Secularism has been one of the foundational principles of India since its independence. The idea of secularism in India is unique, rooted in the country’s pluralistic and diverse society, where multiple religions, languages, and cultures coexist. India’s Constitution, adopted in 1950, enshrined the principle of secularism, stating that the state must not favor any religion and must ensure equal treatment for all religious communities. However, the politics surrounding secularism in India is far from straightforward, and the concept itself has become a double-edged sword. While secularism is often celebrated as a means to ensure harmony and unity in India’s diverse society, its practical application has been controversial, divisive, and even manipulated by political parties to serve their own agendas.
In this article, we will explore the politics of secularism in India, how it has evolved over time, and how it has become both a tool for social harmony and a source of political contention.
Secularism in India: A Constitutional Commitment
Secularism in India, as outlined in the Constitution, was meant to be a guarantee that the state would not interfere in religious matters and that no religion would receive preferential treatment. The Indian Constitution established a framework where religious diversity was not just tolerated but embraced. It ensures that individuals have the right to practice, propagate, and profess their religion freely, without fear of persecution.
Unlike the Western concept of secularism, which often advocates for a strict separation between religion and the state, Indian secularism is more about equidistance. The state can engage with religion to some extent, but it must not favor one over the other. India’s model of secularism was meant to preserve the unity of a country with a history of religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity. It was a response to the deeply entrenched divisions between Hindus and Muslims, which culminated in the painful partition of the country in 1947.
The leaders of independent India, such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, championed secularism as the ideal solution to India’s post-independence religious tensions. They envisioned a country where all communities—whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, or others—could live together peacefully, with their rights and freedoms protected by the state.
Secularism: A Tool for National Integration
In the early years after independence, secularism was seen as a unifying force in India’s political discourse. With the scars of partition still fresh, leaders recognized that the only way to prevent further religious conflict was to establish a system that could accommodate India’s diverse religious communities. This was particularly important in a country where the majority Hindu population coexisted with significant minorities, such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others.
The Indian state’s secular policies, particularly those relating to education, marriage laws, and personal freedoms, were meant to ensure that no community was discriminated against or excluded. The Indian National Congress (INC), which was the dominant political force at the time, used secularism as one of its key pillars. Secularism was framed as a way to prevent the dominance of any one religion and to maintain the fabric of Indian society.
Secularism also found expression in India’s public institutions, which were designed to be neutral to religion. The Indian Army, for instance, is meant to be secular, ensuring that all citizens, irrespective of their religious background, serve together as one cohesive force. The public education system also promoted secular values, aiming to teach students about India’s diverse cultures and traditions without any religious bias.
The Erosion of Secularism in Indian Politics
Despite its noble intentions, the politics of secularism in India has been far from uncomplicated. Over time, secularism became a tool that political parties used to further their own agendas, often distorting its true meaning. The idea of secularism started to be politicized, with parties using it to attract votes from specific religious communities.
In the 1980s and 1990s, secularism began to face serious challenges. The rise of Hindu nationalism, particularly through organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), brought a new dimension to the debate. The BJP, which espouses a vision of Hindutva, a form of Hindu nationalism, has argued that India should be a Hindu-majority country, with Hindu culture and religion playing a central role in public life. This idea directly challenged the secular fabric of the Indian state.
In this environment, secularism began to be viewed differently. Political parties, especially those on the left and center, became associated with secularism, while the BJP and its allies were increasingly seen as anti-secular or even communal. Secularism, once a unifying ideal, now became a divisive issue, often leading to polarization along religious lines.
The most significant manifestation of this shift was the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. The mosque in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, was razed by a mob of Hindu activists who believed that it was built on the birthplace of Lord Ram. The demolition sparked widespread communal riots, leaving thousands dead and marking a turning point in the political discourse on secularism. The event exposed the deep rift in Indian society between Hindu and Muslim communities and raised questions about the true meaning of secularism in a country so divided by religious identity.
Secularism as a Political Weapon
In India’s electoral politics, secularism has often been used as a weapon to gain the support of different communities. Political parties have manipulated the idea of secularism to paint their opponents as either too pro-Hindu or too pro-Muslim, depending on their political needs. This has resulted in a situation where secularism, instead of being a unifying principle, has been reduced to a political slogan, often used to divide rather than unite.
The Congress Party, which has traditionally positioned itself as the champion of secularism, has faced criticism for appeasing Muslim voters, particularly in the form of pro-minority policies and institutions. These policies, although well-intentioned, were often seen as “soft” on Muslim issues and were accused of undermining India’s secular ideals by promoting vote-bank politics. This has led to perceptions of Congress being overly focused on appeasing Muslims, which weakened its support among Hindu voters and created further division.
On the other hand, the BJP and its allies have accused secular parties of playing identity politics and favoring Muslim votes at the expense of Hindus. The BJP’s rise to power in the 1990s, with a clear Hindutva agenda, fundamentally changed the political landscape. The party’s appeal to Hindu voters has, at times, involved portraying secularism as an excuse for pandering to minorities, particularly Muslims. In this view, secularism becomes a tool for political manipulation rather than an impartial principle.
The use of secularism as a political tool has had a negative impact on the very essence of the concept. Instead of fostering harmony, it has contributed to the polarization of Indian society, often manifesting in religious tensions and violence.
Challenges to Secularism in Contemporary India
Today, secularism in India is facing a host of challenges, many of which are linked to the rise of religious identities in politics. The ongoing debate over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has raised questions about the government’s commitment to secularism. Critics argue that these laws discriminate against Muslims and violate the principles of equal treatment for all religions, a core tenet of Indian secularism.
The growing influence of Hindutva politics has also raised concerns about the future of secularism in India. The RSS and its affiliates continue to push for the idea that India is essentially a Hindu nation, with other religious communities being secondary in status. This vision of India is fundamentally at odds with the secular ideals enshrined in the Constitution.
Moreover, political leaders often make inflammatory statements that pit one religious community against another, deepening divisions and eroding the fabric of Indian secularism. Communal riots, such as those in Gujarat in 2002 and more recently in parts of Delhi, are reminders of the deep fissures in Indian society.
The Way Forward
India’s secularism, while under threat, remains an important value for preserving national unity in a country of immense diversity. For secularism to thrive, political leaders must move beyond using it as a tool for electoral gain and instead focus on promoting true equality and religious harmony. Secularism must be seen as a value that protects all communities and ensures that the state does not privilege one religion over another.
In the future, it is essential that India revisits the concept of secularism and redefines it in a way that addresses contemporary challenges. Secularism in India must be about more than just tolerating different religions; it must actively work to ensure the dignity, respect, and rights of all citizens, irrespective of their faith. Only then can secularism truly become a force for national integration rather than division.
In conclusion, the politics of secularism in India is indeed a double-edged sword. While secularism has been a cornerstone of India’s democratic ethos, it has also become a point of political manipulation and division. The challenge now is to ensure that secularism remains a living, breathing principle that unites rather than divides, fosters inclusivity, and preserves the pluralistic values that are the very essence of India’s identity.
