[Blog] India is a secular state

India, a most friendly state to Mauritius, is a secular state. We call upon all to first educate yourself about the REPUBLIC OF INDIA before you speak about it (for example, someone recently, on MBCTV, referred to Hindu bashing when it seems he meant India ‘bashing’, an inaccurate and unacceptable confusion). Mauritius a small island state is in no position to do either India or China ‘bashing’. We joined the rest of the world a few months ago to attempt through a UN resolution to condemn Russia for its aggression on Ukraine, but with no result.

                   Preamble to the Constitution of India 

The Preamble to the Constitution of India contains tenets highlighted in the Objective Resolution and was signed by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946.

In 1947 it was adopted. It shaped the Constitution of India. It is worth citing here, as it gives us a clear picture of the nature of the Republic of India

Some basic tenets were: The People of India are revealed to be the source of the authority of the Indian Constitution. The words, ‘We, the People of India’ reflect the same. 

The Preamble of India tags India as a sovereign, secular republic, a secular and democratic nation. For 
JUSTICE (social, economic and political);
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
To maintain the integrity of the Indian republic’s territory and its territorial rights on land, sea, air according to the justice and law of the civilized nation.
To promote peace and welfare among the world’s nations.
                                        -------------------------------------------------
Some important Keywords in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution:
1.    Sovereign
2.    Socialist
3.    Secular
4.    Democratic
5.    Republic
6.    Justice
7.    Liberty
8.    Equality
9.    Fraternity

Freedom to manage religious affairs. Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. (Clauses 26 and 28 of the Constitution of India)

26. Subject to public order, morality and health, every religious denomination or any section thereof shall have the right-

(a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes; 
(b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion; 
(c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and 
(d) to administer such property in accordance with law.

28. (1) No religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State funds. 

(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall apply to an educational institution which is administered by the State but has been established under any endowment or trust which requires that religious instruction shall be imparted in such an institution.

Even a cursory glance at the Preamble and the Constitution of India will convince us that there is no justification for India ‘bashing’ from Mauritius, that indeed such an action cannot exist!

Dr Michael ATCHIA
for Democracy Watch Mauritius