What is the opposite of religious chauvinism and do not imply hostility to the religion?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Secularism
Option (1) Communalism — Incorrect. Communalism is religious chauvinism: an aggressive political ideology that sees one’s own religious group as the only worthy one and others as inferior and opposed. It is the very thing the question asks the opposite of.
Option (2) Secularism — Correct. In its everyday Indian sense, secularism is the opposite of religious chauvinism and need not imply hostility to religion; the state shows equal respect for all religions, for example by declaring holidays for the festivals of all.
Option (3) Regionalism — Incorrect. Regionalism is loyalty to a region, built on its language, culture and a sense of deprivation. It concerns regions, not a stand towards religion.
Option (4) Nationalism — Incorrect. Nationalism is the feeling of belonging to and loyalty towards the nation. It says nothing about how religions are to be treated, so it is not the opposite of religious chauvinism.
NCERT (2025-26): “Secularism … 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.…” |