This is one of the toughest question in India. Though we call our country a religiously secular, still many of us dont know the meaning of what is secular means.
Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by the country's constitution.
India has a Hindu President (Pratibha Patil), Muslim Vice President (M. Hamid Ansari), a Sikh Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) and an atheist (Christian by birth, Defence Minister A. K. Antony). The leader of the largest party, the Indian National Congress, Sonia Gandhi is a Christian, while the leader of the opposition is Sushma Swaraj, a Hindu. India's ex-President APJ Abdul Kalam was a Muslim. Out of the 12 Presidents of India since Independence, three have been Muslims. India had a prominent former Defence Minister (George Fernandes), a Christian (though not practicing) and a Hindu minister controlling foreign affairs. India's Air Force Chief, Fali H. Major, is a Parsi.
The Preamble to the Constitution of India declares that India is a secular state. It is worth mentioning that the original preamble did not mention the word secular. It was added later by 42nd amendment in 1976. [1] The term secularism in politics refers to the governmental practice of indifference towards religion. Though such bifurcation is not totally possible, still, secular politics attempt to prevent religious philosophies or bodies from influencing governmental policies. The philosophy that the Indian constitution upholds is a kind of secular humanism made relevant through a historical development of the ideology within the context of religious pluralism in India.
Indian concept of Secularism takes is colour from Article 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth), Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion), and Article 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs). These are among the list of Fundamental Rights of citizens. It is interesting to note that Indian Constitution merely states the behaviour of the State in terms of what it will not do (i.e. not discriminate based on religion). It does not say that the State has or has not a religion. It does not say whether State can or cannot participate in religion. It does not say whether State can or cannot spend public money on religious activities.
Even so, India recognizes laws based on religion. Hindus, Muslims, and Christians are governed by their own religious laws. Thus, India does not really fit into any text book definition of Secularism. It has, in fact, created its own brand of Secularism. Indeed, Supreme Court of India observed the same thing in the case of Aruna Roy vs. Union of India (SC AIR 2002), when it said Indian Secularism means ”sarva dhrama samabhav” and not “sarva dharma abhav” ( meaning, "equal feeling for all religions" and not "no feeling for any religion").
So to conclude, speaking or preaching against any particular religion is basically against of our constitution act (let our atheist people please understand this).
Finally how should we live as a secular person;
As per country be an Indian
As per culture and civilization be a Hindu
As per religion be as per your faith
Are we really like this?
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