Secularism is an important topic that plays a vital role in shaping the values and understanding of young minds.NCERT Solutions for Understanding Secularism Class 8 provide students with an opportunity to explore and comprehend the concept of secularism in an engaging manner. Studying from Ncert Solutions will give more clarity about the topic, and help students to learn answers in an effective way.
NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Civics Chapter 2
Exercises
1. List the different types of religious practices that you find in your neighborhood. 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?
Answer: The different types of religious practices that we find in our neighborhood are as follows:
- Sikhism: A Sikh person goes to Gurudwara to worship Guru Granth Sahib.
- Islam: A Muslim goes to a mosque for praying i.e. namaz. Their sacred book is the Quran.
- Christianity: A Christian goes to Church to pray to Jesus Christ. The holy book of the Christians is the Bible.
- Hinduism: A Hindu goes to the temple & worships the idols of Gods and Goddesses.
Yes, this indicates freedom of religious practice & the people in India have the freedom to practice the religion of their choice
2. Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Yes, the Government can intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to practice infanticide because Infanticide is a crime & Government is responsible to protect the right to life. Only the judiciary has the authority to punish a person to death; no other religion can commit the crime of killing someone.
3. Complete the following table.
| Objective | Why is it important | Example of a violation of this objective |
| One religious community does not dominate another | ||
| The state does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals | ||
| That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community |
Answer:
| Objective | Why is it important | Example of a violation of this objective |
| It is important because everyone has the right to follow their own religion. that this is what makes the nation a secular country. | It is important for upholding the fundamental right of religious freedom. Everyone has the right to follow their own religion. | Stopping the minority religious communities to celebrate their festivals. |
| The state does not enforce any particular religion nor take away the religious freedom of individuals | Because everyone has the right to follow their own religion. | India is a secular country where people from different religions live. |
| That some members do not dominate other members of the same religious community | Because religious freedom should be respected, and every individual has the right to follow their own religion without discrimination based on wealth. | There would be chaos between the upper class and the lower class. |
4. Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different religions? What does this indicate?
Answer: The annual calendar of holidays our school shows the following holidays:
i. Eid ul fitter, Eid ul Zuha, which pertain to Islam religion.
ii. Diwali, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, and Dussehra which pertain to the Hindu religion.
iii. Christmas, which pertains to the Christian religion.
iv. Guru Purab which pertains to the Sikh religion.
This indicates that India is a secular country, and everyone has the right to freedom of religion.
5. Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.
Answer: Some examples of different views within the same religion are as follows:
- Within Hindus, people worship different idols of Gods and Goddesses like Shiva, Krishna, Rama, Vishnu, etc.
- Within Islam, Muslims, are divided into two groups-Shia and Sunni.
- In Jainism, followers of Lord Mahavira are divided into Shwetambri and Digambari sects.
- In Buddhism, followers of Buddha are divided into Mahayana and Hinyan
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.
Answer: The Indian State follows a dual approach with respect to religion, keeping away from religious interference while also intervening in certain examples.
For example, the State maintains a secular by not favoring any specific religion, ensuring equal treatment for all citizens. However, it intervenes to address social issues like the abolition of untouchability and the banning of discriminatory practices. This approach aims to protect religious freedom while promoting social justice and harmony.
7. This poster highlights the need for ‘Peace’. It says, “Peace is a never-ending process….. It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests.” Write in your own words what you think the above sentences are trying to convey. How does it relate to the need for religious tolerance?
This chapter had three drawings on religious tolerance made by students of your age. Design your own poster on religious tolerance for your peers.
Answer: “Peace is a never-ending process….. It cannot ignore our differences or overlook our common interests.”
peace is an ongoing and continuous endeavor. It is essential to require to acknowledge and respect our differences to achieve peace.
There is a need for the importance of understanding and acceptance of diverse religious beliefs and practices to keep the peace.
Peace promotes harmonious coexistence among individuals.
Intext Questions | Understanding Secularism Class 8
Book page 19
1. Re-read the introduction to this chapter. Why do you think retaliation is not the proper response to this problem? What would happen if different groups followed this path?
Answer: Retaliation is not the proper response to the problem because
it creates violence and discord.
It impedes social and economic progress.
The minorities are ignored and feel humiliated & marginalized.
If different groups were to follow the path of retaliation, it would only lead to further animosity, conflict, and lack of cooperation among the different communities.
Book page 20
2. Discuss in class: Can there be different views within the same religion?
Answer: Yes, there can be different views in the same religion: For Example:
i. Within Hindus, people worship different idols of Gods and Goddesses like Shiva, Krishna, Rama, Vishnu, etc.
ii. Within Islam, Muslims, are divided into two groups-Shia and Sunni.
Book page 22
3: In the above storyboard, discuss the answer given by the teacher.
Answer: In the above storyboard the students of a government school asked their teacher to celebrate a big religious festival in the school premises. But the teacher explained that being a secular state, government schools do not celebrate any religious festival. All festivals are treated equally on the base of the fundamental right- the Right to freedom of Religion.
Book page 23
4. Government schools often have students from different religious backgrounds. Re-read the three objectives of a secular State and write two sentences on why it is important that government schools do not promote any one religion.
Answer: It is important for government schools not to promote any one religion because it ensures equal treatment and respect for students from different religious backgrounds. It allows students to develop their own beliefs and values without imposition.
Book page 25
5. Can you think of a recent incident, from any part of India, in which the secular ideals of the Constitution were violated and persons were persecuted and killed because of their religious backgrounds?
Answer: In certain parts of Jammu and Kashmir, there have been examples of religious discrimination where non-Muslim communities, are persecuted, killed, and threatened by the Muslim community which infringes upon their rights to practice their festivals and cultural traditions.
These incidents are viewed as a violation of the secular ideals of the Constitution.
Conclusion
The Ncert Solutions for Understanding Secularism Class 8 provides students with a comprehensive understanding of secularism in India. By studying and practicing these Ncert Solutions students can enhance their knowledge, improve their problem-solving skills, and perform better in their exams. You can access them by visiting the website. If you have any other queries about Ncert Solutions for Understanding Secularism Class 8 feel free to reach us so that we can revert back to us at the earliest possible.
FAQ
1. What is secularism Class 8?
Secularism, in simple terms, refers to the principle of separating religion and the state.
2. What is understanding secularism of Class 8?
According to Understanding Secularism Class 8, Indians are allowed to live by their religious beliefs freely and practice the same.
3. Why India is called a secular country?
India is called a secular country because its Constitution promotes religious freedom and ensures equal treatment of all religions.
4. Why is secularism important?
Secularism is important as it safeguards religious freedom, promotes inclusivity, and prevents religious discrimination.
5. What are the different types of secularism?
There are three types of secularism: socio-economic, philosophical, and political secularism.