Vidhi Chauhan, BA LLB (Hons), United World School of Law, Karnavati University
ABSTRACT
India is a multi-religious country with rich culture and heritage. Secularism and right to freedom of religion are two fundamental principles enshrined in our constitution. The word Secular was inserted in our constitution through 42nd Constitutional Amendment. This article examines the concept of secularism and right to freedom of religion in the context of India. Many claims and questions the secular nature of India as it lacks the separation of state and religion defined in western concept, while there is another thought that claims India as a secular state and to not view its concept through the lens of west. As India being a developing nation, the context of secularism is different from the west. We have our own version of secularism in order to protect the traditional and cultural values along with leading to the modernization. This concept is not new to India as there are roots of it in the history. This Article discusses its evolution regarding constitutional assembly debates and the intentions of constitution framers in making India a secular state, constitutional provisions promoting its values, case laws of Judicial Interventions and its stand, current scenario, comparative analysis with western concept and understanding of different democracies regarding secularism. It puts effort to re-examine the challenges, its future and threats like communal riots, illiteracy, poverty, political corruption etc on secularism in India considering the conflicts due to religions in India, political impact and how it can lead to communalism.
Keywords: Secularism, Freedom, Religion, Separation, State, Secular, Preamble
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