India's anti-conversion laws reflect deepening religious polarization and constitutional erosion
Original framing: “Harsh Mander: India’s anti-conversion laws betray Constitution’s promise of religious freedom” — bing news
The debate over religious conversion in India has deep historical roots, from colonial-era conversion anxieties to post-independence secularism. The current anti-conversion laws echo earlier attempts to control religious identity for political ends.
India’s anti-conversion laws are not merely legal instruments but symptoms of a broader crisis in democratic governance and social cohesion.
They reflect the intersection of religious nationalism, political strategy, and constitutional erosion. By examining this issue through multiple dimensions — indigenous perspectives, historical context, cross-cultural comparison, and the voices of marginalized communities — we see a complex web of forces that go beyond the surface-level legal debate. To address this, a multi-pronged approach is needed, combining legal reform, education, interfaith dialogue, and grassroots empowerment. Drawing on global precedents and local wisdom, India must reclaim its constitutional promise of religious freedom as a cornerstone of its democratic identity.