Solution of Chapter 2. Understanding Secularism (Social and Political Life-III Book)

List the different types of religious practices that you find in your neighbourhood. This could be different forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites, different kinds of religious music and singing, etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practices?

Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allow them to practice infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.

Complete the following table:

Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different religious? What does this indicate?

Find out some examples of different views with in the same religion.

The Indian state both keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. This idea can be quite confusing. Discuss this once again in class using examples from the chapter as well as those that you might have come up with.

This poster alongside highlights the need for ‘Peace’. It says “peace is a never ending process. It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests.” Write in your own words what you think the above sentences are trying to convey? How does it relate to the need for religious tolerance?

This chapter had three drawings on religious tolerance made by students of your age. Your own poster on religious tolerance for your peers.

Re-read the introduction to this chapter. Why do you think retaliation is not the proper response to this problem? What would happen if different groups followed this path?

Discuss in class: Can there be different views within the same religion?

In the above storyboard, discuss the answer given by the teacher.

Government schools often have students from different religious backgrounds. Read the three objectives of a secular State and write two sentences on why it is important that government schools do not promote any one religion?

Can you think of a recent incident, from any part of India, in which the secular ideals of the Constitution were violated and persons were persecuted and killed because of their religious backgrounds?