NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science (Civics) Chapter 2 Understanding Secularism

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 8TH

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Book : Social and Political Life Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 Civics

Class : 8th
Subject : Civics
Chapter : 2
Chapter Name : Understanding Secularism

Q1 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. Missing

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Q2 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. Missing

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Q3 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. Missing

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Q1 List the different types of religious practice that you nd 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 found in my neighbourhood strongly indicate
freedom of religious practice. The various forms of prayer, worship of different gods, sacred sites
and different kinds of religious music found in my locality are of Christians, Muslims, Hindus,
Sikhs, Jews and the Baha’is. The Christians sing hymns, the Hindus bhajans, while the Muslims
offers namaaz ve times a day. The Bahai’s believe in world unity and peace.

Q2 Will the government intervene if some religious group says that their religion allows them to

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Book : Social and Political Life Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 Civics

practise infanticide? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer. The government in any democratic nation would intervene if some religious group says
that their religion allows them to practice infanticide because this tradition goes against the
Fundamental Right to Life. It involves the killing of an innocent and is, hence, unacceptable. The
government, in this case, interferes by coercion. However, sometimes, the government may also
intervene via support. For example, Sikhs in Delhi are excused from wearing helmets on two-
wheelers because their religion demands them to wear a turban-a sacred tradition for them.

Q3 Complete the following table:

Objective Why is this 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. (a) This is important to protect the Fundamental Right to Freedom of Religion. Example
of violation: the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on 6th December, 1992 by Hindu
nationalists.
(b) This is important to uphold the ideals of a democratic nation which allows its citizens freedom
to choose whichever religion they wish to follow. Example: France, in February 2004, banned
headscarves and turbans in public places, thereby hurting the sentiments of Muslim and Sikh
minorities.
(c) This is necessary to uphold individual freedom in the light of pressure from a group or religious
community that one belongs to. For example, the Christian community is divided into Protestants
and Catholics; Irish Catholics are looked down upon and troubled by the of cials of the Church of
England who are pre-dominantly Protestants.

Q4 Look up the annual calendar of holidays of your school. How many of them pertain to different
religions? What does this indicate?

Answer. Many holidays on a school’s annual calendar pertain to different religions. This indicates
that India is a secular country where religious freedom is granted to its citizens and all religions

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Book : Social and Political Life Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 Civics

are equally respected.

Q5 Find out some examples of different views within the same religion.

Answer. Many religions are further segregated into groups and communities that hold differing
ideological opinions. One of these is the rift between the Shias and Sunnis – both followers of
Islam. The division between Shias and Sunnis dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad,
and to the question of who was to take over the leadership after the Prophet. Sunni Muslims agree
with the position taken by many of the Prophet’s companions, that the new leader should be
elected from among those capable for the job. This is what was done, and the Prophet
Muhammad’s close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, became the rst Caliph of the Islamic nation. The
word “Sunni” in Arabic comes from a word meaning “one who follows the traditions of the
Prophet.
On the other hand, some Muslims share the belief that leadership should have stayed within the
Prophet’s own family, among those speci cally appointed by him, or among Imams appointed by
God Himself.
The Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad’s death, leadership should have
passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not
recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams
which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. The word
“Shia” in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is
shortened from the historical “Shia-t-Ali,” or “the Party of Ali.” They are also known as followers
of “Ahl-al-Bayt” or “People of the Household” (of the Prophet).

Q6 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 keeps away from religion as well as intervenes in religion. This idea is
quite confusing. It allows Sikh citizens to wear turbans and thereby be exempt from the use of
helmets but it also disallows government schools from celebrating any particular religious festival.
Annual holidays are given with regard to all religions and not any speci c ones.

Q7 This poster alongside 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.

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Book : Social and Political Life Ncert Solutions | Chapter-2 Civics

Answer. The given quote from Oscar Arias Sanchez highlights the need for peace as a mutual
process that “requires us to work and live together”. As Gersonides states, peace cannot be
achieved by force or fear but by shared consent. The sentences in the poster are trying to convey
how peace is not an outcome of a de nitive stance, but rather it is a process where similarities and
differences conglomerate to form a whole. Attainment of peace does not entail turning a blind eye
to racial, religious or economic differences, but rather accepting these as they are but not allowing
these differences to mould our thoughts towards ill-will or hatred for those who are different from
us in their religious undertakings.
This relates to the need for religious tolerance in its ideal for peace as tolerant and not arbitrary.

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