Question 1 · 159 words written
Recent riots prove the project of secularization in India is far from being complete. Comment.
Opening · a definition
None written.
Body · points
M.N. Srinivas defines secularization as the religious ceasing and differentiation in aspects of politics, society and economic establishing discrete relationships.
Recently, the Delhi riots took place along communal lines. This has questioned India's progress towards secularization which is marred by fault lines.
Bryan Wilson comments that secularization was possible in the west due to increasing disengagement and differentiation in religion. India is yet to witness such large scale differentiation.
Close
Indian society is characterized by the coexistence of tradition and modernity. Infact religion forms the basis for secular goals according to Kingsley Davis.
However, Rajeev Bhargava remarks that Indian secularism maintains a principled distance between religion so secularization does not mean the doctrine of separation.
Secularization in the west is characterised by rise in individualism. This is not the case in India where collectivity matters more than individual manifestation.
Secularization is a process in the making. It is possible in a land of pluralism like India according to T.N. Madan.