Wever, Martin
(2025)
Beyond Separation: Applying Trilokī Nātha Madan and Ashis Nandy’s Criticisms of Secularism to Rajeev Bhargava’s Support of this Philosophy in Particular.
Research master thesis, Master Research Master Theologie en Religiewetenschappen.
Abstract
This paper applies itself to Bhikhu Parekh’s observation with regards to the poor
state of the Indian intellectual discourse about secularism. We reason that Parekh
primarily considers the state of this very discourse poor, because (i) the Indian
works and articles brought out about secularism remain relatively isolated from
each other and do not add up to a coherent and comprehensive body of philosophical
literature, and because (ii) the Indian works and articles published about secularism
still not have received the necessary, critical examination from above. This paper
decides to combine these very two interpretations of Parekh’s viewpoint and,
therefore, on the one hand, brings into conversation with each other Indian
advocates and critics of secularism, and, on the other hand, reflects on their works
about this very philosophy from above. We do this in particular reference to the
support of secularism presented by Rajeev Bhargava (chapter I) and to the
criticisms of secularism offered by Trilokī Nātha Madan and Ashis Nandy (chapter
II). First, this paper demonstrates that Bhargava, Madan, and Nandy’s positions can
each be situated and understood in the context of broader debates about secularism,
both in and outside the Indian context. Second, we establish that Madan and
Nandy’s general criticisms of secularism can also be applied to many parts and
premises of Bhargava’s support of this philosophy in particular. This means that
this paper also most importantly aims to think and move beyond separation.
| Type: |
Thesis
(Research master)
|
| Supervisors (RUG): |
| Supervisor | E-mail | Tutor organization | Tutor email |
|---|
| Andrejc, G. | | Faculteit GGW, Christendom en Ideeengeschiedenis | G.Andrejc@rug.nl | | Mucciarelli, E. | | Faculteit GGW, Faculteit Godgeleerdheid en Godsdienstwetenschap | e.mucciarelli@rug.nl |
|
| Degree programme: |
Master Research Master Theologie en Religiewetenschappen |
| Academic year: |
2024-2025 |
| Date of delivery: |
03 Feb 2026 10:49 |
| Last modified: |
03 Feb 2026 10:49 |
| URI: |
https://rcs.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/873 |
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