Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – Are the Religious Minority safe in India?
The principles that are considered pillars of democracy – equality, liberty and fraternity as provided for in the Constitution, constitute the foundational philosophy behind the legislations passed in the country of India. Minority protection is guaranteed to…
Is Intolerance rising? – The Conundrum of Religious Issue in India
India is known for its unity in diversity. People of many religions and sects reside in India with harmony. Though Hinduism is the oldest and majority religion, other religions have also been assimilated in Indian culture over…
Pseudo-Secularism – Separating the Chaff from Wheat
We the people of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, and Secular Democratic Republic, says the first line to our preamble. While the words; sovereign, democratic, and republic were there from the…
Freedom of Religion in India – A Socio-Legal Study
The right to freedom of religion is a fundamental right prescribed in Part III (Articles 25-28) of the Constitution of India. The Preamble to the Constitution of India also emphasizes a secular form of government. In 1918,…
Section 295A IPC – A Potent Weapon in criminalizing Comedy and Cinema
There have been various questions related to religious liberty globally that have become flashpoints of controversy in virtually every aspect of life. Religion, which is thought to guide correctly and ethically all our activities in today’s world…
Secularism – Conundrum of Indian Constitution
India is a unique State, promoting secularism and preserving spirituality through constitutional provisions and judicial pronouncements. In simple terms, secularism can be defined as the ‘principle of separation of state from the religious institution‘. In the concept…
The Political and Religious Nexus in India
In 1976, the Forty-second Amendment of India’s Constitution rendered it a secular nation. Although the most commonly accepted definition of secular is the separation of religion from civic affairs and the state, India’s version of it is…
Love Jihad – Political Bigotry or Hoax Proselytism?
In the last 3-4 months, I have been hearing and reading a lot about ‘Love Jihad.’ Everyone is talking about it, some in against and some in favor. When I was unaware of what does this term…
Can religion justify crimes against Humanity?
Religious violence has resurfaced in the past decade. The rising religious tensions and a growing sectarian divide are evident across the world. Be it the rise of Islamic extremism in the Middle East, the outbreak of violence…