Secularism is a concept wherein there is a separation of state and religion. India has followed secularism since time immemorial, especially since Independence. 42nd CAA, 1976 added the word secularism to the preamble. However, secularism at present challenges many facets of our cultural practises.
Challenges of secularism to our cultural practises:
1. Treating secularism as Anti-Religion: leading to erosion of values and ethics from politics.
2. Curb on freedom of cultural practises: for e.g.: banning firecrackers during Diwali.
3. Tool for minority appeasement: majoritarian perspective on curbs of majority cultural practises
4. Adoption of majoritarian practises by state: e.g.: meat ban in Gujarat during Navaratri.
5. Judicial overreach: Shayara Bano case (2017), Sabarimala verdict seen as sacrificing cultural practises in name of secularism.
6. Constitutional morality invoked in judgments like Ban on Jalliakatu, Female Genitalia Mutilation.
Proper adherence to the Indian model of secularism via dialogue between communities and introducing cultural changes from bottom to top will be critical in ensuring secularism doesn’t become a mere jargon but an active feature of our polity.
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