Are tolerance, assimilation and pluralism the key elements in the making of an Indian form of secularism? Justify your answer.

Indian form of secularism is not about passive attitude towards religion but an equal treatment of all. Tolerance, assimilation and pluralism is its pillars to achieve the idea of Fraternity in our Constitution.

Tolerance as a key element:-

1. Tolerance in a democratic country like India means that the country belongs to minorities as much it belongs to majority community/religion. It ensures the minority rights and prevents Authoritarianism  or Majoritarianism. 
2. The instances of various communal clashes including the Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits, Babri masjid demolition, Godhra and Muzzafarnagar riots bring in the consequences of intolerance. 
3. Further, the secularism also entails tolerance within a religion. The instances of dalit lynching, discrimination, exploitation of women in the name of religion gives instances of intolerance threatening the secular fabric of the nation.

Assimilation as a key element of Secularism: 

Indian model of secularism does not talk about assimilation, but every group can have their distinct identity, the only requirement is giving respect and promote brotherhood and enjoy the differences. Example: Muslim distributing Water bottle to kawariyas.

Pluralism as a key element of secularism:

1. Pluralism is the belief that all (or rather the aforementioned ‘two or more’) religions are “true” and that their truths are not mutually exclusive. It acknowledges the existence of all religions as equal. 
2. Secularism wants to keep religion in general, and any religion in particular, out of the public square; pluralism wants to find a place for all of the religions, and ideologies, in the public square. Both want to avoid the public square being dominated by any religion (or sect or ideology); secularism wants to achieve this result by keeping religion out of it altogether, pluralism wants to prevent it from being dominated by any one religion by allowing all an equal place at the table.

While pluralism is the end, in India, secularism as envisaged in the Preamble of our Constitution, is a means to achieve the same. A plural society and a secular one are quintessential for a thriving democracy that is as diverse as ours.