Question

In spite of communal partition, India was not declared a ‘Hindu State’. How the leaders of Indian National Congress defended the adoption of “secularism” in India?

Answer 1

In spite of communal partition, India was not declared a ‘Hindu State’ on the following basis:- 

a. Most of the national movement leaders believed that India must treat persons of all religions equally and that India should not be a country that gives status to adherents of one faith and inferior to those who practiced another religion. 

b. Even after large scale migration of Muslims to the newly created Pakistan, the Muslim population in India accounted for 12 Percent of the total population in 1951. 

c. To provide a sense of security to other religious minorities in India, it became utmost important to declare India a ‘Secular State’.