Can u tell me about secularism in india?

secularism in india has different meaning , implications. word secularism has never been used in indian context in sense in has been used in western countries i.e. in sense of atheism or purely worldly approach, rejecting other-worldly beliefs.

india country religion central life of people. india’s age-old philosophy expounded in hindu scriptures called upanishad sarva dharma samabhava, means equal respect religions. reason behind approach fact india has never been mono-religious country. before aryan invasion india not mono-religious country.

there existed before aryan invasion numerous tribal cults north-western india kanya kumari of whom happened dravidians. languages in north west of pakistan today contain words of dravidian origin. however, invasion of aryans people of dravidian origin driven down south , today find dravidian people in 4 southern states of india.

aryans brought new religion based on vedas , brahmins dominated intellectual life of north india. section of brahmins migrated south , evolved new cults marrying vedic cults dravidian ones. said hindu indians worship more 33 hundred thousand gods , goddesses.

before advent of christianity , islam india multi-religious in nature. christianity , islam added more religious traditions existing indian traditions. correct india bewilderingly diverse country in every respect – religious, cultural, ethnic , caste.

india 1 country caste rigidity , concept of untouchability evolved , still plays major role in religious, social , cultural matters. caste dynamics in indian life, in christian , islamic societies, plays larger life role. since of conversions christianity , islam took place lower caste hindus, these 2 world religions developed caste structure. there lower caste churches , mosques in several places.

under feudal system there no competition between different religious traditions authority resided in sword , there no inter-religious tensions among people of different religions. co-existed in peace , harmony though @ times inter-religious controversies did arise. however, there never took place bloodshed in name of religion.

there tradition of tolerance between religions due state policies of ashoka , akbar. ashoka’s edicts spell out policy of religious tolerance , akbar used hold inter-religious dialogue among followers of different religions , followed policy of tolerance , withdrew jizya tax (poll tax on hindus irritant. both ashok , akbar have place of great significance in religious life of india. no doubt have been designated ‘great’ i.e. referred ashoka great , akbar great.

also, india had sufi , bhakti traditions in islam , hinduism respectively. both sufism , bhakti traditions based on respect different religions. poorer , lower caste hindus , muslims influenced these traditions. unlike ‘ulama , brahmans sufi , bhakti saints highly tolerant , open truth in other faiths. never adopted sectarian attitudes , never involved in power struggles. kept away power structures.

nizamuddin awliya, great sufi saints of 13-14th century saw times of 5 sultans never paid court single one. when last sultan of life sent message requesting him come court, refused. sent message if nizamuddin not come court, (the sultan) come hospice. replied there 2 doors hospice; if sultan enters one, leave other. such approach of sufis , saints power structure of time.

dara shikoh, heir apparent shajahan, moghul emperor had sufi bent of mind , great scholar of islam , hinduism. wrote book majmau’l bahrayn (co-mingling of 2 oceans islam , hinduism) , quoting hindu , islamic scriptures showed both religions had similar teachings. difference of languages (arabic , sanskrit) , not teachings. dara shikoh contributed richly inter-religious harmony in india.

of conversions islam , christianity took place through sufis , missionaries spirit of devotion. today in india of christians , muslims belong these lower caste strata. centuries after conversion caste status , economic status has not changed.

emergence of competitive politics
however, entire social, economic , political scenario changed after advent of british rule in 19th century. differences between hindu , muslim elite began emerge various reasons – socio-cultural, economic , political. british rulers adopted policy of divide , rule, distorted medieval indian history make muslim rulers appear tyrants hindu elite. distorted history taught in new school system, established british rulers.

there developed economic , political competition between hindu , muslim elite leading communal tensions. hindu elite quick adjust new realities , took modern education , commerce , industries. muslim ruling elite resisted new secular education system , not take commerce , industry. left far behind in race progress.

sir syed ahmad khan had perceptive mind. understood importance of modern education system , founded mohammedan anglo oriental college (mao college) became fulcrum of modern education north indian muslim elite. orthodox ulama, however, vehemently opposed modern secular education , declared syed ahmad khan kafir (unbeliever) supporting modern secular education.

hindu , muslim elite cooperated each other , syed ahmad khan emphasised hindu-muslim unity competitive nature of political , economic power drove wedge between 2 elites , communal tensions began emerge. when indian national congress formed in 1885, adopted secularism anchor sheet in view of multi-religious nature of indian society.

india not head towards hindu rashtra (hindu nation) india not merely hindu country. in pre-partition period muslims 25% besides christians, sikhs, buddhists , jains. however, hindu society highly fragmented society , far monolithic. dalits (low caste people) refused call hindus (subsequently leader b.r.ambedkar) adopted buddhism in protest).

muslims too, though not monolithic, had semblance of unity , used communal hindus try unite hindus 1 community. however, true hindu elite more confident muslim elite in emerging new power-structure , felt more secure. muslim elite felt less secure , hitched wagon british rulers. wanted share power-sharing arrangement before british left country.

secularism in india more political philosophical phenomenon. indian national congress adopted secularism, not worldly philosophy more political arrangement between different religious communities. power-sharing arrangement not satisfactorily worked out between hindu , muslim elite country divided 2 independent states of india , pakistan, muslim majority areas of north-west going pakistan.

after independence , partition large body of muslims left in india , hence leaders gandhi , nehru preferred keep india secular in sense indian state have no religion though people of india free both in individual , corporate sense follow religion of birth or adoption. india remained politically secular otherwise people continued religious.

in india right british period main contradiction not between religious , secular between secular , communal. in western world main struggle between church , state , church , civil society in india neither hinduism nor islam had church-like structure , hence there never such struggle between secular , religious power structure.

main struggle between secularism , communalism. communal forces among hindus , muslims fought share in power though used respective religions struggle power.

after partition communal problem did not die. raised head again within few years. rss (rashtriya swayam sevak sangh), mainspring of hindu right remained in existence , @ instance new political outfit, communal in nature came existence called jan sangh. in independent india jan sangh mainspring of communal problem , kept on denouncing secularism western concept alien indian ethos.

jawahar lal nehru, first prime minister of india great champion of secularism , secular politics. theoretically speaking congress party committed secularism. however, congress party consisted of several members , leaders secularism in doubt. due mahatma gandhi, nehru, maulana abul kalam azad , b.r.ambedkar india committed secularism , constitution drafted on secular lines.

secularism in india, pointed out before, meant equal respect

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