Many thousands of moslems who had intended to flee to pakistan now stayed in india, staking their lives on nehrus ability to protect them and assure them justice. On the invitation of gopal krishna gokhale, gandhi returned to india. Nehru adopted marxism in the 1930s as a tool for understanding society, social development and the national movement itself he disagreed, on one basic question at lease after 1936, with the contemporary marxist position. Signs of a crisis in the relations between state, society, and religion include the violence directed against muslims in gujarat in 2002 and the precarious situation of indias minority religious groups more generally.
Nehrus speech to the nation on the independence day. Ambedkar and threat of resignation by jawaharlal nehru madan, 1993 that embedded article 48 in a purportedly secular mold, preserved till date, though its garb. Jawaharlal nehrus views on nationalism and internationalism dr. In the early years after independence, the country s first prime minister, jawaharlal nehru, and the ruling indian national congress or congress party advocated for an indian brand of secularism designed to hold the country s disparate communities together under one roof. Democracy and secularism are therefore twin siblings. Two concepts of secularism reason, modernity and archimedean ideal akeel bilgrami in these times of ineradicable modernity, secularism of the nehruvian kind, which has even lost its claims to be founded on the dubious notion of implicit negotiation between communities, is bound to seem an imposition. Relevance of nehruvian secularism in the country neha p asrani.
With the fortysecond amendment of the constitution of india enacted in 1976, the preamble to the constitution asserted that india is a secular nation. It has always been the claim of indias politicians that their country is a secular state. Born in a elite family he was educated in england for seven year. Nehrus india was supposed to be committed to secularism. Nehruism is the name given to the political ideology of jawaharlal nehru, india s first prime minister. Rajeswari sunder rajan is distinguished visiting global professor in the department of english at new york university. If secularism has its relevance only in context, then it is natural and right to think that it will appear in different forms and guises in different contexts. Political thought and politics of jawaharlal nehru. The provisions of the indian constitution that lay down the principles of interrelationship between the state and religion are subject to varied interpretations. The following points highlight the top twentyfive contributions of jawaharlal nehru to indian economy. Click download or read online button to get nehru and democracy book now.
Jawaharlal nehru s views on nationalism and internationalism dr. From his dissection of communalism nehru discovered that secularism was the sole response to the communal forces. The political authority of secularism in international relations elizabeth shakman hurd northwestern university secularism is an important source of political authority in international relations theory and practice. Gandhi, ambedkar, and the ethics of communal representation, c. Gandhinehru tradition and indian secularism mainstream. Opinion nehru was authentically indian and secular. Nehru and the secular state of india loyola ecommons. Click download or read online button to get nehru s 97 major blunders book now.
Jawaharlal nehru, first prime minister of independent india 194764, who established parliamentary government and became noted for his neutralist nonaligned policies in foreign affairs. Rise and demise of nehruvian consensus munich personal. His interest in marxism and planned economic development was stirred by the brussels congress and his fourday visit to moscow in 1927. List of international prime ministerial trips made by. Contributions of jawaharlal nehru to indian economy. To understand secularism in india, we need to understand secularism in general, its origins in europe, protestantism versus roman catholicism, christianity versus judaism, the role of church, european history and the conditions under which secularism was imported to india. With engaging text and visuals, this book presents all the basic materials needed for comprehending the complex notion of secularism, from the 15th century to the present day. This is especially so when it is on a controversial topic like secularism. While serving his country, he enjoyed iconic status and was widely admired. Relevance of nehruvian secularism in the country neha p. Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti that which exists is one. Nehru and his views on secularism mainstream weekly.
Nehru s four pillars of domestic policies were democracy, socialism, unity, and secularism, and he largely succeeded in maintaining a strong foundation of all four during his tenure as president. Jawaharlal nehru has been a leading champion of the concept of the secular state. Constitutionalizing secularism, alternative secularisms or liberal. The political authority of secularism in international relations. Nehrus concept of religion is intended to serve the needs ofan individual who is free. Rajagopalachari papers, 5th instalment, subject file 37. When we recall the personality of jawaharlal nehru, we. Nehru was, and not for the first time in his long career in public life, wrong. Jawahar lal t s father, mot ilal nehru was a highly successful lawyer, who had great admiration and appre ciation for the english men and their ways and early in.
The wise call it by various names this is the indian concept of secularism that god is one and there are different paths to attain it sarva dharma samabhava all approaches are equally. Chapter vi nehru on secularism an evaluation evaluating any aspect of nehrus ideas is a daunting task. The crisis of secularism in india books gateway duke. Reflections on the category of secularism in india. Associational governance of religious diversity, 2007. It is because the people of india are getting a wee bit more sceptical of their politicians, and a bit more respectful towards dictionaries, that a reaction is setting in to the antisecular logic of nehruvian secularism. It has been said that pandit nehru was the staunchest champion of the secular state. Pandit nehru, a fantastic and charismatic orator encouraged the countrymen to actively. Nehrus conception of socialism economic and political. In a conversation with the communist, za ahmad, an old comrade from jawaharlal nehru s days in provincial politics in the united provinces, nehru admitted that the congress party was, in 1945, more or less the uppercaste hindu communal party that it. Secularism in india, secularism in india essay, indian.
He was also one of the principal leaders of india s independence movement of the 1930s and 40s. Article information, pdf download for between promises and performance. Following independence, nehru considered hindu communalism to be the countrys top. Gandhi s moral rectitude, allied to jawaharlal nehru s political passion, fashioned both the strategy and tactics for the struggle against british rule. He virtually laid the foundation for modern india, in his thoughts and deeds. Indias embattled secularism by mukul kesavan i ndians are sometimes scolded for misunderstanding secularism. India s limbs were cut off and in a moment of muddied thinking primarily on part of nehru, balochistan and north west frontier province were left to fend for themselves, only to be consumed by a greedy pakistan. Nationalist forces aside, all is not well with indian secularism. The congress s peculiarly indian secularism had been designed to keep muslims on board. India s secularism in a comparative constitutional context oxford university press, new delhi, 2003. Nehru s india was supposed to be committed to secularism. Do not blame him for todays communalism his critics say indias first prime minister made his countrymen feel guilty about their.
However, although the preamble to the constitution of. It is this tradition of the saints and sages, which is a source of fundamental reality, which has given the indian people a moral foundation and certain moral concepts which hold together our ideals and our life in general, jawaharlal nehru 1965. That is to be found in his unflinching efforts to establish and practice secularism within the country s. Nehru and democracy download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Pdf pandit jawaharalal nehrus views on secularism marathi. The last chapter contains an evaluation of nehru s olicies and a short conclusion. Secularism in its place the journal of asian studies. Do not blame him for today s communalism his critics say india s first prime minister made his countrymen feel guilty about their. Gandhinehru tradition and indian secularism mainstream weekly.
By instituting democratic socialism, nehru adopted a middle path between capitalism and communism. The grand chamber does not even take into account official documents, let alone discuss. In practice, unlike western notions of secularism, india s secularism. The last chapter contains an evaluation of nehru s. Nehrus conception of socialism savya sachi in the thirties, in the absence of panditji, when gandhiji had drafted a working committee resolution on the social and economic objectives of the congress, purporting to contain the basic elements of socialismthis. A background before we analyse nehru s ideas on different aspects of secularism we would make a brief overview of the life and times of jawaharlal nehru. In his words, i must frankly confess that i am a socialist and a republican and i am no believer in king s industry, who has greater power over the lives and fortunes of. On the other hand, all kinds of anxieties and doubts beset secularism in india. The following is a list of international prime ministerial trips made by jawaharlal nehru during his tenure as the prime minister of india from 1947 to 1964. There are a few studies on nehru s political philosophy in general. When secularism was to be practised, no other political system could be established except one which was a functional democracy. The book goes on to discuss how these policies correspond to the pillars of nehru s vision for a modern, independent india that encapsulated socialism, nonalignment and secularism and assesses their longrun impact in indian politics.
The political authority of secularism in international. When the country celebrates the 125th birth anniversary of pandit nehru, an occasion arrives to explore his most important contribution to all of us. Kanta devi abstract jawaharlal nehru, the first prime minister of india was a great statesman and thinker of modem india. Nehrus secularism was based on a commitment to scientific humanism married with a progressive view of historical change. Why nehru dropped and indira inserted the s word in the constitution ironically though, it was nehru along with the chairman of the drafting committee of the constitution, b r ambedkar, who were also most opposed to the idea of including the word secular. Officially, secularism has always inspired modern india. Chapter iii will give a short escription of the indian background and then will examine in some etail some of the specific sociopolitical problems nehru had to ace as the prime minister of india and the way he handled those roblems. Jawaharlal nehru the architect of modern india, always yearned to build a secular nation. My main argument is that nehru deserves credit for introducing secularism to a. Jun 12, 2018 indias limbs were cut off and in a moment of muddied thinking primarily on part of nehru, balochistan and north west frontier province were left to fend for themselves, only to be consumed by a greedy pakistan. Chapter vi nehru on secularism an evaluation evaluating any aspect of nehru s ideas is a daunting task. He played a heroic role in the development of a secular outlook during the freedom movement. Why nehru dropped and indira inserted the s word in the constitution ironically though, it was nehru along with the chairman of the drafting committee of the constitution, b r ambedkar, who were also most opposed to the idea of including the word secular in the preamble of the constitution. Jawaharlal nehru was an avowed supporter of socialism.
In the early years after independence, the countrys first prime minister, jawaharlal nehru, and the ruling indian national congress or congress party advocated for an indian brand of secularism designed to hold the countrys disparate communities together under one roof. Theyre reminded that secularism in its original, western sense means commitment to a public life fenced off from religion, not an equal pandering to all religions. Nehru imparted a socialistic vision to the indian development. Thus, a casteridden society is not properly secular nehru 1955. Secularism for gandhi was an absolute necessity to bring about any form of constructive and allencompassing political movement. It was a liberal and idealistic type of fabianist socialism. Spera and documents oil the india colutitllllon, vol. Nehrus faith the crisis of secularism in india books. This is the text, with a few verbal modifications, of a lecture delivered by t. Is there any difference between gandhis secularism. Nehruvian secularism was anything but secular the sunday. Having participated in the long struggle for freedom from the british, nehru, fondly called pandit nehru, a reference to his kashmiri pandit community roots, was a firm believer in nation building, as he understood that the young indian nation had a tryst with destiny. In these times of ineradicable modernity, secularism of the nehruvian kind, which has even lost its claims to be founded on the dubious notion of implicit negotiation between communities, is bound to seem an imposition. On the one hand, almost every politician swears by it.
Nehru s speech to the nation on the independence day motivated the general masses to make a better india. The mind and face of secularism economic and political weekly. Resistance and the literature of the african and south asian diasporas. While serving his country, he enjoyed iconic status and was widely admired internationally for his idealism and statesmanship. Azad, a traditionally educated alim, the peer and confidante of nehru and gandhi and the republic s first education minister, is a good examplebut never in sufficient numbers to give the lie to the charge of tokenism. It could be said that it was his influence that gave the term. Nehru himself was an enigmatic personality embodying in himself past traditions, present compulsions and future aspirations of the people and the country. The fact that nehru had risked his life to save a single moslem had a profound effect far beyond new delhi. The mind and face of secularism economic and political. School of philosophy, history and international studies, monash university, clayton, australia it has always been the claim of indias politicians that their country is a secular state. Madan at the president s panel in honor of the fulbright fortieth anniversary program, on the occasion of the 1987 meeting of the association of asian studies in boston.
School of philosophy, history and international studies, monash university, clayton, australia it has always been the claim of india s politicians that their country is a secular state. Nehru s exposition of secularism is rooted in affirmation of social and political equality. With the fortysecond amendment of the constitution of india enacted in 1976, the preamble to. Mar 27, 20 theory and practice of secularism in india. This background would help us to give us some clues to understand the context in which nehru was writing. Why nehru dropped and indira inserted the sword in the constitution ironically though, it was nehru along with the chairman of the drafting committee of the constitution, b r ambedkar, who were also most opposed to the idea of including the word secular in the preamble of the constitution. He was a writer, thinker and a statesman of great eminence. Religion is all right, he has said, when applied to ethics and morals, but it is not good mixed up with politics. Nehru s 97 major blunders download ebook pdf, epub.
Rajasekhariah jawaharlal nehru occupies a unique position in history as a freedom fighter and builder of modern india. France is a paradigmatic example of negative secularism, which attempts to discredit religion altogether. Secularism in india i do not expect india of my dreams to develop one religion, i. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. But i write down these opening features of secularism at the outset because they seem to me to be invariant among the different forms that secularism may take in different contexts. Secularists identify something called religion and separate it from the domains of the state, the economy and science. It could be said that it was his influence that gave the term currency in indian public life and created the impression that. Gandhis moral rectitude, allied to jawaharlal nehrus political passion, fashioned both the strategy and tactics for the struggle against british rule. Mokerjee protested vehemently against what they took to be a threat to file stability and integrity of traditional forms of marriage and the family in. Yes secularism is an import just like cricket and english language. In his presidential address to the lahore congress in december 1929, nehru affirmed that he was a socialist and republican, making him the enfant terrible of indian politics.
May 27, 2017 opinion nehru was authentically indian and secular. Nehru s secular ideals are one of complexity and aim to harness the plural nature of the diverse. The politics of indian secularism modern asian studies. Nehru s letter to pcc presidents, 5 august 1954, in his letters to pcc presidents new delhi, 1955, 19 20. When jawaharlal nehru framed the objective resolution of the constitutor secularism figured as an important aspect of c known to be a secularist by instinct, nehru associated secularism with modernity and considered sentiments based on caste and religion as backward and a belief from the past. While secularism has been integral to indias democracy for more than fifty years, its uses and limits are now being debated anew. Secularism is challenged not only by clerics and religious nationalists but by some politicians, social activists and even. Jawaharlal nehrus contribution to secularism 215 regards the nature of the secular state in india there is no agreement among the experts. Gandhi preached his ideals of secularism and religious tolerance. Nehrus secular ideals are one of complexity and aim to harness the plural nature of the diverse. In matters of law in modern india, however, the applicable code of law is unequal. India s first and longest serving prime minister, pandit jawaharlal nehru, was a man of vision. The idea here in its weaker publicly reiterated form was that the government would not interfere in personal religious matters and would create circumstances in which people of all religions could live in harmony.
605 50 1288 1286 583 824 718 1636 1555 234 670 1436 412 772 1552 915 1123 52 1192 691 85 1489 237 200 534 1308 1257 775 564 828 1502 824 1223 1345 1038 690 38 182 11 841 816 1295