Secularism in India — A Reality or a Myth?
India has always boasted its diverse culture, heritage, religion and beliefs and has always been regarded as a secular country. In fact, the very concept of secularism is enshrined in India’s constitution, the largest in the world. It promises rights and protections to all citizens equally without any bias of their religious, cultural or background affiliations. However, it is not mindless to question if Secularism in India exists only on paper. India’s secularism can be seen in its democracy where citizens of different faiths come together to live and even to take part in the democratic political process. India also features a legal system that promises to keep the rights of minorities based on the constitution’s guarantee of freedom of religion. India’s secularism is also evident in the different festivities and traditions celebrated throughout the country. With the rise of far right-wing “nationalism”, India now struggles with its secular identity. The massive influence of a certain political party along with the parent organization of its Parivar has led to the decomposition and marginalization of minority religions in India. Crimes related to hate, mob lynching and even forced conversions have become unfortunately common. Acts such as these give rise to the question of whether India’s secularism is now a myth. The Indian judiciary has historically played a crucial role in upholding secular values and protecting minority rights. Landmark judgments, such as those regarding religious freedoms and personal laws, have reinforced the idea of a secular state.
However, there are growing concerns about the independence of the judiciary and its ability to act impartially amidst increasing political pressure. The perception that judicial outcomes may be influenced by the ruling alliance questions the legal protections for minorities.According to a report published by The Open Doors, persecution of Christians has ‘sharply increased’ since the year 2016, two years after the ruling government came to power. India, while not the safest for religious minorities even in the previous party’s regime, has now been ranked 15th in the world in terms of danger to religious minorities; up from the 31st rank when a different party was in power. The problem for India’s secularism doesn’t end there.
The chief of the ruling party parivar’s parent organization stated that their way of spreading nationalism includes opposing foreign religions (hinting at Islam and Christianity). The Human Rights Watch (HRW) believe that the majority of the attacks carried out on religious minorities are perpetrated by umbrella groups of this parivar.
In the 740-page World Report 2024 published by the HRW, Tirina Hasan, the Executive Director, wrote that “2023 was a consequential year for…selective government outrage”. The HRW’s report covered the harassment done by Indian authorities on journalists and activists who stood up for the religious minorities and the raid carried out in the BBC’s New Delhi and Mumbai offices following their documentary that highlighted the current Prime Minister’s failure to provide security for Muslims.
The most recent example of religious crimes would be of a 19-year-old Hindu teenager who was shot dead on the 23rd August, 2024 after he was mistaken to be a cow smuggler by farright cow ‘vigilantes’. The 2023 Haryana riot which started after a man, affiliated to the ruling party, accused of murdering two Muslim men issued a video encouraging people to join the ‘‘parade’ is also an example of how the ruling party and the people in it see secularism as a joke.The government’s handling of sensitive issues such as the Ayodhya Dispute, the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens is also argued by critics to have emboldened majoritarianism.
To reclaim the ethos of secularism in India, a multi-faceted approach is not needed, unlike what many people believe. Engaging with political leaders who believe in secularism and the role of civil society and voting out those whose political ideology or party’s ideology don’t believe in the same is the easiest yet the most powerful way to reclaim secularism. The promise of secularism in India is enshrined in the very Constitution but the reality is fraught with challenges that threaten its existence. The interplay between politics, government, society, and institutional integrity will ultimately determine whether secularism remains a living principle or devolves into a mere myth.
Secularism in India can be complex but it cannot and should not be a myth. However, with hate beliefs spreading like wildfire in India, Secularism may just be on its way to become a myth.
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editorial team includes Chubamenla, Asst. Professor, Dept. of English and Rinsit Sareo, Asst. Manager, IT, Media & Communications.
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