issues

2. 
SECULARISM IN INDIA
The terms Socialist and Secular were added to it by the 42nd amendment. The whole
constitution is summarized in the preamble. It is the mirror to the spirit of the
constitution.

3. The Indian Constitution orders that the Indian state must be secular as just a secular
state can understand its goals to guarantee-
 That one religious group does not command another,
 That a few members don’t command other members of the same religious group.
 That the State does not implement any specific religion nor take away the
religious flexibility of individuals.
Constitutional provisions
Preamble: doubtlessly the saying “mainstream” did not first happen either in
Article 25 or 26 or in any possible Article or Preamble of the Constitution. By the
Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, the Preamble was changed and for the
statements ‘Sovereign Democratic Republic’ the expressions ‘Sovereign, communist,
common, Democratic Republic’ were substituted.
No State Religion: There ought to be no ‘state religion’ in India. The states will not,
one or the other build a religion of its own nor give any uncommon support upon
any specific religion.

4. The state won’t force any national to pay any assessment for the advancement or
support of any specific religion or religious organization (Article 27).
No religious guideline should be given in any instructive organization wholly run
by state reserves.
While religious direction is completely banned in state-possessed instructive
foundations, in other denominational organizations it is not completely denied yet it
should not be encroached upon individuals of different religions without their
assent (Article 28).
Flexibility of Conscience: Avery individual is ensured the opportunity of inner voice
and the option to purport, practise and proliferate his own particular religion.
Flexibility to Manage Religious Affairs: individual to star fess, practise and engender
his religion, they are additionally the right ensured to each religious bunches or
sections:
a) to secure and look after foundations for religious and beneficent purposes.
b) to supervise its own particular issues in matters of religion;
c) to possess and obtain mobile and unfaltering property; and
d) to manage such property as per law.

5. Social and Educational Rights: Under 30 certain social and instructive rights are
ensured. Article 30 furnishes that all minorities, if dependent upon religion or
dialect, should have the right to secure and regulate instructive foundations of
their decision.

7. 
Communalism
Abdul Ahmed says, “Communalism is a social
phenomenon characterized by the religion of two
communities, often leading to acrimony, tension and
even rioting between them”.
Prabha Dixit writes,Communalism is a political doctrine
which makes use of religious and cultural differences to
achieve political ends.

8. Characteristics of Communalism
• Ideological concept
• Complex process
• Encompasses social, economic and political aspects for its manifestation.
• It causes rivalry, violence and tension among masses.
• It is used by the higher class people and elites as an instrument for division and
exploitation of the communal identities of the poorer sections of their co-
religionists.
• Communalism is simply engineered by opportunistic political and economic
interest.
• It strikes at the roots of democracy, secularism and national integration.

9. Causes of Communalism
• Tendency of the Minorities: The Muslims fail to be intermingled in the national
mainstream. Most of them do not participate in the secular nationalistic politics
and insist on maintaining separate identity.
• Orthodoxy and Obscurantism: There are strong elements of conservatism and
fundamentalism among the Muslims. Such feeling has prevented them from
accepting the concept of secularism and religious tolerance.
• Design of the Leaders: Communalism has flourished in India because the
communalist leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities desire to flourish it
in the interest of their communities. The demand for separate electorate and the
organization of Muslim league were the practical manifestations of this line of
thought. The British rule which produced the divide and rule policy, separate
electorate on the basis of religion strengthened the basis of communalism in India.
Ultimately the partition of the country provided further antagonistic feeling
towards each other.
• Weak Economic Status: Due to their educational backwardness, they have not
been represented sufficiently in the public service, industry and trade etc. This
causes the feeling of relative deprivation and such feelings contain the seeds of
communalism

10. • Geographical Causes: The territorial settlement of different religious groups
especially Hindus Muslims and Christians causes in them wide variation in the
mode of life, social standards and belief system. Most of these patterns are
contradictory and this may cause communal tension.
• Social Causes: Social institutions, customs and practices of Hindus and Muslims
are so divergent that they think themselves to be two distinct communities.
• Psychological Causes:
• Psychological factors play an important role in the development of communalism.
The Hindus think that the Muslims are fanatics and fundamentalists. They also
believe that Muslims are unpatriotic. On the contrary, the Muslims feel that they
are being treated as second rate citizens in India and their religious beliefs and
practices are inferior. These feelings lead to communal ill-feeling.
• Negative Impact of Mass Media: The messages relating to communal tension or
riot in any part of the country spread through the mass media. This results in
further tension and riots between two rival religious groups.

11. Suggestions for the Eradication of Communalism
 Abolition of Communal Parties:
All the political parties which thrive on religious loyalties should be banned or
abolished by the government. Even non-political cultural organizations should always
be kept under constant vigil so that they cannot preach communalism.
 Transmission of the Past Heritage:
Feelings of nationalism should be inculcated in the minds of people by reminding
them about the glorious moments of history in Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs were
combined to safeguard the interest of the country.
 Public Opinion:
Efforts should be made through mass media for changing the attitude of people
towards other communities. People must be aware of the evils of the communalism.
 Inter-religious Marriage:
Youth organizations and other types of associations should be formed in every
locality to give opportunity to people of different communities to come closer and
know each other. This may help them to practice inter-religious marriages which will
lessen the social distance among the members of different religious groups.