Freedom of religion in India
Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution.[1] allowing all citizens of India a right to practice and promote their religion. Paradoxically, civil law governing marriages and inheritance is highly differentiated [2]. Attempts to harmonize such laws have been labeled sectarian and long been contentious [3]. However, Indians largely regard religion a deeply personal and private matter.
Indians practice an astonishingly large number of religions. For instance, India has a Hindu President Pranab Mukherjee, Muslim vice-president M. Hamid Ansari, a former Sikh Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and an Atheist Defence Minister A. K. Antony. The leader of the oldest national party, the Indian National Congress, Sonia Gandhi is a Catholic Christian. India's ex-President APJ Abdul Kalam was a Muslim. Out of the 12 Presidents of India since Independence, three have been Muslims and one Sikh. India had a prominent former Defence Minister George Fernandes, a Christian. India's Air Force Chief, Fali H. Major, is a Zoroastrian.
The Indian Constitution also grants special protections to religious minorities, based on the premise that forced or induced conversions may happen and need to be prevented. Citing this Indian provinces (called States) have legislated many "anti-conversion" to ban proselytizing. [4] [5] [6]
References
- ^ article 15 of India Constitution
- ^ s:Special_Marriage_Act,_1954
- ^ s:Uniform_civil_code_of_India
- ^ "Conversions harder in India state 26/07/2006". BBC News. 26 July 2006.
- ^ Mohammad, Faisal (4 August 2006). "Christian anger at conversion law 04/08/2006". BBC News.
- ^ "WorldWide Religious News-Himachal enforces anti-conversion law". Wwrn.org. 22 February 2007.
