Nehru's idea of secularism
Topic: Secularism: Western and Indian Models · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 8 "Secularism"
Meaning
Jawaharlal Nehru described secularism as "equal protection by the State to all religions". The state should favour no religion and should adopt no state religion. Nehru was not religious himself, but unlike Ataturk he was not hostile to religion. He firmly opposed all communalism, especially that of the majority. He saw secularism as the guarantee of India's unity.
Example
Nehru backed reform laws against caste discrimination, dowry and sati. He also backed the Hindu Code Bills (1955-56), which reformed Hindu personal law on matters such as marriage and inheritance.
Don't confuse with
- Kemalist secularism: Ataturk suppressed religion by force. Nehru protected all religions and supported reform within them.
- Gandhi's view: Gandhi said religion cannot be separated from politics. By religion he meant the moral values shared by all faiths. Nehru stressed the state's equal protection of all religions and its neutrality between them.