India, which derives many of its institutions and practices from England, does not follow the same path as England, when it comes to relationship between the state and religion. Trace how the concept of secularism evolved in India. (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
Evolution of Secularism in India
· Initially, the East India Company (EIC) got itself intricately entangled with the administration of religious institutions.
· Temple employees were appointed by government officials.
· The general superintendence of all lands granted for the support of mosques Hindu temples was vested in the colonial government.
· Royal salutes were fired from Fort St. George in Madras, at the celebration of Pongal and at Ramzan.
A change of policy
· In 1833, the Court of Directors of the EIC ceased the interference of British Functionaries in the interior management of native temples, in the customs and habits, etc.
· It was in this manner that the seeds of secularism were sown in India.
· Later, in 1863, a law was enacted which prohibits government and government officers
a) from taking over the superintendence of any land belonging to any religious establishments
b) to take part in the management of any religious endowment
c) to nominate or appoint any trustee in a religious institution
· Through this act, the wall of separation between temple and colonial state in India was achieved.
· However, this colonial vision of secularism was rejected by India’s founding fathers.
· After the Government of India Act, 1919, Indian legislators came to power at the provinces.
· Indian political leaders enacted the far-reaching Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1926, which virtually took over the management and administration of Hindu temples in the province.
· It established “boards” appointed by the government. Temple trustees had to furnish accounts to and obey the instructions of the boards.
· The wall of separation between temple and state in India was first constructed by a colonial government and was then pulled down by Indian leaders who felt that government entanglement in religious institutions, especially Hindu temples, was essential, even in a secular state.
· Even the Supreme Court has allowed governments to heavily regulate Hindu temples on the theory that the freedom of religion does not include secular matters of administration which are not essential to the religion.
