01254pab a2200157 454500 180718b2002 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d Jha, Shefali Secularism in the constituent assembly debates, 1946-1950 2002 p.3175-180. 27 Jul Secularism, it has been argued, failed to stem the spread of communalism in India, because it marginalising and contempt of religion bred a backlash on which communalism thrived. This article contends that this 'contempt for religion' was marginalised in the course of the secularism debates in the Constituent Assembly. The dominant position on secularism that a 'democratic' Constitution find place for religion as a way of life for most Indians triumphed over those who wished for the Assembly to grant only a narrow right to religious freedom, or to make the uniform civil code a fundamental right. These early discussions on religious freedom also highlight a paradox - it is precisely some of the advocates of a broad right to religious freedom who were also the most vociferous opponents of any political rights for religious minorities. - Reproduced. Secularism Economic and Political Weekly 53151 53151 53151 0 0 0 0 IIPA IIPA 2018-07-19 Volume no: 37, Issue no: 30 AR53588 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 AR