The significance of the term 'secular' (What it can help understand in today's India)

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 The significance of the term 'secular' (What it can help understand in today's India)

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• The word "secular": In a liberal democracy, all forms of discrimination are to be avoided. In a secular democracy, discrimination on the basis of religion is to be avoided. So some question - why have the secular word at all? This trend is pronounced in Europe now.
• Importance of "secular": In Western Europe, the secular states didn't emerge immediately after the religious wars got over. 

1. First a 'confessional state' was established (citizens had to accept the King's religion). So religiously homogenous states came about (England - Anglican, France - Catholic, Scandinavia - Lutheran).
2. These states allowed dissenters to have their own Churches, but hidden away in bylanes, not openly. These 'tolerant states' were actually intolerant!
3. Then came demands to separate the Church from the State (political secularism) [Church was very meddlesome and irritating]
4. Political secularism got support from proponents of free markets, private property and liberties. 
5. This was achieved! So the topic was forgotten, and hen came the fight for a "liberal state".

• Emergence of secular in Europe: Much, much later, with Christianity's decline, Western Europe found "secularism" linked with a humanist world view in which religion automatically was a problem. These societies remembered the horrible days of religious wars, and didn't want it again. Liberal democratic states didn't even now talk of religion, and granted formal equality to everyone.
• Compress the process now: Could European states have successfully managed to create liberal democracies immediately after the religious wars? 

1. It could be done only by accepting that majority religious community's domination cannot be accepted. 
2. Otherwise how do you ensure liberty, equality and fraternity for all?
3. This is the Indian definition of secular - equal impartial public recognition to all religions. 
4. The more the size and diversity of the state, the more urgent the need for it to call itself secular (otherwise inter- and intra-religious domination would be huge).

• The oppressed: If religion-based oppression continues, then the oppressed need to be told by the State repeatedly that the State is there to take care of them. If the word "secular" is erased, that guarantee is erased too.
• Europe is not India: Those states are religiously more or less homogeneous, with weak religious beliefs now. There, the word secular is far less important. India is huge, mega diverse and deeply religious. Here, it is very crucial. India needs both - liberal democracy and a Secular state. (In fact, Europe will see same demands soon, as more immigrants reach there)
• Summary : The more diverse a society, the more the need for the State to be formally secular, if liberal democracy is to be preserved.

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