Refers to Separation of Religion from the state:
(i) The Indian
Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs
and practices.
(ii)India adopted a
strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the state.
Why is it important to Separate Religion from the State:
i) For proper
functioning of democracy.
(ii) It prohibits the
domination of one religion over another.
(iii)To protect the
freedom of individuals to exit from their religion, embrace another religion or
have the freedom to interpret religious teachings differently.
What is Indian Secularism:
(i)The Indian
Constitution mandates that the Indian state be secular state.
(ii)One religious
community does not dominate another in a secular state.
(iii)In a secular state,
some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community.
(iv)The state does not
enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of
individuals.
(v)The government
schools can not promote any one religion.
(vi)In order to respect
the sentiments of all religions and not interfere with religious practices, the
state makes certain exceptions for particular religious communities.
For Eg. Sikhs wear
'pugri' (turban) as a religious practice. Hence they need not to wear helmet
while riding two wheeler.
(vii)The Indian
secularism works to prevent the domination of majority religion over minority.
(viii)In order to
prevent this religion-based exclusion and discrimination of lower castes, the
Indian Constitution bans untouchability.
(ix) In order to end
social practices, the state may have to intervene in the religion based orders.
(x)The first amendment
of the US constitution prohibits the legislature from making laws “respecting
an establishment of religion” or that prohibits the free exercise of religion.
It means the legislature cannot declare any religion as an official religion.
In the USA, seperation between the State and religion means neither the state
nor religion can interfere in the affairs of each other.
(xi)The Indian state is
secular and works in various ways to prevent religious domination.
(xii) Unlike USA , in
India, the state can interfere in religion on the ideal laid down in the
constitution. For example; Untouchability is banned by the law.
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