Secularism

Introduction

In sociological terms Secularism stands for an ideology and has ideological connotations but the usage of term in India does not conform to this ideological positions. Theoretically, all that is there in the world: beliefs, dogma, myths etc. are either Sacred or Secular.
Sacred, which is dealing with religion hence all traditional societies are sacred as they are based on religion. Secular, on the other hand carries three properties:

1. Separation between State and Church.

2. Emphasis on Earthly rather on Divinity.

3. Rational Outlook.
However, Secularism evolves into a very varied outlook. Some consider it to be separation between Church and State while some consider it to be value neutral and Multi Religious i.e. mutual respect towards all religion. Some consider it to be anti-religion while some consider it to be non-religious ( Nehruvian Concept). Some consider it to a prerequisite for a modern State while some raised question on its very existence. Few regard it as anti-majoritism while few consider it to be an appeasement policy for Minorities.
But in all this vague meaning, one version came out separate and in fact suitability matches with the very multi-ethnic Indias definition of Secularism, i.e. the Sarvo Dharma Sambhava, or the Gandhian concept of Secularism which meant EQUAL REPSECT TO ALL RELIGION AS WELL NON-RELIGIOUS.
In simple words it connotes that public life and matter of governance, religion should not dictate the Socio-Political Decisions. In these backgrounds, it encompasses two specific features:

1. Differentiation: Economy and State are separated from Religion.

2. Privatisation: It includes the very rational and scientific outlook where religion entirely becomes part of Private domain of an Individual.
Origin
Societies are not born secular rather it undergo transformation from traditional society to secular one. This transformation is brought by a process called Secularization.
Secularization could be defined as a process of social change in which public influence of religion declines and it is replaced by rational outlook with private orientation. Hence, citing Western Societies example, one can understand that Religion still exist but get confined to private domain.

Indian Secularism and Provisions

The very concept is enshrined in the PREAMBLE, connotes the normative order. Indian Union seeks to promote secularization process by:

1. Abolishing ritual inequality, untouchability.

2. Throwing open all institution and religious places to all classes and sections.

3. Reform of Hindu Personal Laws.

4. Abolishing any kind discrimination on religious lines.

5. Secularising the content of text books, materials thereby promoting scientific outlook.

6. Bringing in socio-economic development.
Indian Secularism: Limitations and Progress

The process of secularization operates through 3 factors:

1. Education

2. Legislation

3. Social Reform
Education: If imparted on scientific and rational lines, it gives rose to rational thinking process. However if we take Indian scenario, education was imparted through religious institutions-Pathshala, Madrasa etc. Which are itself attached, mostly, to temples, mosques, then the very secular outlook is difficult to derive.
However, with emergence of modern educations, formal education and change in content of education even with medium of instruction, the very rational outlook is developing.
Legislation: A crucial factor but if supported by proper motivation and social environment, it may not give good results. Even our country has gone secular by legislative fiats without support from Society Environment. Behind the very secularism and national unity lies the variety of parochial, narrow minded and unscientific feelings that threaten to tear the secular fabric of our country.
Social Reform: Social movement for social reforms is a potent weapon for the promotion of process of secularization. It does mental conditioning and prepares society to accept social changes. Whatever degree of secularism our society has achieved it owes a lot to social reforms and movements.
Along with these factors, Urbanization and Industrialization also plays an important role in secularization process. It loosens the in-group feeling and present newer rational cause-effect alternatives.

Conclusion

Secularism reflects the way of life and connotes the ethical conduct, applicable to Individual, Society and State. The mutual hobnobbing between these three, i.e. Individual clinging to its faith, prevalence of mutual respect to all religion between all levels of society and State observing equidistant towards all religion, will not only strengthen the Constitutional Safeguards but will also ensure the sense of security and belongings which no Constitution can guaranty.
Further it also reflects the sense of fraternity, unity among the citizens thereby generate the feeling of WE: the very core central word of Preamble.


Communalism

One of the most striking feature of Indias current socio-political scenario is the explosion of communalism in the face of New Economic Policy and Globalization. It is threatening to the very social fabric of Indian Society. It is a highly complex phenomenon in pluralistic India.
Its dictionary meaning connotes freedom of solidarity, a positive domain but in practise it is not so. The historians describe it as a false consciousness or state of consciousness or colonialist knowledge. Sociologically, it is an attempt to establish a relative identity. The socio-political analyst relate it with the game of power created by religious leaders, who play the cords of suspicion so well that religion emerges as a smoke screen blurring the visibility of believes.
In simple terms, it refers to the antagonism practised by the members of one community against the people of other community and religion. It is an ideology based on the belief that society is divided into religious communities whose interest differ and are opposed to each other and thus antagonistic in nature. India is a land of multiple faiths and religions leading often to violence and hatred among the people. Those who fan this religious violence do not consider religion as a moral order but use it as a means and weapon to pursue their political ambitions. Communalism essentially leads to violence as it is based on mutual religious hatred.
Scholars have identified six dimension of Communalism : assimilations, welfarist, retreatist, retaliatory, separatist, and successionist. The occurrence of it not only undermines the heritage of composite culture but also makes the ideology of secularism look pale and exhausted.
Communalism essentially has following main features :
1) It is based on orthodoxy.
2) It is exclusive in outlook, a communalist considers his own religion to be superior to
other religions.
3) It is based on intolerance.
4) It also propagates intense dislike of other religions.
5) It stands for elimination of other religions and its values.
6) It adopts extremist tactics including use of violence against other people
Factors for Growth of Communalism
Society plays a very important role in the genesis of communalism. One cannot divide the society unless it is divisible along the certain fault lines. These fault lines do exist in feudal societies but dont play the politically divisive role they do in colonial or capitalist society, which are more competitive. Indian Society was never homogeneous. It was highly diverse religiously, culturally, caste-wise and linguistically but there was no hardship among these groups. The phenomenon began with the establishment of British Rule in India. Most scholars agree that communalism is a modern phenomenon and not a medieval phenomenon.
Factors responsible for its growth are :

1. Divide and Rule Policy of British: It spread the feeling of distrust among them.

2. Political Organisation: Communal Organisation which have created hatred among the people. Its truly the root cause of communalism.

3. Inertia in Government: When Government does not take proper steps at proper time, communalism spreads.

4. Ineffective handling of Riots: State Government has been proved ineffective in handling communalism riots.
Sociology of Communalism in India
Social cleavage existed earlier but turned hostile in British period. Three reasons are predominant for this: the divisive policy of British; competitive nature of colonial political, social structure; and the backwardness of colonial society with stunted economic growth.
Due to all this, fault lines were sharpening and communal consciousness was emerging among the Hindus and Muslim elite. The Hindu elite welcomed the British rule as liberal one and began to aspire for higher administrative jobs. The Muslim elite-mostly feudal- on the other hand, considered the British Rule an unmitigated disaster as they lost power and suffered the most during the retaliatory action by British after 1857 uprising. And thus conflict about sharing power arose between the Hindus and Muslim elite.
Communalism is not a product of religious hostilities. It is a result of political and economic struggles for a share in power and resources between the educated elite. In the independent India, the universal franchisee changed the scenario of entire political process. Increased participation in political process made minorities and lower caste people understand the importance of their vote and they began to make increased demand, thus changing the dynamics of political change. And this added a new dimension to communalism, which we had inherited from the British Period. Economic change also added to social strife. Election in India has become an end in itself and narrow self and political interest rather than larger national interests became more important. Number Game in pluralistic society became apparent. Further capture of political organization by cultural and sectarian organization is also a case in point
Communalism is also a majorly urban phenomenon, where the deprived and frustrated poor people indulge in loot and plunder whenever opportunity arises. And communal riot provided an opportunity for both. But recent Gujarat Riots and Mujaffarnagar Riots has shaken all sensible, justice loving and secular people of country. Some reports even described them as ethnic cleansing done under the supervision of State.
The rapid expansion of markets and market forces has also contributed to the growing communalization of Indian Society. The market forces are pushing out spirituality from religion and transforming religion into a saleable commodity. Significantly, religious festivals in different areas are undergoing a change. They used to take place in localised manner. But now they are more catching with commercial interest. This further increases the communal consciousness in the society.
Communal Violence
Most communal riots prior to 1947 were rooted in the divide and rule policy of the British colonial rule. But after the partition of the country, sections of the Indian elite from both the communities are also to be blamed for the problem. Communal violence in independent India has been caused by many factors. Some general factors are :
First the class divisions of our society and the backwardness of our economy has resulted in uneven development of the economy. It is the upper classes of the less-developed communities that have enjoyed the fruits of limited growth and hence it is they who have also enjoyed political power. Over a period of time some sections among this elite developed a sense of rivalry vis--vis their counterparts in other communities. In order to draw support from the masses of their own community, these leaders have often encouraged communal feelings to strengthen their political support.
Communal violence also increases because communal parties carry on religious propaganda in an offensive manner, thereby creating ill-will among the members of the various communities. The political parties in India which adopt a communal attitude should be blamed for encouraging communal feelings which often cause communal violence.
Apart from these general factors, some specific local causes also account for communal violence in India. First, because the power of smugglers and criminal gangs, local rivalries between traders of different communities often leads to such violence. Large cities are also prone to periodic communal riots because of the power of smugglers and criminal gangs. The communal violence after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1993 is an example. Secondly, communal riots occur in towns which have a history of communal riots. Aligarh and Hydrabad, among other cities, suffer from this trend. Presence of a large proportion of religious minorities increases political rivalry between the upper strata of both these communities who often appeal to their communal identity to gain support.
Whatever may be the cause of communal violence, whenever it occurs, it immediately attracts attention of the nation. In our society class identities still remain submerged under caste and communal identities. With economic problems becoming important, the ruling elite of our country manages to convert economic problems like poverty unemployment, price rise etc. into caste and communal ones. People should be careful not to be influenced by such tactics. Economic problems of the people, like-poverty and unemployment must be resolved in the country before the problem of communal violence can be totally eliminated
Fight against Communalism
The long term remedy for fighting communalism lies in initiating the process of de communalising the people at all levels. If Communalism is an ideology then it cannot be suppressed by force. An ideology is to be fought at all level of ideas. An honest educational and cultural policy along with the use of media is required to educate the members of Society towards the danger of Communalism. Positive aspect of literacy could also be exploited for same. Education System must be free from Communal Ideas. Further Preventing Communalisation of State and Political Elites as well as Civil Society is also crucial. Communalism has to be fought right from the socialization of children in the families and here parents would be playing a crucial role.
By:
Akshay Anand