Indian Secularism and Religious Minorities in India

Abstract

This article examines the working of secularism in India. A secular state can be described as a state that does not officially identify with any religion. It treats all citizens as equal irrespective of religion. In a secular form of government, no state promotes the religion or any religious group, and also not interferes in religious affairs. A secular state does not limit itself with the social welfare of only one religion. No one will ever dispute the notion that Indians (especially Hindus) have two faces. One that depicts its leader Gandhi and other that represents Chanakya. There are numerous examples where Hindu culture is described as Indian Culture. No modern secular democracy other then India experienced multiple, state sponsored pogroms – that of Sikh in 1984, and of Muslims in 1992, 2002. In India almost all minorities (especially Muslims) recall with despair and despondence how it has been constitutionally pushed to the wall.