question_answer 6)

 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.  

Answer:

 India is a secular country. The state has no religion of its own. The Indian government at center as well as state levels declares holidays on the occasions of festivals but no function of religious ceremony is done by the State. The State has nothing to do with these matters. People are free to celebrate these religious festivals in their own way. The head of the Indian state or the Prime Minister or even the Governors, Chief Ministers etc. convey their good wishes to the people on such occasions. The Indian state only intervenes if some wrong religious or superstition creates problem for children (infanticide) or for women (sati) for lower castes. If the people of the same religion i.e. the Hindus are denied the right to enter a place of worship then the state can intervene.