Source: NCERT Official Textbook
The chapter contrasts the Western and Indian models of secularism. The Western model, exemplified by the United States, emphasizes mutual exclusion—the state does not intervene in religion nor religion in the state, viewing religion as a private matter with individual liberty as paramount. In contrast, the Indian model arose in the context of deep religious diversity and evolved a more sophisticated approach. It deals not only with individual religious freedom but also with the religious freedom of minority communities, granting them the right to maintain their own culture and educational institutions. Crucially, Indian secularism allows for state-supported religious reform, as seen in the constitutional ban on untouchability and laws abolishing child marriage and caste discrimination. The Indian state may either disengage from religion or engage with it—negatively to oppose religious tyranny or positively to support minority institutions—all in pursuit of peace, freedom, and equality.
The chapter addresses five major criticisms of Indian secularism: that it is anti-religious (refuted by showing it opposes only institutionalized domination); that it is a Western import (refuted by demonstrating India’s distinct variant); that it indulges in “minoritism” (defended through examples showing minority rights protect fundamental interests); that it is excessively interventionist (clarified through the concept of principled distance); and that it encourages vote bank politics (acknowledged as partially true but requiring nuanced analysis). The chapter concludes that far from being an impossible project, Indian secularism represents a crucial experiment watched keenly by a world becoming increasingly diverse through globalization and migration. The list of gazetted holidays in India, including festivals of multiple religions, exemplifies the practical working of Indian secularism.
Secularism is first and foremost a doctrine that opposes: (Pg. 2)
According to the chapter, which of the following is an example of intra-religious domination? (Pg. 3)
A state governed directly by a priestly order is called: (Pg. 4)
In the Western model of secularism, the relationship between religion and state is understood as: (Pg. 5)
Kemal Ataturk changed his name and banned the Fez (traditional cap) as part of his: (Pg. 6)
Nehru responded to a student’s question about secularism by saying it means: (Pg. 7)
Indian secularism arose in the context of: (Pg. 8)
Indian secularism allows for state-supported religious reform, such as: (Pg. 9)
Indian secularism allows for principled state intervention which may mean: (Pg. 10)
The criticism that secularism is “anti-religious” is countered by arguing that secularism opposes: (Pg. 10)
The example of the asthmatic non-smoker in a train compartment illustrates that: (Pg. 12)
The criticism that secularism is excessively interventionist misunderstands that Indian secularism allows for: (Pg. 13)
The criticism of “vote bank politics” argues that secular politicians: (Pg. 14)
The chapter argues that the Indian experiment with secularism is watched with interest by the world because: (Pg. 15)
In 1984, more than 2,700 Sikhs were massacred in Delhi and many victims’ families feel the guilty were not ______. (Pg. 2) Page 112
Religion, art and philosophy are responses to human ______ that cannot be entirely eliminated. (Pg. 3) Page 113
To be truly secular, a state must have no formal, legal ______ with any religion. (Pg. 5) Page 115
In the Western model, if a religious institution forbids a woman from becoming a priest, the state can do ______ about it. (Pg. 6) Page 116
Ataturk’s secularism involved active intervention in and ______ of religion. (Pg. 6) Page 116
Nehru was particularly severe in his criticism of communalism of the ______ community. (Pg. 7) Page 117
Indian secularism equally opposes intra-religious and ______ domination. (Pg. 8) Page 118
The Indian Constitution grants religious minorities the right to establish and maintain their own ______ institutions. (Pg. 9) Page 119
Indian secularism follows the concept of ______ distance from religion. (Pg. 10) Page 120
The criticism that secularism is a Western import ignores that India evolved its own ______ of secularism. (Pg. 11) Page 121
Minority rights protect the most fundamental ______ of minorities. (Pg. 12) Page 122
Personal laws concerning marriage and inheritance are governed by different ______ in India. (Pg. 13) Page 123
Vote bank politics can exacerbate social division by portraying different groups as ______ vying for limited resources. (Pg. 15) Page 125
The list of gazetted holidays in India includes holidays for multiple ______, reflecting its secular character. (Pg. 16) Page 126
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