Discuss the challenges to secularism posed by rising religious nationalism and communal tensions. What are the possible strategies for promoting religious tolerance and social harmony?

Challenges to secularism due to rising religious nationalism and communal tensions

→ According to Aashish Nandy there has been instances where religion is used for politics. This politicisation of religion is creating new conflicts.

→ With increase in use of social media platforms such as facebook and youtube emerged as new challenges due to spread of fake news and morphed videos.

Ex: Muzaffarnagar riots.

→ According to Dipankar Gupta, individuals loyalty to ethnicity such as religion is dominating than loyalty to nation.

→ Emergence of religious fundamentalistic leaders and their polarisation strategies becoming big challenge.

→ Increase in conflicts between religious groups on the aspects of religious conversion by missionaries and cow vigilantism.

→ According to Bipin Chandra, Communalism is creating false religious consciousness among different groups.

→ As said by Andre Berteille, People follow Manusmriti over Constitution which signifies the role of religious texts in shaping ones social conduct.

Strategies for promoting religious tolerance and social harmony

→ promoting value based education through initiatives such as National Education policy, 2020.

→ Constitutional values such as freedom of religion and universal brotherhood should be promoted to promote social harmony.

→ Digital social etiquette should be enforced so that online platforms will not be used in spreading fake news.

→ Emile Durkheim stresses on new religion called civic religion. This Civic religion can promote national identity over religious identity.

→ On the same lines of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat we can create new initiatives to promote better understanding of other religions.

→ We should bring strict laws on hate speech and use of anti religious statements in political rallies.