Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the demand to remove the word "secular" from the Indian Constitution. Speaking at TV9 Bharatvarsh’s special program Satta Sammelan Bihar, Khan argued that real solutions lie beyond constitutional semantics and warned against relying on “external” words or ideologies to define Indian values.

"Secularism Not Imported, It's Our Own": Khan Cites Nehru

Responding to whether terms like “secular” and “socialist” should remain in the Constitution, Khan emphasized that India’s civilizational heritage is over 5,000 years old and deeply rooted in pluralism. “If someone thinks they can impose external ideologies or terminologies on such an ancient culture, people will resist — because they know the strength of their own traditions,” he said.

Khan also referred to a statement by Jawaharlal Nehru from 1962, where Nehru reportedly said that while the word "secular" had been adopted, the ideology behind it was always intrinsic to Indian society — not something imported from the West.

"Religion Means Dharma, Not Western Notions"

The Governor questioned the way secularism is interpreted in India. He said, “The word ‘religion’ as used in English doesn’t align with the Indian understanding of dharma. Unfortunately, we have accepted a Western translation that misrepresents our traditional values.”

He added that secularism in the West arose as a reaction to the merging of church and state. In contrast, India never had such a conflict. Indian traditions, Khan explained, have always recognized diversity through systems like ashrams and sects, allowing individuals freedom of thought and belief.

"Our Traditions Were Never Intolerant"

Highlighting the difference between Indian and Western religious structures, Khan pointed out that salvation in Western religious traditions is often exclusive — reserved for those within a particular faith. “In India, different paths have always been accepted. The idea that one tradition holds a monopoly on truth never existed here,” he said.

Conclusion: Return to Indian Thought, Not Imported Labels

Arif Mohammad Khan's comments make a broader appeal: rather than getting entangled in debates over terminology like "secularism," India should rely on its civilizational ethos of tolerance and inclusiveness. “We don't need imported words to tell us who we are,” he said.