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Secular Democracy

     

     

     

    INDIA IS A SECULAR DEMOCRACY

    -by Jinni K

     

    Secular democracy is a form of government where the values of every religion are taken into consideration and can affect the laws and rules. There are many arguments on this particular style of democracy as it is seen with scepticism due to the inevitable conflictions. India is a secular democracy, according to the Constitution of India, and does not have an official state religion. The laws implicitly demand the state and its institutions to acknowledge and accept all religions, enforce parliamentary laws instead of religious laws, and respect pluralism.

    Secularism in India is not meant as separation of religion from state but that a state should be neutral to all religious groups. This type of governance is meant to build a tolerant nation as it provides a platform for the opinions of majority as well as minority groups to be considered, no matter how long the process would take. Unfortunately, saying or claiming something doesn’t guarantee its happening. Occasionally, it seems like people have actually forgotten the fundamental rights of India or just choose to sweep it underneath a plethora of unarguable pretense. What is disturbing is that the right to speak up and protest is being manipulated into allowance of riots for ridiculous matters. The concept of secularism in India seems laughable with the immense amount of religious riots that have been going on from Ancient India and have still not been nullified. The promise of progression, modernization and development doesn’t appear to have dissolved years of uncalled for prejudice. It is astounding that in a secular democratic country its politicians play the tune of diversity of religious beliefs and practices for personal gains. What is questionable is that horrifying riots like the Muzaffarnagar Riots of Uttar Pradesh takes place in the country but shockingly no lesson is learnt. Instead is seems to have broadened the gap between the related parties. It is disheartening that the case didn’t become a learning experience for the residents of the country to help prevent any such future horrors.    

    Somehow there has been a misunderstanding when one states their views or opinions in disagreement of authoritative figures. Such comments are received with an uproar against the one who is exercising his right to freedom of speech. Fallaciously, society proclaims that it is unjust to speak against the nation. When did authoritative figures or governing bodies become our nation? Aren’t we the people who embrace our country’s historical, cultural, political and religious backgrounds, form our nation? These spurious claims are feeding bigotry. As a democracy, we the people hold the power; we are the ones to elect our representatives; we are responsible for our nation and its affairs. India has struggled tremendously to overcome its past. Those struggles must not be in vain. Indians must all collaborate to help improve the nation not only economically but also socially as remaining shackled by preconception in this day and age is a blunder we mustn’t commit.

     

     

     

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