A Comment Imtiaz Ahmad R SRINIVASAN's report (Economic and Political Weekly, September 4, 1971, pp 1926-29) of the proceedings of the seminar organised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research to discuss the trends of development in political science in India is generally accurate and objective, but in a few places he has been unable to take sufficient note of the limitations of the papers and to capture the spirit of the discussions. For instance, he has stated in respect of the paper entitled "Religion in Politics" (Srinivasan gives the title as "Religion and Politics") that the discussion on the paper was marked by a great deal of acrimonious debate, though the paper itself was unexceptionable. Since I do not feel that the paper was quite as unexceptionable as Srinivasan's assessment suggests, I should like to take the opportunity of voicing my misgivings and criticisms about the paper and highlighting some of its more exceptionable aspects. I should like to add, however, that these comments arc motivated by a desire to work toward a clarification and objective analysis of the issues involved in the study of this important subject, and it is not my intention merely to criticise the author in any way, I hope that this discussion will contribute toward the emergence of a more objective and balanced approach towards the study and analysis of the role of religion in politics in India.
