Religious pluralism and the state in India: Towards a typology

Bajpai, Rochana

Abstract

This chapter delineates and disaggregates a relatively neglected category, that of political pluralism. I argue, first, that historically, India has offered an important example of plurality in policy, with a multiplicity of state approaches and dispositions toward the accommodation of religious diversity. Unpacking political plurality, I distinguish in a provisional and schematic fashion between hierarchical pluralism, integrationist exclusion, integrationist inclusion, and weak multicultural, strong multicultural, and assimilationist approaches toward religious diversity. Second, if pluralism is understood as a normative category that denotes approaches that respect religious diversity, state approaches in India have differed widely in the extent to which these are pluralist. Political pluralism encompasses a range of dispositions toward socio-religious plurality, ranging from hostility to the celebration of religious difference. Pluralism both institutional and normative is threatened by the hegemony of Hindu nationalism in Indian politics today.

Citation

Bajpai, R. (2021). Religious pluralism and the state in India: Towards a typology. In K. Barkey, S. Kaviraj, & V. Naresh (Eds.), Negotiating Democracy and Religious Pluralism: India, Pakistan, and Turkey (139-156). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197530016.003.0007

• Publication Date: Jun 25, 2021
• Deposit Date: May 15, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 15, 2022
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Pages: 139-156
• Book Title: Negotiating Democracy and Religious Pluralism: India, Pakistan, and Turkey
• ISBN: 9780197530016
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197530016.003.0007
• Keywords: multiculturalism, majoritarianism, identity, religion, Muslims, constitution, political parties, members of parliament
• Publisher URL: https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780197530016.001.0001/oso-9780197530016-chapter-7