Indian Secularism

The article “Sandwiched Nehru: Religious Minorities and Indian Secularism” by M Christhu Doss (EPW, 21 July 2018) evokes wider interests, for it talks about religious minorities and Indian secularism, suggesting Indian secularism to be a “comprehensive package of Nehruvian discovery, ideas, politics, and strategies, designed to grapple with the communal politics of his times.” It lays special emphasis on the dialogue of Indian secularism with the minorities—with reference to Christians in India—and its evolution.

For the many Prime Ministers of India, navigating secularism and the politics of hate that surround it has always been a challenge. Jawaharlal Nehru, as the first Prime Minister, faced the immediate task of resolving the communal crisis, on the basis of which the secular character of Indian polity would be designed for the time to come.