Analysing The Political Mystery: The Notion of Secularised Minority In India

Abstract

The conflict between religious faith and human reason sets the background for the emergence of the modern ideology of “secularism”, textured in the late middle ages. Eventually, in the 17th century, the encounters between religious faith and human reason led to the establishment of what is called modernity. Though distinctions among communities have obviously existed throughout history, nonetheless, in the political debates, the concepts of “minority” and “majority” are relatively recent. Some political systems did grant special community rights to their minorities, although this was not generally based on any recognition of minority “rights”. In India, a coalition of the oppressed castes, classes and gender across religions can overcome communalism and attain democracy. That is a long struggle for secularisation to thrive along with the resistance to the majoritarian discourse to equate majority and minority communalism.