By Dr SL Peeran
Secularism is the
principle of the separation of the government institutions and persons mandated
to represent the state from religious institutions and religious dignitaries.
One manifestation of secularism is asserting the right to be free from
religious rule and teachings or in a state declared, to be neutral on matters
of belief, from the imposition by government of religion or religious practices
upon its people. Another manifestation of secularism is the view that public
activities and decisions, especially political ones, should be uninfluenced by
religious beliefs and/or practices.
Secularism draws
its intellectual roots from Greek and Roman philosophers such as Epicurus and
Marcus Aurelius, from enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Dines Diderot,
Voltaire, Baruch Spinoza, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine and
from more recent free thinkers and atheists such as Robert Ingersoll and
Bertrand Russell.
Secularism means
setting up democratically elected governments and laws passed by parliament and
legislatures uninfluenced by religious dictates and scriptures. The rule of law
is supreme and all citizens are equal in the eye of law. The actions are judged
by courts manned by skilled judges and proceedings are conducted with help of
trained and skilled lawyers. The government collects taxes direct and indirect
from citizens and manufactures and sellers of goods and provider of services under
due process of legislated laws. No person can be punished, censured without due
process of law and can be done only after following the principles of natural
justice. The state is governed by its constitution wherein is enshrined the
fundamental rights to its citizens.
Historical Background
India
on gaining Independence adopted secular socialistic democracy with three wings –Legislature,
Judiciary and Executive. The Constitution of India enshrined basic fundamental
rights to its citizens and all citizens to be treated equally and guarantying
equal protection with reservation for socially and economically backward
classes including scheduled castes and schedule tribes for their uplift and
betterment. People are granted liberty and freedom to practice their faith and
religion. Liberty and freedom are the foundation stones of the Indian Constitution.
Secular Society
In
studies of religion, modern democracies are generally recognized as secular.
This is due to the near complete freedom of religion (beliefs on religion
generally are not subject to legal or social sanctions), and the lack of
authority of religious leaders over political decisions. Nevertheless, religious
beliefs are widely considered by most to be a relevant part of the political
discourse in many of the secular countries (most notably in the western society
and the United States). This contrasts with other western countries like
Britain and France where religious references are generally considered out-of-place
in mainstream politics.
The aspirations of
a secular society could characterize a secular society as one which:
– refuses to commit itself as a whole to any
one view of the nature of the universe and the role of man in it;
– is not homogenous, but is pluralistic;
– is tolerant. It widens the sphere
of private decision-making;
– is a society without any official
images. Nor is there a common ideal type of behavior with universal
application.
While every
society must have some common aims, which implies they must be agreed on
methods of problem-solving, and a common frame work of law; in a secular
society these are as limited as possible.
Problem solving is
approached rationally, through examination of the facts. While the secular
society does not set any overall aim, it helps members realize their aims.
Positive ideals
behind the secular society are –
·
Deep respect for individuals and
small groups of which they are a part.
·
Equality of all people.
·
Each person should be helped to
realize their particular excellence.
·
Breaking down of the barriers of
class and caste.
Some societies become
increasingly secular as the result of social processes, rather than through the
actions of a dedicated secular movement; this process is known as
secularization.
Secularism in India
Secularism
in India means equal treatment of all religions by the state. The laws
implicitly require the state and its institutions to recognize and accept all
religions, enforce parliamentary laws instead of religious laws, and accept
pluralism. India does not have an official state religion. The people of India
have freedom of religion, and the state treats all individuals as equal
citizens regardless of their religion. In matters of law in modern India,
however, the applicable code of law is unequal and India’s personal laws – on
matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, alimony – vary from religion to
religion.
Secularism as
practiced in India, with its marked differences from the western practice of
secularism, is a controversial topic in India. Supporters of the Indian concept
of secularism claim it respects Muslim men’s religious rights and recognizes
that they are culturally different from the Indians of other religions. Secularism
is a divisive, politically charged topic in India.
Secularism in India,
thus, does not mean separation of religion from state. Instead, secularism in India
means that the state is neutral to all religious groups. Religious laws in
personal domains, particularly for Muslim Indians, supersede parliamentary laws
in India; and currently, in some situations, the state partially finances
certain religious schools.
Secular values
The
secular mind is better equipped than the religious to reach reasoned and
compassionate judgments. Religious minds tend to become irrational and
fanatical leading to inter-religious differences, violence and bloodshed. The
more potent form of faith seeks to justify doctrines and practices that defy
rationality and compassion. The religious minded refuse abortion, even a case
of rape, incest or severe foetal abnormality. Secular mind on the other hand
values human rights and makes the society tolerant.
Therefore, secular
values are simply those values derived not from any religious source; they are
separate from any religious concerns; they stem from “Secular” meaning, not
connected to any dogma or doctrines. Anything said to be secular, including
values, is that which has been reached through purely ‘human’ means.
Secular values are
those values which people come up with that focus on the effects certain
actions actually have on people (other organisms, the planet etc) instead of
ignoring /overriding such concerns to focus on the commands of some religious
text/traditions or whatever. Secular values are derived from rationality and are
based on scientific findings but not on superstitious beliefs or religious
dogmas.
Secular humanism
is a comprehensive life stance or world view; and it embraces human reason,
metaphysical naturalism, altruistic morality and distributive justice – and
consciously rejects super natural claims, theistic faith and religiosity,
pseudo-science, and superstitions. It is
sometimes referred to as Humanism. Humanism is a democratic and ethical life
stance, which affirms that human beings have right and responsibility to give
meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more
humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the
spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not
theistic, and doesn’t accept supernatural views of reality (According to the International
Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), Bylaw 5.1)
Countering fascism and fanaticism to strengthen
secularism and secular values
In a
parliamentary democracy, the majority party holds the reigns of the government.
If a party has strong religious leaning with religious ideals as its agenda,
then its functioning and rule is bound to effect the ideals and values of
secularism. This has been demonstrated in our country with umpteen communal
riots and suppression of rights of minorities, schedule caste, tribes and
backward classes. Recent excesses shown in enforcement of ban on cow slaughter
is one pointer. Ram temple issue also brought in series of communal clashes and
affected the harmony and peace of the country. The question facing the country is:
How to strengthen secularism and secular values by facing the challenges posed
by fascism and fanaticism?
The old Indian
spiritual life and custom have been replaced by western modes and western way
of life. The two great world wars had a little impact on our country; instead,
it stirred political consciousness among the masses, which played a great part
in bringing the change in the life style of Indian people. The traditional
caste system and the hold of upper castes have been broken and a more cohesive
society has been created. The social revival of the masses with the ushering in
of right of self-determination, rule of law and concept of social welfare has
indeed shaken the traditional faction ridden caste society. The improvement of
social lives of poor masses, schedule caste and tribes, by enforcement of
democracy into the hitherto highly religious society has brought in tremendous
changes in the social life style of Indian people. The economic changes and the
change of the village life-pattern to a more sophisticated urban life have
equally not been free from malaise. The emergence of evils of western
civilizations like poverty, crime, prostitution, alcoholism, juvenile
delinquency, gambling, beggary, materialism, consumerism, dissolution of joint
family, divorce and break down of traditional social life has helped in the
growth of religious fanaticism. At one hand the concept of state and
involvement of people in their state affairs has become total, but on the other
hand the waning of spiritual life is also apparent. The growth of materialistic
life style, high cost of living and the inability of political parties to solve
these issues and help in development of socialistic philosophy and democratic
life style has thereby created a watershed in the Indian polity. This has been
a major cause of the revival of religious fanaticism. Even before the concept
of free thought and expression and democratic living could become a way of life
of the last Indian, the religious forces have revived there by effecting secular
values and secularism. These religious forces are more from persons who are
pseudo-spiritualists and godmen. The true spiritual guides and philosophers of India,
who have mass influence, have become scarce and rare. This has given room for fascist
forces to grow by leaps and bounds endangering secularism and secular values
among the Indian people. The greatest harm the fascist, fundamentalist and
religious politicians have done is to run down the supremacy of the rule of law
and to weaken the functioning of the democratic institutions, besides causing
the destruction of the growth of true spiritualism.
The answer lies in
the search to bring in cohesion between philosophies of ancient spiritual sages
with those of the present concept of rule of law. The way to counter fascism
and strengthen secularism and secular values is to meet its challenges posed by
materialism and consumerism. It is by reviving true spiritualism in the Indian
religious context rather than use of ritualistic symbols, religious rites in
all secular democratic institutions. Use
of religion in politics should be prohibited. Political parties should not be
allowed to use any religious rites or symbols. All religious processions in
public places should be discouraged. Democratic living and only true
spiritualists should be encouraged, who give the message of brotherhood,
humanism, compassion and mercy.
The sacred spaces
in India where people practicing their respective religions gather to celebrate
common festivals are required to be strengthened to help secularism and secular
values. So also secular values have to be strengthened in all public schools,
public institutions and public places.
