Secularism in India: An Overview

• Faizan Mustafa argues that secularism allows religions to remain independent and autonomous.

• Nehru’s views on religion significantly influenced India’s choice of secular polity.

• The Supreme Court asserts secularism doesn’t mean strict separation between religion and state or non-establishment of religion.

• Debate on the artificial imposition of secularism during the Emergency continues.

• Secularism ensures the autonomy of the Hindu religion.

• John Locke argued that the state was created for civil interests, not soul salvation.

• The question remains: should India become a Saudi Arabia, Iran, or Pakistan?

Importance of the Ashokan Edicts and Indian Secularism

• The Ashokan edicts laid the foundation for Indian secularism.

• Rock Edict 7 and 12 rejected the idea of one religion as a state religion.

• The Motilal Nehru Committee’s constitution (1928) explicitly stated no state religion for the Commonwealth of India.

• The Karachi Resolution of the Congress (1931) declared state neutrality in regard to all religions.

Role of the Jurisdiction Model

• The jurisdiction model offers several options for implementing secularism in India.

• The secularism based on Ashoka’s Dhamma promotes equal respect for all religions.