Answer The Following 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, etc. Does this indicate freedom of religious practice?
Ans : In our neighbourhood, the following diverse religious practices can be observed:
Sikhs pray and worship Guru Nanak at the Gurudwara, following the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib.
Muslims offer prayers in mosques and follow their holy book, the Quran.
Christians worship Jesus Christ in churches and follow the teachings of the Holy Bible.
Hindus worship various deities in temples, often represented in the form of idols.
This clearly reflects that people in India enjoy the freedom to practice their religion, fostering peaceful coexistence and mutual harmony among diverse communities.
2. Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practise infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans : Yes, the government would intervene if a religious group claims that their religion permits infanticide. This is because the Indian Constitution ensures the protection of fundamental rights and prohibits practices that threaten social harmony or violate the law. Infanticide is a criminal offense, and no religious belief can justify such an act. The judiciary has exclusive authority to enforce laws and uphold justice, ensuring that the right to life is safeguarded for everyone, including infants.
3. Complete the following table.
4. Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different religions? What does this indicate?
Ans : The annual calendar of our school includes holidays like Eid (celebrated by Muslims), Diwali (a Hindu festival), Christmas (celebrated by Christians), and Guru Nanak Jayanti (a Sikh festival). This highlights India’s secular nature, where individuals have the right to celebrate their religious festivals with freedom and respect.
5. Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.
Ans : Examples of different views within the same religion are:
Hindus worship various deities, each with different forms and significance.
Muslims are divided into Shia and Sunni sects based on their interpretations of leadership in Islam.
Followers of Lord Mahavir are called Jains, who have unique practices and beliefs.
Buddhists are divided into Mahayana and Hinayana traditions, differing in their approaches to spiritual teachings.
6. 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.
Ans :
The Indian State maintains a balance by staying away from religion while intervening when necessary to ensure equality and social harmony. If individuals from a majority religious group gain state power, they may misuse it to oppress minority groups or prevent them from practicing their religion. For example, untouchability, still present in some parts of the Hindu community, violates constitutional values. If an upper-caste majority controls state power, it could lead to discrimination against lower-caste individuals. To prevent such instances, the state intervenes to protect the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs.