Articles on 14 July 2025

Context

• Nietzsche’s provocative declaration of God's demise serves not just as a philosophical provocation but also as a metaphor for the transformation of societies from theocracy to secular democracies.
• This tension between the sacred and the secular, between faith and rational governance, is particularly visible in the Indian experiment with secularism.
• Even though India is home to deeply entrenched religious traditions, its modern Constitution chose the path of secular governance.
• Yet, secularism remains among the most contested political ideas in contemporary India, caught in a crossfire between historical legacy, constitutional ideals, and majoritarian impulses.

Nehru, Organised Religion, and the Moral Foundations of Secularism and the Idea of Indian Secularism

• Nehru, Organised Religion, and the Moral Foundations of Secularism
  • Jawaharlal Nehru, a key architect of Indian secularism, was deeply critical of organised religion.
  • He regarded it as a source of dogma, bigotry, and superstition, sentiments he expressed candidly in his autobiography.
  • Unlike many modern politicians who mobilise religious identity for electoral gain, Nehru envisioned a polity where religion remained outside the realm of statecraft.
  • His vision of secularism was not atheistic but rationalistic, grounded in Enlightenment values and ethical governance.
• Indian Secularism: Neither French nor American, But Distinctively Indian
  • The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly clarified that Indian secularism does not mirror the French model of laïcité (strict separation) nor the American model of non-establishment.
  • Instead, it has crafted a unique path accommodating religious pluralism while maintaining state neutrality.
  • Contrary to some conservative narratives that see secularism as privileging minorities, true secularism actually ensures the autonomy of all religions, including Hinduism.
  • When a religion becomes state religion, it ceases to be autonomous.
  • Historical examples, from the collapse of Islamic autonomy in medieval India to the political instrumentalization of Christianity in Europe, attest to the dangers of state appropriation of religion.
  • Philosophers such as John Locke and Roger Williams had already argued centuries ago that the state’s jurisdiction lies in civil interests, not the salvation of souls.
  • Secularism, then, is not anti-religion but pro-religious freedom, a necessary precondition for the flourishing of diverse beliefs. 

India’s Indigenous Model of Religious Pluralism and Constitutional Legacy

• Ashokan Dhamma: India’s Indigenous Model of Religious Pluralism
  • Indian secularism has indigenous roots far deeper than often acknowledged.
  • Emperor Ashoka’s edicts, issued over two millennia ago, provide a philosophical template.
  • Rock Edict 7 promoted equal respect for all religions; Rock Edict 12 warned against glorifying one’s religion while condemning others.
  • Ashoka’s Dhamma was not a theology but an ethical code of governance rooted in compassion, tolerance, and civic coexistence, what modern theorists would now call constitutional morality.
  • Political theorist Rajeev Bhargava has highlighted Ashoka’s influence on modern Indian secularism.
  • Far from being a Western transplant, the Indian model of secular governance is embedded in its ancient civilizational ethos.
• Constitutional Legacy
  • The assertion that secularism entered Indian constitutionalism only in 1976 is not just misleading, it is historically dishonest.
  • The 1928 Motilal Nehru Committee Report, the 1931 Karachi Resolution, and even the 1944 Hindu Mahasabha draft constitution all called for a secular state with no official religion.
  • The Constituent Assembly debates further reinforce this trajectory. When H.V. Kamath proposed starting the Preamble with in the name of God, the proposal was democratically defeated.
  • While the word secular was not included in the original Constitution, the ideal was embedded in its spirit.

International Models: Comparative Constitutionalism

• The United Kingdom has an established church (Anglican) yet guarantees religious freedom and equality under law.
• Ireland and Greece mention God and Christianity in their preambles but constitutionally forbid religious discrimination.
• Even Pakistan and Sri Lanka, despite officially endorsing a state religion, constitutionally acknowledge minority rights and religious freedom.

The Path Forward: Between Identity and Ethics

• The fundamental question India must face is not whether it should retain secularism, but what kind of secularism it wants to practice.
• If modernity is fatiguing, as some cultural nationalists argue, the alternative cannot be regression into theocratic nationalism.
• Should India emulate Saudi Arabia or Iran, or build on its Ashokan heritage?
• Even the BJP, historically critical of Nehruvian secularism, once spoke of positive secularism, not its abolition.
• The real danger lies not in critiquing past models, but in replacing them with majoritarian impositions that violate both the Constitution and civilizational ethics.

Conclusion

• Nietzsche’s God may be dead, but his shadow, the desire for transcendence, identity, and belonging, looms over every secular state.
• The Indian Constitution did not deny religion but restrained it within ethical and legal boundaries.
• The silence of the Constitution on the word secular was never a silence on the spirit of secularism.

Secularism — Implicit from Day One, Explicit in 1976 FAQs

Q1. Who played a key role in shaping India's secularism?

Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru played a key role in shaping India's secularism through his strong opposition to organized religion and his commitment to rational, inclusive governance.

Q2. Is Indian secularism the same as the Western model?

Ans. No, Indian secularism is distinct from the Western model as it does not enforce strict separation but instead promotes equal respect and autonomy for all religions.

Q3. Was secularism introduced only in 1976?

Ans. No, secularism was not introduced only in 1976; it was always an implicit part of the Constitution and was declared a basic feature by the Supreme Court in 1973.

Q4. What ancient ruler inspired India's idea of secularism?

Ans. Emperor Ashoka inspired India’s idea of secularism through his edicts that emphasized religious tolerance, coexistence, and ethical governance.

Q5. Does secularism protect religions or suppress them?

Ans. Secularism protects religions by ensuring they remain free from state control and interference, thereby preserving their autonomy and diversity.

Source: The Hindu