Reviving Secularism Requires Reclaiming India’s Plural Discourse, Says Sunil P. Ilayidom
Thiruvananthapuram: Reviving secularism in India requires more than political or organisational protests against communalism and must be rooted in a deeper rethinking of national discourse, writer and critic Sunil P. Ilayidom said on Tuesday.
Delivering a talk titled Indian Secularism: Ways to Reclaim It at the fourth edition of the Kerala Legislature International Book Festival (KLIBF), organised by the Kerala Assembly, Ilayidom said that despite sustained resistance from political parties, social movements, and secular coalitions, communalism has continued to strengthen in society.
He traced the origins of Indian communalism to 19th-century imperialist historiography, which portrayed India as primitive and divided along religious lines. Referring to James Mill’s The History of British India, Ilayidom noted how India’s past was categorised into ‘Hindu’ and ‘Muslim’ periods, laying the groundwork for later narratives of religious conflict.
Ilayidom also discussed how orientalist scholars later romanticised ancient India as a ‘golden age’, a view that nationalists partially adopted while countering colonial narratives. This, he said, resulted in the exclusion of cultural aspects that could not be aligned with Brahmanical traditions.
Emphasising India’s plural character, Ilayidom highlighted how diverse religious beliefs, cultural practices, food habits, and traditions have historically shaped Indian society through continuous interaction and exchange.
Our Thoughts
Sunil P. Ilayidom’s remarks underline that secularism cannot be revived through opposition alone but requires an honest re-engagement with history and identity. His emphasis on plurality challenges rigid narratives and reinforces the idea that India’s strength lies in its layered, inclusive cultural traditions.