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F Secularism, , , , , , , , —————————, , FACTS THAT MATTER, , 1., , 2., , oo, , Ql., , Ans., , The word ‘Dharma’ has been derived from Sanskrit refer to adopt alongwith the basic, , principle to do welfare of all. pi, Secularism refers equal respect for all religions, i.e. the state does not profess any religion, , and treats all the religions at par., Originally, India was not declared a secular state, the word secular was added by the, , 42"? Amendment Act., Secularism refers that political system and administration should be based upon a secular, , ideology to leave the task of coordination among the different religions and bring unity, , among them through voluntary social organisation., Religion and beliefs are considered as a personal matter, hence, state should have no, , interference in it., India is a secular state because India is impartial in religious matters, all citizens enjoy, , freedom to adopt any religion as per choice, no discrimination is made on the ground of, , religion. India has no state religion, religion is kept separate from politics, etc., , India used to believe since ancient times the nation of Sarva Dharm Sam Bhava, cad et aH Ta) because India respects all religions equally., , Hence, secular states are neither theocratic nor establish any religion., , . Indian secularism can be criticised on the grounds of being anti-religions, imported from, western culture, charge of minoritism, interventionist based on vote bank politics and it , is considered to be an impossible project., , NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED, , Which of the following do you feel are compatible with the idea of secularism? Give reasons., (a) Absence of domination of one religious group by another., , (b) Recognition of a state religion., , (c) Equal state support to all religions., , (d) Mandatory prayers in schools., (e) Allowing separate educational institutions for any minority community., , (f Appointment of temple management bodies by the government., (g) Intervention of state to ensrure entry of Dalits in temples., (a) This idea is compatible because:, (i) Due to equality, majority of religious people will not dominate minority religious, , people., oe

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Q2., , Q3., Ans., , , , , , , , 4s, , (ii) Minority religious peopl enjoy toed act belief, way of, worship and to preach an ; " ——, , ib) ut is not compatible because euch situation prevails only in religious dominated state., ic) Equal support to all religions by state cannot be provided because:, (1) One state can have 10 festivals to be celebrated where as the, , , , other may bave, only 2 or 4., (ii) The ways of worshi, different colle ee, (iii) Hence, it should be left on religious, (d) It is not compatible because students,, own way to offer prayer., (e) It is compatible to provide protection agd security to people of minority religions, group., (f It is not compatible to be the di, religious affairs., (g) It is compatible because:, (i) The weaker sections will not, ground of being lower caste., (ii) Secularism does not challenge, (iii) State’s efforts promote freedom within religions as we, them., Some of the key characteristics of western and Indian model of secularism have got mixed, up. Separate them and make a new table., , sch ia not possible for state to Slow, , , , , , , , munity of individual’s will., , rnd employees are free vo adopt tet, , volvement of state and or government in, , the freedom to adopt any religion on, , ly inter-religious intra-religions domination also., 1] as equality among, , , , , , , , , , Strict non-interference of religion and state State supported religious reforms are, in each other's affairs. ‘ allowed., , Equality between different religious groups Equality between different sects of a, is a key concern. : religion is emphasised., , Attention to minority rights Less attention to community-based rights., , Individual and his rights at the centre Rights of both individual and religious, community are protected., , dian, Strict non-interference of religion and state, , , , 4, , , , State supported religious reforms are, , allowed. in each other’s affairs., Equality between different sects of a Equality between different religious groups, religion is emphasised. is a key concern,, , Less attention to a community-based Attention to minority rights., , rights. Individual and his rights at the Right of both individual and religious, centre. communities are protected,, , What do you understand by secularism? Can it be equated with religious tolerance?, Secularism is:, , (a) State has no religion of its own., , (b) No, discrimination among the people on the basis of religion., , a

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—~, , (c) Every citizen is equal before law., (d) Every citizen enjoys freedom to reside with freedom and dignity in any part of country,, , Equating of secularism with religious tolerance:, , (a) Religious tolerance is a powerful base of secularism, i.e. state has positive attitude, due to sense of religious tolerance but they do not treat all seats equally., , (6) Secularism provide fundamental rights to minority religious groups within the, dominion of state., , (c) The religious tolerance is not a right but a mutual sympathy., , (d) Secularism opposes to intra-religious domination because, if religious tolerance is, , allowed only, then the people of majority seat will dominate the people of minority, , seat., (e) Indian secularism emphasises on peaceful co-existence refer to equal respect towards, , all religions and their practices and clarity in case of ambiguity., (— Under Indian secularism, religiously sanctioned caste-hierachy are not acceptable., , (g) Though secular state does not have to treat every aspect of every religion with, equal respect, but it stops disregard towards the genuine aspects of other seats or, , religion., Q4. Do you agree with the following statements? Give reasons for supporting or opposing any, , of them., , (a) Secularism does not allow us to have a religious identity., , (b) Secularism is against inequality within a religious group or between different religious, groups., , (c) Secularism has a western-Christian origin. It is not suitable for India., , Ans. (a) It is opposed because secularism believes and supports protection of religious identity,, , as being a part of human rights. s, , (6) It is supported because:, , (i) Secularism is not against inequality., (ii) It allows religious institutions., (iii) Secularism believes in equality of all religions., (iv) The people belonging to different religions or communities enjoy equal opportunity, of jobs., , (c) It is opposed because:, (@) Secularism is neither have western origin nor it is not suitable for India., , (ii) After independence, India has been declared a secular state not to interfere in, , the religious matters of individuals., (iii) Its example can be cited even from ancient history when Hindu and Buddhist, , rulers behaved equally with the people of different religions., Q5. Indian secularism focuses on more than the religion-state separation. Explain., Ans. (a) In India, secularism opposes all kinds of inter-religious domination and, , institutionalised religious domination., , (6) Indian secularism promotes freedom within religions, i.e. no discrimination on the, basis of religion, colour, race, etc. and equality among different religions., , (c) India has promoted religious harmony to value peace, freedom and equality., , (d) Indian secularism seperates clearly the religious institution and state institutions., , (e) A secular state must be committed to the principle and goals of peace, religious, freedom, freedom from religious oppressions, discrimination and exclusion of inter, , religious and intra-religious equality., , , , ae ek

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Re, , (f Indian constitution declares that ide wi, n cor ri . de with freedom, and diginity in any part of couties. ee eclores. gS, (g) India secularism follows all concepts related with principled distance., Q6. Explain the concept of principled distance, Ans. (a) To be secular, a state must not only refuse to be theocratic but also have no formal, legal alnance with any religion because separation of religion-state is necessary but, not a sufficient ingredient of a secular state. from, (B)A secular state must be committed to principles and goals to be derived ‘ nnd, religions sources including peace, religious freedom, freedom from discrimination and, inter-religious and intra-religious equality., (c) Secular states are neither theocratic nor establish a religion., and state is a mutual exclusion not to interfere in the affairs, religion will not interfere in the affairs of state. ., (d) No policy of the state can have an exclusively religious rationale because state and, religion both exercise separate spheres of their own., ide any financial support, , (e) The state cannot aid any religious institution or prov! PY, to religious communities as well as it cannot hinder the activities of religious, , communities which are within the broad limits set by law of land. ns, (f) Religion is a private matter and it is not a matter of state policy or law, i.e. ifa religious, community excommunicates its dissenters, the state can only be a silent witness., , Separation of religion, of religion and as we!, , MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED, , I. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS, , Q1. What do you mean by ‘secular’?, ‘Ans. The term ‘secular’ promoter equal respect, Q2. What is ‘secularism’?, Ans. Secularism denotes the separation of the state an‘, conduct against one provided by religion., Q3. What do you mean by ‘Dharma’?, Ans. ‘Dharma’ is derived from Sanskrit w, principles of right., Q4. What are main the dimensions of secularism?, , Ans. 1. Secularism opposes inter-religious domination., 2. It opposes intra-religious domination also, i.e. if everybody’s basic needs are fulfilled, , to lead a happy life, the religions will disappear., », 25. Mention religions-based discriminations from Europe and Israel?, ” Ans. 1. Jews faced discrimination to continue to persist against non-Christians in many, , parts of Europe., 2. In Israel, Arab minorities both Christians and Muslims ai :, political and economic benefits available of Jewish citizens. scart Sa eoeAl,, Q6. Mention the conditions of religious minorities i ia’ ot a, Pakistan and Bangladesh? ieainJTndias Swroraiaiphbewtmng, states of, Ans. It has generated considerable concern for the Hindus and the Sikhs, , [1 Mark], , for all religions to develop such type of feelings., , d religion to provide a theory of life and, , ord to refer to adopt, to sustain, to support and the

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——— ee, , Il. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS [2 Marks], Q1. Mention the importance of Dharma?, Ans. Dharma prepares the individual to know the truth and right course of action alongwith, highest virtue and spiritual efforts to subscribe moral actions., Q2. What is a secular state?, , Ans. The secular state deals with every individual a citizen only, i.e. a state is not associated, with any religion or does not promote any religion also. It treats equally with all religions,, Q3. “Some concerning examples of religious discrimination remind us to continuing, importance of secularism”, Justify the statement., Ans. (a) Subtle forms of discrimination continues do persist against non-christians in several, parts of Europe., , (6) The condition of religions minorities on the neighbouring states of Pakistan and, Bangladesh to generate considerable concern., , (c) Though jews faced discrimination for centuries throughout Europe, in the present, state of Israel, Arab minorities, booth christians and muslims are excluded from social,, political, economic benefits available to Jewish citizens. :, , Q4. What is Satya and Ahimsa?, Ans. ‘Satya’ refers that each and every individual should follow the rules of dharma, i.e. not, to perform any task to be harmful to others., , ‘Ahimsa’ refers to non-violence, i.e. not to kill anyone to follow in thought, speech and, , action and resistance of evil by love., , Til. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS ‘ [4 Marks], , - Mention some characteristics of secularism?, , s. (a) Indian secularism does not interfere in the affairs of religions and religion is free, from state polities also., , (b) Indian secularism goes ahead in the direction of combating communalism., , (c) Special care is given to the upliftment of the weaker sections of the people of country,, i.e. special seats are reserved for the members of backward and depressed classes not, only in admissions in public institutions but in public employments and elections also., , (d) The union and the state governments have also been given due representation to, the minorities of country, i.e. Dr. Zakir Hussain, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad, Dr. A.P.J., Abdul Kalam as the President of India and Dr. Manmohan Singh as a Prime Minister, , f India, etc., Q2. Give three most stark examples from India to prove that in reality several forms of, exclusion and discrimination continue to persist even in a declared secular state of India?, Ans. The Constitution of India declares India a secular state giving fundamental rights, of religious freedom to its all citizens. Still, in reality several forms of exclusion and, discrimination continue to persist:, , (a) Nearly four thousand Sikhs were massacred in Delhi and many other parts of the, country in 1984 flare-up and the families of victims feel that the guilty were not, punished., , (6) Several thousands of Hindu Kashmiri Pandits have been forced to leave their homes, in Kashmir valley who have not been able to return their homes for more than two, decades., , (c) Nearly more than 50 Swayam Sevaks of particular religion were put on fire in train, compartment most probably by another religious group and as a reaction to that, even nearly two thousand of Muslims were massacred in Gujarat in 2002 and the, number of these families cannot go back to the villages in which they lived., , ei Se eae