Demystifying Secularism in Contemporary State of Mizoram

Senhri Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2 (July - December 2018), pp. 19-32 Research Article Open Access Senhri Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies A Journal of Pachhunga University College ISSN: 2456-3757 (A Peer Reviewed Journal) Vol. 03, No. 02 July-Dec., 2018 Journal Website: https://sjms.mizoram.gov.in Demystifying Secularism in Contemporary State of Mizoram Robert Sanglawra Khawbung Department of Political Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl Email: [email protected] Abstract The paper deals with the core issues relating to secular and its related terms like, secularism and secularization process in Mizoram. It also focuses on the linkages between religion, social and political system from its historical perspective to contemporary Mizo polity. The paper also discussed in detail the impact of religion in close knit Mizo society and how the society perceives and responses the socio-political issues from religious perspectives. In other words, further, the paper also briefly discussed the effective role of Church for over some decades, in interpretation and contextualization the social, political and economic issues from religious perspective and its implication on state politics. Apart from the above stated issues, in midst of changing dynamic and fast secularization process of Mizo society, the paper also discussed the contemporary relations between religion and politics and attempt at reimaging the relationship between religion and political process in Mizoram. Lastly, the paper deals with the difficulties of locating the notion of secularism and its prospective in pervasive religious Mizo society. Keywords: secularism, Mizo, church, Christianity, politics Introduction as the process of (1) increasing structural differentiation of social spaces resulting in Concept and practice of the separation of religion from politics, secularization and secularism is broadly economy, science, and so forth: (2) the understood as the separation of state from privatization of religion within its own religion, where religious issues are excluded sphere; and (3) the declining social from politics. Since, early sixteenth century significance of religious belief, commitment seminal thinkers had proposed secularization and institutions. However, Jose Casanova © PUC 2018 19 Senhri Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2 (July - December 2018) argued that, the core of the thesis, namely, Indian made a provision for equality of all the understanding of secularization as a religious groups in a legal or political single process of functional differentiation perspective, the existence of multi-religious of the various secular institutional spheres of groups with variety of religious practice and modern societies from religion, remains norm, where individual liberal rights are relatively uncontested (Casanova, 2011, p. subdued by religious groups, thereby 55). In fact, in a contemporary multi-cultural making the concept of secularism more society, various theory of secularism and complex and further added another problem secularization has emerged and have been in defining a separate boundary between critically examined. It is claims that this politics and religion in a pervasive religious differentiation of secular from religious society. Further, there are various cases in sphere does not help to identify different India, where religion related issues, like kinds of secular life and the political gender, religious places, and religious texts, reasoning on which they are based. He caste, have predominated over the political further argues that, if a legitimate de- realm. Rather than a declining trend of privatized religion is carried out effectively, religion in public realm, religion has become the allegedly viable part of secularization more active in public domain. Thus, Indian secularism, in contrast to Western normative and (3) would also be undermined (Asad, secularism does not advocate a strict 2003, pp.181-182), which is very true in separation of religion from politics and case of pervasive multi-religious society. cannot be understood in isolation to its various democratic antecedents. In other The Constitution of India provides words, Indian version of secularism can be for a secular State, in which the state ought understood not as an anti-religious or to be non-partial, equal treatment and non- irreligious but rather as a principle where the discriminatory towards various religious state promotes an agenda of social reform on issues. In fact, secularism in context of the basis of liberal principles. In brief, multi-religious state of India has been a one Indian secularism can be described as a of the most contested issued. In fact, during relative secularism where both state and the Constituent Assembly debate, different religion interfere within each domain. versions of secularisms was an issued of Therefore, to perceive the secularization of debate, the first referred it to no concern politics in the form of separation of religion theory of secularism, that dictated a clear from politics is hardly a reality. separation between religion and the state, the second referred to no links theory Concept and practice of secularism between the state and religion, to prevent the also varies from one society to another. demeaning of religion and the third referred Particularly, in a Christian dominated state to the equal respect theory of secularism of Mizoram, concept and practice of which respected all the religion alike and secularism is unique and cannot be granted religious liberty to all (Jha, 2000, understood from a Western perspective of p.3177). Although, the Constitution of secularization and secularism. Therefore, to © PUC 2018 20 Senhri Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2 (July - December 2018) have a comprehensive concept on the religious aspects, that is, the secular and relationship between religion and politics, non-secular realm. the socio- culture, development of Thereafter, with the exposure of Christianity, pattern of secularization Mizos to the British colonialism, process and political developments Christianity and later with the incorporation constituted an important factor towards of Mizoram within the Constitution of India, understanding, development and implication a secular space began to develop. The of secularism in contemporary Mizo society colonial policy towards the Mizo tribe, the and politics. nature of relationship between colonial British Colonial Policy towards Lushai administrators and Christian missionaries, Hills the early secularization process based on Christian centric and the special Concept such as secular, secularism Constitutional provision towards the Mizos, and secularization were unknown to the left a deep implication upon the nature, traditional Mizo society. Prior to the advent development and structure of relationship of British colonial masters and Christian between the religion and politics in missionaries, albeit the traditional Mizo contemporary Mizo society. society acknowledged the existence of Super being called God, most of the traditional life The development of State-church of the Mizo society revolved around the relationship is a long process of historical belief in spiritual world, myths and superstitions greatly affected the traditional nineteenth century Christian missions and Mizo social and religious beliefs, which colonialism seemed to follow upon each consequently had a great influence on their other in Africa and Asia. It is for that reason day to day socio-economic life. The that in the eyes of many African and Asian traditional Mizo socio-political life revolved peoples, colonialism was seen to assume around the institution of Chieftainship. The both the role of a politician and a priest and Lushai Chief was practically the leader of Christian missions appeared to be a part and both secular and religious realms. In other expression of western colonial expression. words, the Chief constituted as both a Some of them even go to the extent of Caesar and Pope (Charavarti as cited in characterizing missions as merely the Hluna, 2013, p.149). Thus, the traditional hunting dog of western imperialism. Mizo society was characterized by absence However, Dena (2014), also observes that of modern established socio-political the relationship between the Cross and the institution, and norm that bifurcated the Flag was not as smooth as is usually secular and religious realm, that is, during assumed. While the Church had really some the period under the rule of the tribal chiefs. pious interests, the colonial interest was Therefore, in context of traditional Mizo motivated by commercial interests. society, no doubt, there was hardly any Therefore, the inter-connection between difference between socio-economic and them was more in the nature of highly © PUC 2018 21 Senhri Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol. 3, No. 2 (July - December 2018) temporal process which was solely administrators were on the whole very determined by the principle of expediency. cordial (Hminga, 1987, p.284). Moreover, at Therefore, any generalization of the relation certain point of event, the British Colonial of a particular mission with a particular policy towards to Northeast India, became colonial government would be risky. clear when viewed alongside the intention of However, in context of India and in Inner Line Regulation of 1873, that particular to Mizo tribe, the failure of British controlled the entrance of certain colonial master to establish

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