Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism

1 Social and Political Life18 Chapter 2 Imagine yourself as a Hindu or Muslim living in a partof the United States of America where Christianfundamentalism is very powerful. Suppose that despitebeing a US citizen, no one is willing to rent their houseto you. How would this make you feel? Would it notmake you feel resentful? What if you decided tocomplain against this discrimination and were told togo back to India. Would this not make you feel angry?Your anger could take two forms. First, you might reactby saying that Christians should get the same treatmentin places where Hindus and Muslims are in a is a form of retaliation.

2 Or, you might take theview that there should be justice for all. You may fight,stating that no one should be discriminated againston grounds of their religious practices and beliefs. Thisstatement rests on the assumption that all forms ofdomination related to religion should end. This is theessence of Secularism . In this Chapter , you will readmore about what this means in the Indian Secularism2022-2319 Understanding Secularism What is Secularism ? Re-read the introduction tothis Chapter .

3 Why do youthink retaliation is not theproper response to thisproblem? What wouldhappen if different groupsfollowed this path? Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism 2022-23 Social and Political Life20 Discuss in class: Can there bedifferent views within the samereligion?Why is it Important to Separate Religionfrom the State? 2022-2321 What is Indian Secularism ? Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism 2022-23 Social and Political Life22 In the above storyboard,discuss the answer givenby the a government school inSeemapur, students want tocelebrate a religious never thought of it thisway.

4 I guess we can alwayscelebrate it outside we wereplanning to celebrate itin our , there is a big religiousfestival next month. We venever celebrated it in we do it this year ?I m afraid that isn t possible,Rekha. This is a governmentschool. We cannot giveimportance to any one schools may do schools don tcelebrate any religiousfestivals in the school religious festivals are publicholidays so that we cancelebrate these at Government schools often havestudents from differentreligious the three objectives ofa secular State and write twosentences on why it isimportant that governmentschools do not promote anyoneoneoneoneone religion?

5 A group of friends who ve recently bought scooters aremeeting to go for a ride Paramjit! Whywon t you be fined?For Sikhs, wearinga pugri is a veryimportant part ofour religion. Thegovernment cannotforce me to wear t worry, I willnot be , I hope you have a know the law in Delhi requiresthat you wear one. Why aren tyou wearing a helmet?Do you want to be fined? Chapter 2: Understanding Secularism2022-23 Social and Political Life24 2022-2325 Can you think of a recentincident, from any part ofIndia, in which the secularideals of the Constitutionwere violated and personswere persecuted and killedbecause of their religiousbackgrounds?

6 In February 2004, France passed a law banning students from wearing any conspicuousreligious or political signs or symbols such as the Islamic headscarf, the Jewish skullcap, orlarge Christian crosses. This law has encountered a lot of resistance from immigrants who aremainly from the former French colonies of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. In the 1960s, Francehad faced a shortage of workers and, therefore, had provided visas for these immigrants to comeand work in the country. The daughters of these immigrants often wear headscarves whileattending school.

7 However, with the passing of this new law, they have been expelled fromtheir school for wearing 2: Understanding Secularism2022-23 Social and Political the different types of religious practice that you find in your neighbourhood. This could bedifferent forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites, different kinds of religiousmusic and singing etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practice? the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them topractise infanticide?

8 Give reasons for your the following up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to differentreligions? What does this indicate? out some examples of different views within the same Indian State both keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. This idea can bequite confusing. Discuss this once again in class using examples from the Chapter as well asthose that you might have come up is this important?Example of a violation of thisobjectiveOne religious communitydoes not dominate State does not enforceany particular religion nortake away the religiousfreedom of some members do notdominate other membersof the same : To force someone to do something.

9 In the context of this Chapter , it refersto the force used by a legal authority like the to interpret: The independence that all persons shall have to understandthings in their own way. In the context of this Chapter , it refers to a person s libertyto develop their own Understanding and meaning of the religion they : In the context of this Chapter , it refers to the State s efforts to influencea particular matter in accordance with the principles of the This poster alongside highlights the need for Peace.

10 It says, Peace is a cannot ignore our differences oroverlook our common interests. Write inyour own words what you think the abovesentences are trying to convey? How does itrelate to the need for religious tolerance?This Chapter had three drawings on religioustolerance made by students of your your own poster on religious tolerancefor your 2: Understanding Secularism2022-23