Indian secularism

Western secularism

Equal protection by the state to all religions. It reflects certain meanings. First secular state to be one that protects all religions, but does not favor one at the cost of other and does not adopt any religion as state

religion.

Separation of state and religion as mutual exclusion it means both are mutually exclusive in their own spheres of operation.

The idea of inter-religious equality is at the core of Indian secularism. Equal focus has been given on the inter-religious and the intra-religious equality. It not only deals with the religious freedom of the individuals but

with the minority communities also.

Interpreted liberty as liberty of individual and freedom as freedom of the individual and equality as equality between individuals. There is little scope for community based rights or minority based rights.

It promotes state sponsored reforms in the religious sphere on equal footing.

There is a mechanism for the intra-religion equality in the western notion of secularism, not of inter-religion equality thus state maintains an arm’s length distance from religion

in all matters.

Indian secularism allows for principled state intervention in all religions. Such intervention betrays disrespect to some aspects of every religion. The secular state does not have to treat each aspect of every religion with equal respect. It allows equal disrespect for some aspects of organized religions. Example practicing social evils as

essential part of religion.

West adopted this model due to the two reasons it was more or less homogenous society in comparison to India so they naturally focus on the intra-religious domination and strict separation of the state from the church is emphasized to realize the individual freedom.