Question

What arguments did Nehru use to make India secular?

Hint:

Remember Nehru's secularism as both a practical necessity (to keep diverse India united) and a modern ideal (to build a progressive, scientific nation).

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the reasoning and arguments put forth by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in favour of establishing India as a secular state.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Jawaharlal Nehru was a firm advocate for secularism, and his vision was instrumental in shaping India's secular identity. His main arguments were:


National Unity and Diversity: Nehru believed that given India's immense religious diversity, a secular state was not just a choice but a practical necessity. He argued that only a state that treated all religions equally could hold such a diverse country together and prevent fragmentation along religious lines.

Protection of Minorities: In the traumatic aftermath of the Partition, Nehru was adamant that the religious minorities who remained in India, especially Muslims, must feel safe, secure, and equal. He argued that a secular state was the only guarantee of their rights and full citizenship, which was a moral and political imperative for a democratic nation.

Modernity and Progress: Nehru associated secularism with modernity, scientific temper, and progress. He believed that for India to develop into a modern nation-state, it had to separate religion from politics and public life. He saw the interference of religion in politics as a sign of backwardness that would hinder social reform and economic development.

Democratic Principles: For Nehru, democracy was incomplete without secularism. A democratic state must ensure equality for all its citizens, and this would be impossible if the state favoured one religion over others. He championed a model of secularism where the state maintains a principled distance from all religions (\textit{sarva dharma samabhava} - equal feeling/respect towards all religions).

These arguments formed the bedrock of the secular principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Nehru's case for a secular India was built on the pillars of maintaining national unity amidst diversity, safeguarding minority rights, fostering a modern and scientific society, and upholding the democratic principle of equality for all citizens.