Publisher's Synopsis
For the first time since Independence, India is at a crossroads of secular and Hindu Rashtra (nation) ideologies. The Constitution of India is ambivalent about secularism, pandering to the demands of both the majority and minority communities. The founding fathers could not even agree on calling the Constitution 'secular'. The word 'secular' became a part of the Preamble only during the 'Emergency'. There is no consensus yet on its definition. In the process, secularism, though declared by the Supreme Court as part of the 'basic structure' of the Constitution, has lost all credibility. This book, based on extensive and in-depth research, is an objective and penetrating analysis of India's secularism. Godbole asserts that India's very survival will depend on the success of its secularism. Secularism is a must read for the youth of this country, political parties, legislators, professionals, academia, media, social thinkers and opinion-makers. No other issue will decide the future of India as decisively.
