UPSC Mains 2022 · GS I · Q19 · 15 marks · 250 words

Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism ? Justify your answer.

हिन्दी में

क्या सहिष्णुता, सम्मिलन एवं बहुलता मुख्य तत्त्व हैं जो धर्मनिरपेक्षता के भारतीय रूप का निर्माण करते हैं ? तर्कसंगत उत्तर दें ।

SecularismDiversity of India

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “India is secular, not because the term secular is there in the Constitution but because of the ethos and milieu of our nation. Comment.”

Jatin JainAIR 91 · CSE 2022 · 167 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

India follows a positive and active model of secularism where there is principled distance between the state and religion.

Body

Diagram
- Indian Secularism: Overlapping Venn diagram of State, Religion, and People. - Western Secularism: Overlapping Venn diagram of People and Religion, with State separate.

India secular - due to Constitution

  • Art 44 → Uniform Civil Code to provide equality
  • 'Secular' word in preamble and Supreme Court in Keshavananda Bharti considered it as part of basic structure

India secular - ethos & milieu of nation

  • Ashoka's Dhamma policy → religious tolerance
  • Akbar's → Sulh-i-kul; Indus Valley Civilization
  • Manifestation of deep historical roots of secularism

  1. Philosophy of Sarva Dharma Sambhava as propagated by Vivekananda → Hindu-Muslim unity in freedom struggle → State protecting all religion equally. → Delhi → Mukhyamantri Teerth Yojana

  2. Fallacy of 'Ganga-Jamuni' tahzeeb and religious tolerance → Muslims showering petals on Kanwariyas → Kalikamata temple (Gujarat)

  3. Proactive engagement of state and judiciary in reforming religion → Triple Talaq, inheritance rights to women

Close

Thus Secularism is a way of life in India since ages and what is root cause of vibrant democracy & pluralism

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper I, Q19. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.