Secularism originally emerged as a framework to reduce conflict between religious communities by positioning the State as a neutral arbiter. In Europe, this approach played a crucial role in resolving sectarian violence and promoting social harmony. However, this model of secularism often proves inadequate in societies marked by deep cultural and religious diversity. In India's context, not only was there a religious diversity but there was a history of religious antagonism. This antagonism is manifested in the form of issues like cow slaughter, religious conversions, etc. We all are witness to how the Secular State fails to arbitrate these issues satisfactorily. The Indian State's founding fathers believed that allowing minority exceptionalism (while taking the benefit of the docile Hindu) will help maintain the facade of social cohesion.
Indian Secularism is a ghost invoked either when the minority gets to have extra privileges, or when the Hindu majority is to be guilt-tripped into submission.
When two communities live peacefully, they say that this is secularism. When two communities fight, they say that Secularism is needed to resolve conflict. Yet nobody knows what this 'secularism' exactly is!
The Nehruvian cohort has a absolutely ruined India's political parlance and "secularism" remains the foremost of their made up notions about India.
Secularism originally emerged as a framework to reduce conflict between religious communities by positioning the State as a neutral arbiter. In Europe, this approach played a crucial role in resolving sectarian violence and promoting social harmony. However, this model of secularism often proves inadequate in societies marked by deep cultural and religious diversity. In India's context, not only was there a religious diversity but there was a history of religious antagonism. This antagonism is manifested in the form of issues like cow slaughter, religious conversions, etc. We all are witness to how the Secular State fails to arbitrate these issues satisfactorily. The Indian State's founding fathers believed that allowing minority exceptionalism (while taking the benefit of the docile Hindu) will help maintain the facade of social cohesion.
Indian Secularism is a ghost invoked either when the minority gets to have extra privileges, or when the Hindu majority is to be guilt-tripped into submission.
When two communities live peacefully, they say that this is secularism. When two communities fight, they say that Secularism is needed to resolve conflict. Yet nobody knows what this 'secularism' exactly is!
The Nehruvian cohort has a absolutely ruined India's political parlance and "secularism" remains the foremost of their made up notions about India.