. Mahatma Gandhi describes the correct attitude towards religion as Sarva Dharma Samabhava, equal respect for all religions ...

In fact by propounding the theory of Sarva Dharma Samabhava, Gandhiji continued the age-old Indian tradition which can be traced to the ancient saying of "Ekam Sadvipra Bahudha Vadanti" ... Sarva Dharma Samabhava ... reminds us of the ancient Indian tradition of liberalism and tolerance. Gandhiji's great stress on (it) was reflected in our freedom struggle. Our objective was to free ourselves from the colonial rule and to establish democracy.

Under the democratic system, every citizen has a vote and thus he is an equal partner in the election of a Government. There is no discrimination on the basis of his religion.

Sarva Dharma Samabhava is not against any religion ... The Indian concept of secularism is more positive. It is specially suited to India as followers of different faiths had been living in India since time immemorial long before the advent of Christianity and Islam

The translation of the word 'secular' as dharmanirpeksha has caused some confusion, appears somewhat negative and creates an impression that it negates something. Secondly, dharmanirpeksha has been taken to mean that it is concerned about or indifferent to religion. We should not ignore the fact that the Indian society is basically oriented to Dharma and has faith in it.

After a decade of the framing of the Constitution, Nehruji thought of this aspect while writing the preface of the book entitled Dharmanirpeksha Rajya (Secular State)  by Shri Raghunath Singh MP. Nehruji said that the word Dharmanirpeksha does not fully convey the idea behind the English word 'secular'. Some people think that it is something against religion ... The correct interpretation of the secular state would be that all Dharmas or religious faiths are treated with equal respect. This way, Nehruji also supported the Sarva Dharma Samabhava ...

The question now arises as to why do we have this sharp controversy over secularism decades after the framing of the Constitution.

I feel that had we translated the word 'secular' as Sampradaya-nirpeksha or Pantha-nirpeksha instead of Dharma-nirpeksha, in the very beginning many apprehensions would not have arisen ... All agreed that the State should be non-communal.                                                                                                                            (Excerpted from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Lecture, 1992)