India's National Integration and the Politics of Secularism

Pawar Baban Madhav

Abstract: "The events here are secular, but the public is not yet secular-and if it cannot become secular, no greater misfortune can exist". This early warning by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari remains crucial today. India must consciously embrace secular principles-at home, in schools, and in public spaces-instilling them in the next generation. Every faith embodies core values like compassion, peace, love, fraternity, coexistence, nonviolence, and sacrifice. Spiritual leaders-pandits, mullahs, swamis-should nourish these ideals among followers. Politics must remain separate from religion to support true secularism. The responsibility lies not just with the national education system and teachers but also with family elders. From childhood, children should be nurtured through literature, plays, films, and TV. Friendships and neighbourly bonds across religions must be strengthened, and communities should share each other?s festivals and sorrows. Interfaith gatherings, cultural programs, and friendly meetings should be encouraged.

Keywords: nationalism, secularism, politics, critique, Indian culture, identity