Secularism, Freedom of Faith and a Democratic Way of Life: A Gandhian Perspective

This paper explores secularism, freedom of faith, and a democratic way of life from a Gandhian perspective. In the West, secularism is found to have originated as a strong antidote against sacerdotal dogmas, prejudices, and anti-social superstition. Indian secularism, unlike the West, of course, does not believe in absolute separation between religion and the State. Indian secularism keeps a principled distance of the State from religious institutions to secure an acceptable minimum standard of living and to avert unbearable sufferings for ordinary citizens. But the question arises: Why must religion be separated from the State? Is separation between religion and the State the only viable solution? I will contend that there shall not be an absolute separation between religion and the State. This is because of the invasive religiosity of the people and the pluralism of religious faiths, an ethical-politically appropriate pattern of relationship between religion and State has to give equal importance towards freedom of faith, and respect to all religions, rather than keeping an insuperable chasm between them. Finally, the paper concludes with the discussion on the views of Gandhi’s idea of Secularism and his notion of the democratic-secular State.