[Answered] Examine the core tenet of Indian Secularism that emphasizes protection of all faiths. Critically analyze how this model ensures the supreme political identity remains “Indian”.

Introduction

India, with over 1.3 billion people and 22 major religions (Pew, 2021), adopted a unique secularism model ensuring equal respect for all faiths, safeguarding fraternity and national identity amidst deep cultural-religious diversity.

Core Tenet of Indian Secularism: Protection of All Faiths

1. “Sarva Dharma Sambhava” – Equal Respect, Not Hostility: Unlike Western secularism’s strict church–state separation, Indian secularism is principled distance (Rajeev Bhargava), enabling the state to engage with all religions without privileging or persecuting any.
   Examples: State management of diverse religious institutions, Protection of minorities under Articles 25–30, Government facilitation of religious events (Kumbh Mela logistics, Haj committee until 2018).
2. Constitutional Foundations Rooted in Equality and Liberty: Key provisions reflect protective secularism: Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession of religion, Article 26: Autonomy of religious denominations, Article 27: No compulsion to pay for another religion’s promotion, Article 28: Secular education in state institutions. The Supreme Court in S.R. Bommai (1994) affirmed secularism as a basic feature.
3. Preventing Hierarchies and Majoritarian Domination: Indian secularism protects all groups from both state domination and intra-religious hierarchies. Examples from the article and beyond:

• Ambedkar advocating state intervention against caste oppression.
• Periyar campaigning for temple-entry reforms.
• Hindu women’s rights expansion under reformist Hindu Code Bill (1955).
• Muslim women’s rights upheld through Shah Bano and Muslim Women Act reforms

State neutrality prevents any group from acquiring constitutional superiority.

4. Religion Flourishing Publicly Without Controlling the State: India never restricted public religiosity—Hindu festivals, Muslim Muharram processions, Sikh Nagar Kirtans and Christian Christmas celebrations remain vibrant. This model encourages cultural pluralism while ensuring the state itself remains non-religious.

How This Ensures the Supreme Political Identity Remains “Indian”

1. Prevents Religious Identity from Becoming the Basis of Citizenship: By disconnecting political rights from religion, secularism ensures citizenship ≠ faith. Thus, Indian identity is civic, not theological.
2. Preserves National Fraternity in a Deeply Plural Society: According to the Sachar Committee Report (2006) and Pew Global Attitudes (2021), Indians overwhelmingly support religious coexistence. A secular state reduces fears of exclusion, anchoring loyalty to the nation rather than a sect.
3. Enables Balanced State Intervention to Maintain Equality: The doctrine of principled intervention ensures the state can step in to: abolish untouchability (Article 17), outlaw triple talaq (2019), enforce anti-conversion laws where coercion exists. These interventions strengthen equal citizenship and protect minorities within majority and minority religions alike.
4. Prevents Religious Polarisation from Weakening the Republic:The Constitution-makers feared the divisive impact of religion-based politics seen during Partition. A secular state reduces polarisation, ensuring the citizen’s primary allegiance is the Constitution, not the community.

Conclusion

As Nehru wrote in The Discovery of India, India’s unity thrives on cultural multiplicity. Indian secularism safeguards all faiths, ensuring that constitutional citizenship—not religious identity—remains the nation’s supreme unifying force.