It is often said that India is a secular country. But what does that really mean? And when and why did India become a secular country?

To understand what secularism means in the Indian context, it is important to first understand the concept of religion in India. India is a country with a diverse range of religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. And while there are many different religious beliefs and practices within each of these religions, there is also a great deal of diversity within each religion.

So, when we talk about India being a secular country, we are talking about a country where all religions are treated equally. This means that there is no official state religion and that people of all religions are free to practice their own religion.

There is no single reason why India became a secular country. But there are a few important factors that contributed to this change.

One factor was the impact of colonialism on India. During British rule, Christianity was promoted by the colonial authorities. This led to a growth in the number of Christians in India. And as the number of Christians increased, so did the number of people who were opposed to the idea of a state religion.

One reason is that India is a very diverse country with many different religions and languages. This diversity is one of India's strengths. India's Constitution guarantees equality of all religions. The Constitution also prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion.

Another factor was the Partition of India in 1947. This event led to the creation of two separate countries - India and Pakistan. And while India became a secular country, Pakistan chose to remain an Islamic state. This further increased the number of people in India who were opposed to the idea of a state religion.

Finally, the rise of the Indian National Congress in the early 20th century also played a role in the transformation of India into a secular country. The Congress was a secular party, and it advocated for a secular state.

All of these factors contributed to the gradual change in the status of India from being a Hindu country to a secular country. And while there have been some ups and downs in the journey towards secularism, the overall trend has been towards a more inclusive and tolerant society.

How can you trace India's Secularism?

India's secularism is also evident in its many festivals and holidays. India celebrates festivals from all religions, such as Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and Guru Nanak Jayanti. India is also home to many sacred places, such as the Taj Mahal, which is a mosque, and the Golden Temple, which is a Sikh shrine.

India's secularism is also evident in its politics. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is a Hindu. However, the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, is a Dalit, which is a member of the lowest caste in Hinduism. India has also had Muslim and Christian prime ministers in the past.

India's secularism is also evident in its economy. India is home to many multinational corporations, such as Tata, Infosys, and Wipro. These companies are based in India, but they have employees from all over the world. India is also home to many small businesses, which are owned by people from all religions.

India's secularism is also evident in its culture. India has many different languages and dialects. Hindi is the official language of the government, but English is also widely spoken. India also has a rich literary tradition. Many of India's great authors, such as Rabindranath Tagore and Premchand, wrote in different languages.

India's secularism is also evident in its education system. India has many schools and colleges that are open to students of all religions. India also has many universities that are open to students of all religions.

India's secularism is also evident in its media. India has many different television channels, such as the state-run Doordarshan and the privately owned Star TV. India also has many radio stations, such as All India Radio and Radio City.

India's secularism is also evident in its legal system. India has a secular legal system, which means that there is no state religion. India also has a secular judiciary, which means that judges are not appointed on the basis of their religion.

India's secularism is also evident in its government. The central government is secular, and there is no official state religion. The state governments are also secular.

So, these are some of the reasons why India became a secular country. India is a very diverse country with many different religions and languages. This diversity is one of India's strengths. The Constitution of India guarantees equality of all religions and prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. India is also home to many multinational corporations, such as Tata, Infosys, and Wipro. India is also home to many small businesses, which are owned by people from all religions. India has many different television channels, such as the state-run Doordarshan and the privately owned Star TV. India also has many radio stations, such as All India Radio and Radio City.