Page 381 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

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Secularism in Modern India

While secularism is often attributed to western thinkers When Martin Luther had defined secularism in
such as Socrates (c. 470–399 BCE), Plato (c. 428–348 Europe, it simply meant that the power of the state
or 347 BCE), Aristotle (384–322 BCE), Martin Luther would be exercised independently of the directions of
(1483–1546), Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677), Thomas the Church.Thus, a secular government would act to
Jefferson (1743–1826) and other thinkers, secularism safeguard the nation-state, even if such action was
clearly remains a highly-disputed issue around the without Church sanction. Later Marx, calling religion
world.Consider this excerpt from an article of 18 March the ‘opium of the masses,’ defined secularism to com-
2004 in the online version of The Hindu, India’s pletely eschew religion, in fact to debunk the very idea
national newspaper. of any religious adherence.
In India, Jawaharlal Nehru and his followers sub-
With the countdown to the General Elections on, sec-
scribed to the later Marxist re-definition of the con-
ularism will be a much-bandied-about subject during
cept by which even in public function cultural
the campaign. Unfortunately, those political parties
symbolism such as lighting a lamp to inaugurate a
who have been swearing by it all these years have
conference or breaking a coconut to launch a proj-
failed to persuade the masses that secularism is good
ect was regarded as against secularism. This ortho-
for country. In fact, secularism as defined and propa-
doxy induced a reaction in the Indian masses for
gated today has lost its relevance. The concept as
whom religion was a way of life. Nehru had also
understood by the masses of India stands thoroughly
failed to define what historical roots ought to be a
discredited. Hence the question is whether we should
part of the modem Indian, and what was to be
redefine secularism to make it acceptable to the
rejected. Instead in the name of ‘scientific temper’,
masses in the polls, or capitulate to the rising funda-
he rejected most of our past as ‘obscurantism’
mentalism in the country.

believe deeply, and follow, particular religions—such as judgment on whether religion has facilitated peace and
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Secularism is founded on harmony or triggered multiple wars of immense cruelty
a human-centered comprehension of concrete actions, per- is highly controversial. These opposing propositions
sonal emotions, past histories, and future destinies. Secu- engage core beliefs and contrasting world outlooks.
larism offers a broad array of answers as warranted by In every civilization and in all regions, a cultural and
varied experiences. By being highly skeptical of individual philosophical reckoning with the defining issue of reli-
motives, of institutional interests, and of predestined fates, gious affiliation, if any, was evident. A common theolog-
secularism aims to neutralize the alleged sanctity—and the ical query was whether there is one omnipotent deity
inherent moral domination of their subsequent role—of (monotheism), several functional gods (polytheism), or
any metaphysical deity, sacred scriptures, and, perhaps no superior, metaphysical entity at all (atheism) that pro-
most importantly, the primacy of clergy, scholars, and vides, or should give, moral, political, and professional
politicians who presume to lead societies into perfection guidance to individuals and collectives alike.Variants of
by imparting holy messages and spreading their views on these approaches (agnosticism, multiple indigenous reli-
how common people should behave. gions, and unrecorded private introspections) comple-
At its core, secularism provides an ethical framework mented the more widely held convictions. A persistent
for understanding nature, the function of the universe, the challenge to scholars, reformers, and most free-thinking
ideologies of certain collectives, the competing economic persons was to solve the perennial enigma concerning the
interests of a multitude of commercial groups, the con- source of life and its continuity, or even merely respond
testing political agendas of distinct factions, and the bat- to it or validate answers given by clergy, philosophers,
tles of will between ambitious individuals. Rendering and politicians.