By-  Simran Kaur

The word “Secular” has been a source of controversy numerous times. However, now more than ever, the displeasure is visible. The controversy stirred when former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament filed a plea before the Supreme Court for deletion of the word and reverting the preamble to its original form. The most popular contention is that secularism should not be forced upon citizens. Secularism has been the core principle of the Constitution of India since its inception. It has many forms that are practised differently in every country including India. This paper discusses whether secularism was the idea of the founding fathers, or it came later. What is the relationship between democracy and secularism? It also examines the contemporary events in the light of our constitutional vision and what the challenge to ‘secularism’ really means.

Keywords: Secularism, Democracy, Constitution, Preamble, Secular