External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has offered a nuanced definition of secularism, emphasising the importance of "equal respect for all faiths" in the context of India's diverse society.

He said, “Has India changed from Nehruvian era? Absolutely! One of the assumptions of that era, one of the thoughts which very much guided the thinking of the polity and the projection abroad, was what we India… you know… the way we define secularism in India. And for us, secularism doesn’t mean being non-religious. For us, secularism means equal respect to all faiths.”

EAM was speaking at the Indian High Commission’s (London) event titled “How a Billion People See the World” on November 15. The conversation took place at the Royal Over-Seas League Club and was moderated by journalist Lionel Barber.

What is Nehruvian Era? 
The ‘Nehru era’ refers to the period of Indian history from 1947 to 1964, during which Jawaharlal Nehru served as the first Prime Minister of India. This period was marked by political, social, and economic changes in the country, as India tried to establish itself as a democratic and independent nation.


Click here to watch and listen External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's full statement