Chapter 2

Understanding Secularism

 Secularism: The Indian Constitution allows its citizens the freedom to live by
their religious beliefs and practices. Secularism refers to the separation of
religion from the State.

 Why is it Important to Separate Religion from the State?

 To avoid the oppression of the majority and the violation of Fundamental
Rights.
 To protect the freedom of every individual to exit from their religion,
embrace another religion or have the freedom to interpret religious
teachings differently.
 What is Indian Secularism?
 The Constitution of India made it mandatory for the Indian State to be
secular to avoid the following:
 The domination of one religious community over the other.
 The domination of a few members of the same religious
community over the others.
 The enforcing of any one religion on the state and the curbing of
religious freedom of individuals.
 The Indian State works in various ways for preventing the above
mentioned dominations. They are as follows:
 The Indian State is not ruled by any religious group nor does it
support any one religion.
 The Indian secularism prevents the above mentioned dominations
through the strategy of non-interference.
 The State makes certain exceptions for particular religious
communities in order to respect the sentiments of all religions and
not interfere with religious practices.
 The State follows the strategy of non-intervention. In order to
prevent religious discrimination of the lower-castes, the Indian
Constitution banned untouchability.