TS Board Telangana SCERT Class 8 Social Solutions 20th Lesson Understanding Secularism Textbook Questions and Answers.
TS 8th Class Social 20th Lesson Questions and Answers – Understanding Secularism
Question 1.
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. Does this indicate freedom of religious practice? (Information skills)
(or)
Are there the people of different religions in your surroundings? Collect the particulars of their religious customs and practices. Tabulate and present them in the class. (Information skills)
Answer:
| Hindus | Muslims | Christians |
| 1) Pray Pray different Gods. |
Pray Allah. | Pray Jesus Christ. |
| 2) Holy Books: The Bhagavad Gita The RamayanaThe Mahabharata |
Quran | Bible. |
| 3) Festivals: Deepavali, Sankranti, Vinayakachaviti and many more festivals. |
Ramjan, Muharram, Milad-Un-Nabi |
New Year’s Day, Christmas, Good Friday. |
| 4) Worship place Temples |
Mosques | Churches. |
| 5) Holy places: Tirumala Tirupati, Srisailam, Yadagirigutta, Simhachalam etc. |
Mecca, Madina, | Jerusalem, Vatican city etc. |
Above mentioned things are showing that in our country we have a good freedom of religion. If the same is not allowed many a times we have to face religious fightings.
Question 2.
Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide? Give reasons for your answer. (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
The government should intervene to prevent the practice of infanticide. The killing ola baby girl before she comes out of the mother’s womb is infanticide. It is done to do away with the responsibilities of a girl child. It is a crime. So, a government must intervene to prevent it. Though in our country the religion is separated from the government, it is the duty of the government to interfere whenever this type of practices take place.
This practice is against the idea of gender equality. If this practice is not stopped the female gender in our nation never comes up.
Question 3.
Find out some examples of different views within the same religion. (Conceptual understanding)
(or)
Do all the people of a religion have same perceptions? If not, explain the reasons with examples. (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
In most of the religions there is no great animosity regarding the Life’s ultimate goal, a few different views are present.
- In Hinduism Vaishnavites, Shaivites, Shaktas and Smartisni are the important divisions. Though there are many similarities each denomination has a different philosophies on how to achieve life’s ultimate goal.
- Shia and Sunni are the two important sects of Islam. Over the centuries it led to differences in various practices and positions. Both these sects share the most fundamental beliefs and articles of faith.
- The Christianity is mainly divided into Catholics and Protestants. Catholics give preference to worship. Virgin Mary whereas protestants give preference to worshiping Lord Jesus Christ.
Question 4.
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. (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
- The Indian State keeps away from religion to give individual religious freedom.
- The State intervenes in religion to prevent the tyranny of the majority to prevent discrimination and coercion.
- To prevent the discrimination and persecution of minority religious groups from the majority groups.
- Our State grants the right to religious communities to set up their own schools and colleges. It also gives them financial aid on a non-preferential basis.
Question 5.
Read the paragraph under the heading What is Secularism?’ and comment on it.
What is Secularism?
in the previous chapter, you read about how the Indian Constitution contains Fundamental Rights that protect us against State power as well as against the tyranny of the majority. The Indian Constitution allows indicted the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these. In keeping with this idea of religious freedom for all, India also adopted a strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the Slate. Secularism refers to tins separation, of religion from the State.
Answer:
The separation of the State from religion is secularism. The Indian Constitution made it compulsion to practice secularism. The secular practice makes us to realise the objectives of
- not allowing any community to dominate the other.
- not allowing the dominance of one group on the other in the same religious group.
- and the state does not encourage or discourage any religion and at the same time grants its citizens to have the religious freedom.
Intext Questions
Text Book Page No. 224
Question 1.
Re-read the introduction to this chapter. Why do you think retaliation is not the proper response to this problem t What would happen if different groups followed this path? (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
The reasons for not following retaliation related to the religious problems are:
a) In democratic countries justice should be there for all.
b) One should not be discriminated against on grounds of their religious practices and beliefs.
c) There is no place for any type of religious-based domination in a secular country.
If different religous groups follow the path of retaliation, there will be no peace and economic development. If retaliation prastised the human beings become wild.
Text Book Page No. 225
Question 2.
Discuss in class: Can there be different ‘views within the same religion? (C.U)
Answer:
Of course, yes. There are different views within the same religion. Though ultimate aim is the same, i.e. reaching the God, the followers of the same religion practice different means and views in worshiping the same God. Sometimes these views have a very little difference and sometimes they are apart from each other. The conclusion would be always the same of spreading the universal ideology of love and practice good.
Text Book Page No. 226
Question 3.
In what way is Indian secularism different from that of other democratic countries (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
A Secular State is one that d not confer any privilege or favour on any particular religion. Nor does it punish or discriminate against people on the basis of religions the’ follow. This way the Indian secularism is being practiced. All Indians are granted freedom to profess and practise any religion of their choice.
In government-supported educational institutions no religious instructions are allowed to impart. At the same time, government can interfere into the religious matters when the situations go out of control.
In other democratic nationals of Europe and North America, the separation of religion and the state is very rigid. They are entirely different parts. In India, we gave top priority to the well-being of all the India.
The Indian secularism allows the government to interfere in religious matters if the ideals of the Constitution allows it.
- The State can intervene through support of minority religious groups to set up their own schools and colleges.
- Even the Indian State gives the Financial aid on a non-preferential basis.
- The Indian State follows various ways to prevent religious domination.
- Our Fundamental Rights are based on the principles of secularism.
Text Book Page No. 227
Question 4.
Can you think of a recent incident, from any part of India, in which the secular ideals of the Constitution ssere violated and persons were persecuted and killed because of their religious backgrounds? (Reflection on contemporary/ issues and questioning)
Answer:
1. The Communal riots of July and August 2012 in different parts of India disturbed the secular concept of ours.
- These riots were started in Assam between the native Rodos and the illegal migrant Muslims of Bangladesh.
- This occurrence of July 2012 led to the killing of 77 people.
Question 2.
This Assam incident further disturbed the religious harmony in our country. A few examples are.
a) In August 11,2012,2 people were killed and 54 injured in protest of Muslims of Mumbai.
b) The 32 North East people travelling in Ernakulam Express were attacked in Hyderabad of Andhra Pradesh.
3. Another burning communal problem of our nation is the Kashmir Pandit issue. These Pandits constitute 4 to 5% of the total population of the State Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Kashrniri Valley of this state has the Muslim population in majority.
- Here the ma joritv Muslims discriminated the Kashmiri Pandits and became responsible to evacuate for about 3,50,000 Pandits.
- Many of these Muslims were trained in Pakistani Camps.
- This situation forced the Kashmiri Pandits to live the life of exiles in their own country, outside their homeland.
Reading the Text (given), understanding and interpretation
A) “The Indian Staff is secular and it works in various ways to prevent religious domination. The Indian Constitution guarantees Fundamental Rights that are based on these secular principles. However, this is not to say that there is no violation of these rights in Indian society. It is precisely because such violations happen request fly trial we riced a constitutional mechanism to prevent from happening. The knowledge that such rights exist makes us sensitive fa their violations and enables us to lake about these violations take place.
Read the above paragraph and answer the following question.
What is Indian Secularism?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution mandates that the Indian State must be secular. According to the constitution, onlv a secular state can realise its objectives to ensure the following.
1. One religious community does not dominate another.
2. Some members do not dominate other members of the same religions community.
3. The State does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals.
B) “The Indian Cijnstitutic’n allows individuals the freedom to Live by their religious beliefs and practices as rightly interpret these. In keeping with this idea of religious freedom for all, India also adopted a strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the State. Secularism refers to this separation of religion from the state.”
Read the above paragraph and answer the following question.
Why is it important to separate Religion from the State?
Answer:
The most important aspect of secularism is its separation of religion from State power. This is important for a country to function democratically.
Information Skills
The Indian Constitution contains Fundamental Rights that prefect us against State power as netas against the tyranny of the infinity. The Indian Constitution allows individuals the freedom to live by their religious beliefs and practices as they interpret these. In keeping with this idea of religious freedom for all, India also adopted n strategy of separating the power of religion and the power of the State. Secularism refers to this separation of religion from the State.
Answer the following questions with the help of above paragraph.
1. What way the Fundamental Rights are useful to us?
Answer:
The Fundamental Rights protect us against the State power and against the tyranny of the majority.
2. What is secularism in the Indian Context?
Answer:
Indian Secularism is the separation of religion from the State.
3. Who grants the freedom of religion of Indians?
Answer:
The Indian Constitution grants the religious freedom to all Indians.
4. What does secularism refer to?
Answer:
Secularism refers to seperation of religion from the State.
One Mark Questions
Question 1.
What are fundamental rights?
Answer:
The civil liberties guaranteed by the constitution to the citizens of India.
Question 2.
Which fundamentalism is very powerful in U.S.A?
Answer:
Christian fundamentalism.
Question 3.
What is meant by ‘Secular’ State?
Answer:
Secular means non-religious State.
Question 4.
Write any one example about religious discrimination?
Answer:
Jews were persecuted in Hitler’s Germany.
Question 5.
What is the importance of Article 17 of Indian Constitution?
Answer:
Untouchability is a crime.
Question 6.
Name some of the religions in India?
Answer:
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jams, etc.,
Objective Type Questions
Question 1.
The following provides us with many examples for religious persecution, exclusion, etc. ( )
A) Geography
B) Economics
C) History
D) Politics
Answer:
C) History
Question 2.
Adolf Hitler belonged to this nation ( )
A) Germany
B) France
C) Israel
D) Palestine
Answer:
A) Germany
Question 3.
The non-Muslims of this country are not allowed to build a temple or a church ( )
A) U.K.
B) Saudi Arabia
C) U.S.A.
D) Pakistan
Answer:
B) Saudi Arabia
Question 4.
What mandates the Indian Nation to be secular? ( )
A) The Constitution
B) The Parliament
C) The President
D) The Prime Minister
Answer:
A) The Constitution
Question 5.
The ‘Personal Laws’ are related to the following. ( )
A) Persons
B) Religions
C) State Governments
D) Central Government
Answer:
A) Persons
Question 6.
Pledge of Allegiance recited in this country. ( )
A) USA.
B) U.K.
C) France
D) Germany
Answer:
A) USA.
Question 7.
In February 2004, this nation banned the wearing of any conspicuous religious or political signs. ( )
A) France
B) U.S.
C) Germany
D) Israel
Answer:
A) France
Question 8.
This article of Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability ( )
A) 12
B) 16
C) 17
D) 19
Answer:
C) 17
Question 9.
Jews were persecuted by Hitler in ……………….. . ( )
A) Italy
B) Germany
C) France
D) Portugal
Answer:
B) Germany
Question 10.
According to which constitutional amendment Act the word Secular’ added to preamble of India ( )
A) 41
B) 42
C) 43
D) 44
Answer:
B) 42
Question 11.
Israel Is a ………………. country. ( )
A) Jewish
B) Christian
C) Buddhist
D) Muslim
Answer:
A) Jewish
Question 12.
………………….. word refers separation of religion from State matters ( )
A) Socialist
B) Secular
C) Democratic
D) Republic
Answer:
B) Secular
Question 13.
Hitler prosecuting Jews; not allowing non-Muslims to build temples or churches are examples of ……………….. . ( )
A) Secularism
B) Religious discrimination
C) Socialism
D) Kyoto Protocol
Answer:
B) Religious discrimination
Question 14.
This is not true with regard to secularism in India ( )
A) The government does not follow any religion
B) The Indian constitution guarantees Fundamental rights based on secularism
C) The state can intervene in religious affairs.
D) Religious communities are banned from setting up schools.
Answer:
D) Religious communities are banned from setting up schools.
Question 15.
The reason for adopting secularism in our constitution ( )
A) For successful functioning of democracy
B) To win the minorities
C) To win the major religion people
D) To make one religion dominate the other
Answer:
D) To make one religion dominate the other