ISSN 2674-8053

The debate on secularism in India: perspectives and challenges

Secularism is a central theme to understand the relations between the State, society and religions. The complexity of this discussion is enormous and characterized by the contextual multiplicity around the secular concept. In this sense, this article proposes to expose arguments and perspectives that surround this debate in India, with a special focus on Indian intellectuals, so that one can analyze the contemporary events of the country and its global developments.

What it takes to define a secular state? This question has great reflective power, mainly in india, that since the construction of its Modern-Nation-State has intensely discussed the theme, given the large number of political-religious events that affect the stability of the country at home and abroad.

Before delving deeper into secularism, it is essential to locate and contextualize the origins of this debate. stands out, to this end, the period of British rule in the Indian subcontinent, in which the relationship between Hindus and Muslims went through moments marked by conflicts that were stimulated by the colonial power. The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”, The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”. The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”, The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”, The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”, The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”.

The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”; The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”, The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”. The feeling of separatism between the two communities is based on the British strategy of “divide and rule”. Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion., Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion.. Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion.. Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion., Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion., Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion..

Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion., Communalism is the name given to the socio-political process that seeks to differentiate people based on religion.. A State that was born with deep marks of the legacy left by colonial policy. This contextualization is essential, since Indian secularism in the pre-independence period, did not have the western colonial elite as a foundation, it is yes, was fostered by the Indian leaders of the anti-colonial and independence movements. That is, the battle against colonialism represents the beginning of the debate over secularism in independent India.

In this context, the first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, extremely important leader in the independence process, played a key role in secular India. the new government, led by the Congress Party, was based on its constitutional proposal of plural character, which sought to extol the values ​​of multi-religiosity, multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country, multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country. multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country, multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country, multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country.

multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country: multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country, multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country, multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country, multiethnicity and linguistic multiplicity of the country; must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”.

must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”. must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”, must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”. must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”, must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”, must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”, must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”, must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.” (must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”). must also maintain an attitude of neutrality in all matters concerning religion.”. Or secularism us United States, Or secularism us United States, Denmark, Or secularism us United States, Or secularism us United States, for example. Or secularism us United States. Or secularism us United States, Or secularism us United States, Or secularism us United States, Or secularism us United States, Or secularism us United States, Or secularism us United States.

Or secularism us United States – Or secularism us United States. Or secularism us United States, and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference. and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference. and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference, and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference. and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference, and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference, and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference, and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference.

and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference, therefore, and his book “Secularism and its Critics” is a great reference:

– It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values

– It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values, It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values. It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values, It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values.

– It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values, It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values.

– It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values (It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values) It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values.

– It has a character marked by the multiplicity of values, that is highly contextual that opens up the possibility for different societies to develop their contextual version of secularism.

– Indian secularism offers an alternative to the normative notions of modern secular states.. The Indian model is modern, but at the same time it moves away from the conventional conceptions established in the West.

Another Indian intellectual contributing to the debate is the theorist Ashis Nandy, that offers a different view, anti-modern character. Nandy argues that the root of communal problems and religion-related violence lies in the very concept of secularism and modernity.. Through its critical traditionalism, Nandy presents two meanings of religion in her anti-secular perspective. That of religion as faith and religion as ideology. That of religion as faith and religion as ideology, That of religion as faith and religion as ideology. That of religion as faith and religion as ideology, That of religion as faith and religion as ideology. That of religion as faith and religion as ideology, That of religion as faith and religion as ideology.

That of religion as faith and religion as ideology, So, That of religion as faith and religion as ideology, That of religion as faith and religion as ideology, but also religious tolerances. In this context, but also religious tolerances.

Lastly, but also religious tolerances, but also religious tolerances, but also religious tolerances, but also religious tolerances, but also religious tolerances. but also religious tolerances, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups. as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, parsi, among others.

as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups. as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, for so much, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups, as this practice has generated more discrimination against minority groups. The concept of tolerance has a fundamental value for the author, because it must be based on autonomy and respect for people, considering the sensitivity of political variations and their institutional contexts in which different reasons are inserted.

This debate makes it possible to reflect on how fundamental it is to seek to understand the problems surrounding secularism from the inside out.. It becomes very difficult to understand the unfolding of the relationship between the State, religion and society when the process of secularization is generalized and universalized. India is a great example of how important it is to include cultural and social aspects in the understanding of this social process.. the key idea, therefore, it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations..

it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations., it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations.. it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations., it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations. (it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations.), it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations.. it is the historical and social contextualization that allows us to develop a broader and more complete understanding of the multiple forms of secularism and how this concept develops over time and in different locations.. One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya.. One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya.. One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya.. One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya.. One of the most notable events was the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque built in the sixteenth century in the city of Ayodhya., the country witnessed a series of other violent events with similar configurations and with the same actors.

This growth evidences the use of religion as an ideology for political power purposes and manipulation of the population., that demonstrates the partiality of the State in relation to a certain religion. When this situation is noticed, the country's harmony is certainly shaken, that can be tackled with repositioning through reforms and creating equal policies for all communities, or the government can continue to create articulations that favor a certain group and treat others as second-class citizens. And therein lies an important question of the conditions of citizenship under a threatened secularism.. The current Indian government uses a supposed advantage in numbers of a Hindu majority for its political ends, and propagates antagonistic and communal feelings across the country. What urgently needs to be addressed is how it is possible to change this conjuncture, because there must be alternatives led by the State to protect those who make up the minorities.

They exist, therefore, many difficulties around secularism, is an issue that affects countries with completely different characteristics and circumstances. It is an intrinsic challenge of the period we live in and cannot be easily solved.. What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism, for example, What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism. What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism – What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism, What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism, What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism, What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism.

In this sense, What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism. What is essential to emphasize is that French secularism, which includes the multiplicity of the idea of ​​secularism, the meaning of religion, the political forces such as communalism and conservative nationalism and the historical and social conditions that shape the specifics of the discussion.

It is not known which would be the best alternative., but the analysis of different views helps us to reflect on the possibilities of contextual languages ​​that promote, through dialogues, ideas mutually accepted by all parties, and thus enabling the creation of an expression that everyone can understand and accept.

Vitor Pascale
Master in International Politics at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) – Nova Delhi, India, with the dissertation on "Global South Resistance in International Relations: Brazil and India in the light of post-colonial studies". Bachelor in International Relations from ESPM.
Areas of study and interest: On the Global, Postcolonialism, South Asian, Brazil-India relations, South-South cooperation