Highways To Secularism

Secularism
First coined by George Jacob Holyoake Secularity is the state of being separate from Religion Secularism = Separation of church & state The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education Laicism or Laicite in France

Secularism around the World

The Religions Of India

Hinduism
-Amongst the Oldest religions - Polytheistic
-The Trinity - 33 million gods - Freedom to worhip any of them

- Rich philosophy, texts, literature Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata - Follows rites & rituals but non prescriptive - Rigid Caste system

Islam
- Came into India in 7th Century AD through traders - Flourished under Muslim rulers 1200 1850 - Monotheistic, conservative - Two Main sects, Sunni ( 75%) and Shia ( 25%) - Majority in J&K & Lakshadweep, large % in Kerala, AP, UP, Bihar, WB, Assam
Islam population percentage in various states: Red 50100%, Orange 2550%, Yellow 20 25%, Green 1520%, Blue 1015%, (Indian National Average), Indigo 510%, Gray < 5%.

Christianity
Came to India in 52 AD, through St Thomas in Kerala Subsequently from 1500 onwards through the Portugese & French Later on through the British 60% catholic, 40% other denominations Set up many schools and colleges in India

Buddhism
Around 500 BC Created by Siddhartha Gautama a Prince of Nepal Main Tenets - Non violence - eschew desire - A middle path Flourished in India till 12th Century AD Declined due to - resurgence of Hinduism - Islamic Conquests - Lack of Royal Patrons Neo Buddhism

Buddhist proselytism at the time of king Asoka (260-218 BCE), according to his Edicts.

Sikhism
Founded by Guru Nanak in Punjab in the 16th Century Propounds the concept of One God Considers all men equal, opposes the caste system Had 10 spiritual leaders, the last Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh organized the Sikhs into a brotherhood ( Khalsa) and created a set of rules Singh & Kaur, the 5 Ks, Martial tradition - A bulwark against Muslim Invaders

Jainism
Estimated to have originated between 900-600 BC Preaches non violence to all living creatures Five vows -Ahimsa ( non violence) - Sathya ( Truth) - Asteya (non-stealing) - Brahmacharya ( Celibacy) - Aparigraha ( non-material)

Sculpture representing two founders of Jainism: left, Rishabha first of the 24 tirthankaras; right Mahavira, the last of those 24, who consolidated and reformed the religious and philosophical system.

Highways to Secularism
History Of Indian Secularism - The Mughals - The British - Partition of the Country - Independent India Laws Dealing with Secularism - The Constitution

Secularism in India
Democracy contributes also to the stability of Indian secularism and resistance to sectarian politics. There is some significance even in the fact that a country in which more than 80% of the electorate happen to be Hindu has chosen a Sikh prime minister (Manmohan Singh), a Muslim president (Abdul Kalam) and a Christian leader of the ruling Congress party (Sonia Gandhi).
Amartya Sen, Nobel prize winning Indian Economist

Secularism - Thoughts and Issues

India
-

Home to 18 major languages and 400 important dialects Has given rise to 4 major religions of the world It welcomed Christianity long before Europe embraced it Has offered refuge to people fleeing from religious persecution Jews, Zoraostrians, Tibetans Home to 4000 ethnic communities

I do not want my house to be walled in from all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures from all lands to blow about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any. - Mahatma Gandhi

Thoughts on Indian Secularism

When India is said to be a Secular State, it does not mean we reject the

reality of an unseen spirit or the relevance of religion to life or that we exalt irreligion. It does not mean that Secularism itself becomes a positive religion or that the state assumes divine prerogatives. Though faith in the Supreme principle is basic to Indian tradition, the Indian State will not identify itself with or be controlled by any particular religion. Dr S Radhakrishnan (Second President) The most difficult thing in India is to create a Secular State in an intensely religious society Jawarharlal Nehru (First Prime Minister)

History Of Secularism
Ancient India - Upanishads Sarva Dharma Sambhava, Vasudaiva Kutumbakam - Depended on the writ of the Ruler in Power - Permitted new religions to emerge - Instances of persecution were present, however, no wars over religion

Mughals & Other Muslim Rulers 1200 AD 1800 AD - Religion Tax for non-muslims Jazia - Destruction of places of worship, conversion of Temples to mosques - Secular minded rulers like Akbar , Dara Shikoh
The British - Were largely secular - Recognized the differences between the religions and created separate Civil Codes for different religions

Secularism & The Law

The Constitution Of India was created in 1950. It stated that India was a Sovereign, Socialist, democratic Republic. Provided all freedoms for free speech, and practice of Religion
The State shall not espouse or practice any religion Public Revenues not used to promote any religion State shall have the power to regulate any economic activity associated with religious practice Can throw open all Hindu places of worship to all classes and sections of Hindus Outlaws Untouchability Equal right to freedom of conscience and religion These are subject to powers of the State to impose restrictions on grounds of public order, morality & health Courts have ultimate authority

However, the original Constitution did not have a direct reference to Secularism Article 44 directed the Government to formulate a Uniform Civil Code Prof KT Shah The state in India being Secular, shall not have any concern with any religion, creed or profession of faith: and shall observe a matter of absolute neutrality in all matters relating to the matter of religion of any class of its citizens or other persons in the Union. The word Secular was introduced by a Constitutional amendment in 1976 (but was not defined!)

Secularism & The Law

Religious & Charitable Endowments Act 1951, 1968, 1979

Control Of Religious Institutions Bigamy HinduPersonal Law Reforms Cow slaughter Freedom Of Religion Inheritance Alimony Babri Masjid Bigamy Act Promise Of Hindu Rashtra

Narasu Appa Mali 1954 Hindu Code Bill 1955

Hanif Qureishi vs State Of Bihar 1959

National Anthem Case 1985 Mary Roy vs State Of Kerala 1986 Shah Bano Case 1986 Ismail Faruqi Vs Union Of India 1994 Sarla Mudgal vs Govt Of India 1995 Mahadik Vs Naik 1996

 Congress shall value no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free existence thereof First Amendment of the American Constitution 1791
Engel v. Vitale held that even optional prayers in aided schools were unconstitutional. The majority opinion was delivered by Justice Hugo Black who was a devout Baptist and Sunday School preacher. He was denounced as a Communist and an atheist Incidentally, Justice Black was, in his younger days, a member of Ku Klux Klan and anti-Black. As a judge of the Supreme Court, he was a strong de-segregationist. Carl Sagan has pointed out that as a member of the Ku Klux Klan, Black wore white robes and intimidated the blacks; as a judge of the Supreme Court he wore black robes and intimidated the whites. in the French republican school, one does not learn to believe but to reason. even the agnostic Jawaharlal could not prevent the birth of Independent India as an astrologically auspicious time.

Schedule
Secularism Indian Religions History of Indian Secularism Religious Laws 21st Nov

28th Nov

Key issues, conflicts, controversies Secularism in the Corporate world The way forward

1st Dec

Issues and Events that have tested the Secular Fabric Of India

Partition and Its aftermath

Creation Of Pakistan Jammu & Kashmir East Pakistan / Bangladesh

Somnath Temple Inauguration Shah Bano Case Babri Masjid Reservations for Oppressed and Backward Classes The Khalistan Problem Communal Violence & Riots Persecution Of Artists Maoism

Examples Of US Secularism

Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Ellison's photo-op reenactment of his swearing in ceremony with Thomas Jefferson's Quran (Keith Ellison, D MI the first Muslim elected to the US Congress) Source : Wikipedia

Some Other Issues

1990 1999 Campaigning on the basis of religion & Caste Babri Masjid 1991 Haj Pilgrimage 300 th Anniversary of the Sikh Faith

Key Issues, Conflicts & Controversies

- The

Uniform Civil Code Goa is an exception - The Hindu Undivided Family - Treatment for the Scheduled Castes & Tribes - The Muslim Personal Law - Support for Haj - Prosletysing - Treatment Of Other Minorities - Treatment of Women - The rise of Maoism - Khap Panchayats - Freedom Of Expression - Education - cow slaughter - Preventive detention against terrorism - Persecution Of Artists

Least Secular Countries

Most spectacular Transformations

Most Secular Countries

Instances of partisanship across borders - Malaysia, Sri Lanka - The Islamic Bomb

True Secularism Is It Possible?

And what would it entail?

Reservations & Affirmative Action

Would this be a contradiction in a secular country?

How important is this?

In what situations is it not required?

The Indian Situation

Vast disparities A deeply entrenched caste system Historical differences Multiple ethnicities, religions, languages

Comparison of Economic Status

*ECONOMIC % 1999-2000 Rural
Dalits Self Employed In Agriculture Self Employed In NonAgriculture Regular Salaried Wage labour Employment Rate Unemployment rate Poverty Rate 25.69 9.72 Non-Dalits 49.86 13.35

Urban
Dalits 4.8 28.53 33.34 64 34.41 3.70 39 Non-Dalits 4.97 39.23 41.39 15 33.18 2.62 21

6.25 7.64 50 23.32 38.62 39.75 4.09 2.60 35.4 20

Comparison Of Social Status

1998-1999 Literacy Rate (%) Infant Mortality Rate (%) Child Mortality (%) Under nourishment (%) Life Expectancy (yrs) Magnitude of Child Labour Rural ** Magnitude of Child Labour Urban **

Dalits 57.81 83 39.5 54 62 7.22 8.1

Non-Dalits 73.41 61.8 22.2 41.1 66 3.3 6.2

Percentage Of SC jobs in the Government

Class I II III IV 1959 1.18 2.38 6.95 17.24 1965 1.64 2.82 8.88 17.75 1974 3.2 4.6 10.3 18.6 1984 6.92 10.36 13.98 20.2 1995 10.12 12.67 16.15 21.26

Public Sector to Private Sector 24:76

Percentage share in government employment Year Dalits Adivasis 1956 14.98 1.59 2003 16.52 6.46

Others 83.43 77.01

Source: Thorat 2005, Persistent Poverty Why SC and ST stay chronically poor DFID working paper

Percentage share of employees in public sector banks

Posts 1978 SC ST Others Officers 2.04 0.34 97.62 Clerks 10.32 1.82 87.86 Sub staff 16.25 2.09 81.67
Source: National Commission for SC and ST

SC 12.51 14.88 24.47

ST 4.22 4.76 6.25

2000 Others 83.27 80.36 69.28

Reservation in Parliament & Education

79 out of 518 seats in the 1999 parliament reserved 15 % Of the seats in Universities & Colleges Special and remedial tutoring to facilitate admissions to universities 5% relaxation in marks Enrolment improved from 7.8% in 1978 to 14 % in 1996

Reservation For non- Hindu religions

The Tamil Nadu government has allotted 3.5% of seats each to Muslims and Christians, thereby altering the OBC reservation to 23% from 30% (since it excludes persons belonging to Other Backward Castes who are either Muslims or Christians).[13] Andhra Pradesh's administration has introduced a law enabling 4% reservations for Muslims. (contested in court) Kerala Public Service Commission has a quota of 12% for Muslims. Religious minority status educational institutes also have 50% reservation for their particular religions. The Central government has listed a number of Muslim communities as backward Muslims, making them eligible for reservation.

Other Examples Of Reservation

Sons/Daughters/Grandsons/Granddaughters of Freedom Fighters. Physically handicapped. Sports personalities. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have a small fraction of reserved seats in educational institutions. (Note : NRI reservations were removed from IIT in 2003). Those who have served in the armed forces (ex-serviceman quota). Dependents of armed forces personnel killed in action. Repatriates. Reservation in special schools of Government Undertakings /PSUs meant for the children of their employees (e.g. Army schools, PSU schools, etc.). Paid pathway reservations in places of worship (e.g. Tirupathi Balaji]Temple, Tiruthani Murugan (Balaji) temple). Seat reservation for Senior citizen's/ PH in Public Bus/ Rail Transport transport.

Is the US Secular?

Is India Secular?

So what should we do?