Yet taken together, these shifts point to a fundamental transformation of the Indian republic — one that departs sharply from the secular ideals enshrined in its Constitution. A state that privileges one religious identity inevitably marginalizes others, regardless of rhetorical assurances. The question is not whether religious identity has a place in public life — it always has — but whether the state can remain impartial among its citizens. The continued dilution of secularism risks transforming India from a republic of equals into a hierarchy of belonging. Without this, secular India may survive in name, but not in substance.

Source: The Patriot January 03, 2026 22:49 UTC