Influence of religion on Indian politics
FEBRUARY 2018 TOPIC: Influence of religion on Indian politics.
People of many religions live in India. Religion has been exploited by the politicians to cause riots and to excite one set of people against another on the basis of religion. We are all equal. It is in the constitution that India is a secular country but religion is exploited by the politicians to gain votes. If we want our country to be politically sound then religion should not be exploited. Religion is one’s own personal belief and should be left to oneself.
Gunika Sohal (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar
Of course, our political system is influenced by religion. Religion has badly affected the political system of our country. Elections, employment, acquiring approval; in all these religion plays a major role. Leaders don’t work according to the need of the nation but for the religion. Every political leader should have just one religion — Indian!
Sejal Shingne (15)
Fatima Convent School, Achalpur
Since the freedom movement, Indian politics has polarised the society on religious lines. The Supreme Court has held that politicians making religious appeals is not in line with the spirit of the Constitution. If the education could promote fraternity among all religions, people would be immune to political rhetoric. A responsible media that highlights religious harmony over partisanship is welcome.
Shailja Pandey (20)
Nainital
Indian politics run on caste and religion. Every religion wants to establish their supremacy over the other at state level as well as at the national level, there are political parties based on religion. Many people vote on the basis of religion and to the person belonging to their religion. In my view religion based politics is harmful, it divides the citizens.
Deepal (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar
Religion has strong influence on Indian politics. Religious intolerance and fanaticism affect our social life. We all should understand that religion teaches us honesty, kindness and love to all. Politicians must try to remain unbiased and maintain communal harmony.
Mukhlisa Tasrin (20)
Jagannath Barooah College, Jorhat
Before the British Raj, though rulers promoted various religions, they did not mingle politics or administration with religion. Followers of different religions enjoyed the same political freedom. The British policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ marked the beginning of influence of religion on Indian politics.
Sukanya Basu Mallik (19)
Techno India College
It would be ignorant to say that Indian politics is not influenced by religion or caste. Religious sentiments are used for building vote banks. The concept of pseudo-secularism emerged because of the involvement of religion in the sphere of Indian politics. All these states of affairs raise one question — is India truly a secular country?
Anushri Shukla
IMS Unison University, Dehradun
Unfortunately Indian politics has been influenced by religion right from the beginning. Many political parties promise to focus on the development of particular groups of people. However, the impact of religion has often sidelined national issues like economic welfare of the nation as a whole, women empowerment and national security. Even though India is the biggest democracy and a secular country, vote bank policies based on religion have caused violence, riots, attacks and mob killing. For a better India, politics should be made free of religion.
Ira Bhatia (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar
I believe that it does play a major role. Politicians taking advantage of human emotions in the name of God is really a sin and in no way it is going to be helpful for anyone. The real politics is to find solutions for people’s problems and not using religious emotions of people for personal benefit.
Milan Patel
Saranathan College of Engineering, Tiruchirappalli
Religion is considered to be the best way for any politician to make himself/herself established. They do not care if they cause tension between the society and country. As persons living in 2018, we are really not interested in religious politics. So now it’s high time for politicians to understand that this way of politics is not going to succeed.
Sonali Garg (18)
Notre Dame School, New Delhi
India stands heavily on these two things: religion and politics. Though religion was given a special place to influence politics positively, it is affecting politics negatively. There have been certain situations where religion is supposed to give a significant resolution regarding politics; however, it gives contradicting statements and provoking political violence and conflicting situations. Hence it is necessary to strive hard to separate religion and politics to bring about secularism that is more feasible for a pluralistic society.
Shweta Mhatre
Mumbai University
India is a democratic and secular country yet there are people belonging to different religions. The government takes various initiatives to treat every citizen with equality and dignity. And for the betterment of the nation people of all religions work together. Though Hindus are in majority, government of India has taken initiatives for the betterment of the people belonging to various religions and has appointed persons of various religions in prominent positions of our nation.
Nandini Sharma (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar
It should be known that religion and politics are inseparable. It is good if politicians take guidance from religion but if a politician is biased towards any particular religion, then the country is in for a downfall. The 21st century has seen a change of mindset among Indians. The politicians are more mature in their decisions and do not let religion interfere with politics.
Gouri Basavaraj Indi (18)
KLE Society’s Lingaraj College of Arts and Commerce
Religion plays an important role in Indian politics. It teaches us honesty, truthfulness, tolerance, kindness and love for all. A politician is the representative of the people, and he can use the spirit of religion to promote communal harmony. But if a politician is biased in favour of a religion that can never be good for all. The spirit of religion gives inner revelation and politics protects rights of the people. It is the duty of politicians to remain unbiased and maintain communal harmony.
Rahat Pruthi (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar
The political system of India is democracy — It is “The government of the people, for the people, by the people.” So according to me religion should not be given space in politics. It is of immense importance to end this. Let people feel safe and secure and free to follow any religion and not be forced to vote according to religion. The solution to the problem is that political parties need to stop supporting a specific religion and work for the benefit of the people.
Dhwani K. Thacker (16)
J. N. Tata Parsi Girls’ Junior College, Nagpur
For a pluralistic society secularism would be more suitable than religion based politics. Yet in India, religion is very much part of the national politics. In such situation the wisdom available in religions can contribute to political wisdom and society should be alert to prevent any political war that originates or is linked to religion.
Sarah Chaudhary (15)
Mary Immaculate Girls’ High School, Kalina
In India, politics and religion have been supporting each other. The recent riot in Mumbai between Marathas and Dalits is a clear cut indication pointing out the need to keep up the secular wave in the world’s largest democracy. Blind faith in religion is often seen as a force that moves people to action. Such religion-mixed politics has caused intolerance towards other religions, communal hatred and civil rebellion. History repeats itself. And fearfully I ask myself, “Are we heading for yet another division?”
Pahul Sond (19)
Christ University, Bangalore
In my opinion, there is influence of religion on politics. At the time of the elections, the candidates attack the religious feelings of people to gain votes. Religion and politics is a recipe for disaster. I think this is the reason that India in spite of being very resourceful is still suffering. Due to the grip of religion on people in India, people practise it with devotion but political parties mix religion with politics for their gain.
Navya Bhardwaj (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar
Ours is a democratic nation with diverse cultures and religions. The political parties taking advantage of this situation support a particular religion or give special facilities and amenities to those who belong to it. Such a mentality destroys the peace and unity amongst the people.
Senjuti Saibal Bhattacharya (17)
St Joseph’s High School & Jr. College, Navi Mumbai