Secularism in Multi-Religious Societies

The main criticism of secularism in India is that it looks pale and exhausted.

Ashutosh Varshney describes secularism in India as pale and exhausted.

The nature of the predicament faced by secularism in India is misidentified if seen only in terms of Hindu sectarianism.

The traditional view of secularism in India is that it is a good and solid political virtue for a pluralist democracy.

Secularist intellectuals in India tend to be somewhat reluctant to debate the criticisms of secularism.

Secularism = The ideological mainstay of multi-religious India Ashutosh Varshney = Describes secularism in India as pale and exhausted Secularist intellectuals = Tend to be reluctant to debate the criticisms of secularism Reliance = Placed on the well-established and unquestioning tradition of seeing secularism as a good and solid political virtue

Reluctant to debate this rather unattractive subject = Secularist intellectuals tend to avoid discussing the criticisms of secularism Seeing secularism as a good and solid political virtue = Traditional view of secularism in India Attacks on secularism = Often come from the politics of Hindu sectarianism Unreformed secularist = Author of the text who understands the reluctance to address the criticisms of secularism

Secularism = Subject of a wider analysis and response Secularist intellectuals = Tend to be somewhat reluctant to debate the criticisms Hindu sectarianism = Often the source of attacks on secularism Reliance = Placed on the well-established and unquestioning tradition of seeing secularism as a good and solid political virtue

Reliance on the well-established and unquestioning tradition = Indicates a lack of willingness to critically examine secularism Unreformed secularist = Author who understands the reluctance to address the criticisms of secularism Attacks on secularism = Often come from exactly that quarter (Hindu sectarianism) Reluctant to debate this rather unattractive subject = Secularist intellectuals' attitude towards discussing the criticisms of secularism

Secularism = The ideological mainstay of multi-religious India Secularist intellectuals = Reluctant to debate this rather unattractive subject Hindu sectarianism = Often the source of attacks on secularism Reliance = Placed on the well-established and unquestioning tradition of seeing secularism as a good and solid political virtue