17
Secularism
UNIT 29
SECULARISM
Structure
29.0
Objectives
29.1
Introduction
29.2
Understanding the Indian Need for and Debates about Secularism
29.3
Western Context of Secularism
29.4
Historical Sociology of the Need for Secularism in India
29.4.1
Structural Changes: Modernisation and its Consequences
29.4.2
Changes in the Organisation of Social Life
29.5
Appropriate Version of Secularism for India
29.5.1
Civilisation Differences
29.5.2
Western Separation unworkable in India
29.5.3
Separation Principle: Reworking Required in the Indian Context
29.5.4
Reworked Solution: Principled Distance
29.6
Let Us Sum Up
29.7
Some Useful References
29.8
Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises
29.0
OBJECTIVES
In this lesson, we will discuss the following issues:
•
How best to approach secularism?
•
What is the Indian context of secularism?
•
Why is tradition becoming unable to handle tensions?
•
How is secularism becoming rooted in India?
•
Is the western version of secularism applicable to India?
•
What are the difficulties of transition in India?
•
What is the appropriate version of secularism for India?
•
Why is it appropriate?
It is hoped that after going through this unit, you will be in a position to provide
suitable answers to each of the above issues.
29.1
INTRODUCTION
If we were to look for a definition of secularism in the context of the wider world,
then the most acceptable one would be: it is a principle which advocates the separation
of religion from politics (what in India we call
dharma-nirapekshataa
). The key
term here is
separation
. On the face of it, this seems a simple, uncomplicated
principle. But on a closer examination, it will be seen that it is not. Separation can
mean many different things and can pose difficulties, if we work with a single
meaning. It can mean different things in different societies. The Indian case poses
unique difficulties. We will try to show that an Indian version of secularism depends,
importantly, on how we understand separation.
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