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October 18, 2017

Former Judge Justice KT Thomas speaking of secularism | via LiveLaw

Secularism vis-à-vis Religions By Justice KT Thomas

By: Justice KT Thomas October 14, 2017

The word ‘secularism’ is mistakenly translated in Malayalam as Mathanirapekshatha (disjuncted from religion). This Malayalam word represents only a very restricted meaning for secularism. Therefore Malayalees by and large have understood the word secularism in such restricted sense. No doubt disjunction from religion is one of the attributes of secularism, as I understood it. But the concept of secularism has much wider and more valuable connotation than the religion related nuance. It is a wrong thinking that secularism is intended to guarantee and ensure the freedom for observing religious rituals or rites. The quintessence of secularism transcends all divisive factors including religious influence and ensuring the dignity of of the individual as primordial. Since there is no adequate corresponding word in vernacular for secularism I deem it appropriate to use the word secularism itself whenever it is needed in relevant contexts. Secularism became interrelated to religion on account of a peculiar background in USA....

Read more at: http://www.livelaw.in/secularism-vis-vis-religions/