India’s Secularization Policy And Its Modernization Since The Independence

India is a multi-religious country, which is known as "religious museum". When the British colonial ruled India, they adopted a policy of "divide and rule", making use of sectarian conflicts to maintain its rule. Evolution of sectarianism finally led to the division of India and Pakistan, which threaten the peaceful development of Indian society. Besides, some Hindu religious custom, especially the discrimination against Scheduled castes and women also hinder its sustainable development. For India, which twists towards modern society, it is necessary to go beyond above barriers. After the independent India, to solve these tough issues and promote the modernization of India, Prime Minister Nehru regarded secularism as one of the three founding principles of the country by using administrative means to guarantee the secularization policy. And the successive governments are in adhere to this principle. Within the sixty years, secularism advanced in the twists and turns which has a profound impact on modernization and its promotion.This paper is divided into four chapters. The first chapter is to explain the policy of separation of religion from politics which weaken the influence of religious doctrine and safeguard national unity. What’s more, it provides a good political environment for national economic development and modernization. The second chapter illustrates the secularization policy promotes the social modernization of India and improves the social status of vulnerable groups (Scheduled castes and women) which contributes to social equality and progress. The third chapter discusses about the secularization policy which promotes the modernization of India’s culture. The fourth chapter describes the challenges against secularization.Finally comes the conclusion. The implementation of the secularization policy contributed to the realization of political modernization in India and improved the social status of India’s Scheduled castes and women. Furthermore, it promotes the development of Indian culture to secularization. But as a cultural concept originated in the West, secularism will suffer great challenge if it wants to developed smoothly in this religious country.