Secularism means:-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Equal respect of all religions
Option (1) Political identity based on religion — Incorrect. Making religion the basis of one’s political identity is what communalism does: it is an aggressive political ideology linked to religion. Secularism stands against it.
Option (2) Aggressive chauvinism based on religious identity — Incorrect. This is the everyday meaning of communalism. Chauvinism sees one’s own group as the only worthy group and other groups as inferior. Secularism in the Indian sense is the opposite of religious chauvinism.
Option (3) Abolition of civil liberties — Incorrect. Civil liberties are rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of political activity. It is authoritarian states that often limit or abolish them. Secularism is about how the state treats the different religions, not about taking away such freedoms.
Option (4) Equal respect of all religions — Correct. In everyday Indian usage, secular is the opposite of communal: a secular person or state does not favour any particular religion over others. For the state, this means equal respect for all religions, rather than separation or distance from them. The Indian state, for example, declares public holidays for the festivals of all religions.
NCERT (2025-26): “Communalism … In everyday language, the word ‘communalism’ refers to aggressive chauvinism based on religious identity. Chauvinism itself is an attitude that sees one’s own group as the only legitimate or worthy group, with other groups being seen – by definition – as inferior, illegitimate and opposed. Thus, to simplify further, communalism is an aggressive political ideology linked to religion.…” “The Indian meanings of secular and secularism include the western sense but also involve others. The most common use of secular in everyday language is as the opposite of communal. So, a secular person or state is one that does not favour any particular religion over others. Secularism in this sense is the opposite of religious chauvinism and it need not necessarily imply hostility to religion as such. In terms of the state-religion relationship, this sense of secularism implies equal respect for all religions, rather than separation or distancing. For example, the secular Indian state declares public holidays to mark the festivals of all religions.…” “…An authoritarian state is the opposite of a democratic state. It is a state in which the people have no voice and those in power are not accountable to anyone. Authoritarian states often limit or abolish civil liberties like freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of political activity, right to protection from wrongful use of authority, right to the due processes of the law, and so on.…” |