Indian secularism focuses on more than the religion-state separation. Explain?
Answers
India is a secular state. Secularism is a basic feature of the Indian Constitution. Sometimes it is said that Indian Secularism is an imitation of Western Secularism. But it is not a reality. Indian secularism is basically different from Western secularism. In Western secularism ,emphasis on separation of State from the Church. But the Indian Secularism focuses on more than religion state separation. In India there was a culture of inter religious toleration. Western modernity and thought influences Indian culture. Western modernity emphasize on equality within the community. Idea of inter-community equality replace the notion of hierarchy. Indian secularism opposes the oppression of Dalits and women within Hinduism,the discrimination against women within Islam or Christianity.
Indian secularism as supported religious Reform by the state. Untouchability is abolished by the Indian Constitution. Many religious Reform Act has been passed by the Indian Parliament. Thus, India Secularism focuses on more than the religion state separation.