Language is never neutral. The words a civilisation adopts shape the way it understands its history, governs its institutions and imagines its future. In this compelling monologue, ‘Pt. Satish K Sharma’ examines one of the most influential words in modern India’s constitutional vocabulary—’secular’—and asks whether its widespread acceptance has obscured Bharat’s own civilisational understanding of governance and society.

Pt. Sharma begins by exploring the origins of secularism, arguing that it emerged from a uniquely European historical experience marked by centuries of conflict between Church and State. Whilst this framework may have addressed Western political realities, he questions whether it is equally suited to a civilisation whose organising principle has historically been ‘Dharma’ —a concept that, in his view, encompasses ethical responsibility, social harmony and cosmic order rather than simply religious belief.

The monologue also revisits the ’42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976′ , during which the word ‘secular’ was added to the Preamble of the Constitution. Pt. Sharma invites viewers to consider not only the historical circumstances surrounding this amendment, but also the wider constitutional framework inherited from the colonial period. He argues that many of the legal categories through which India interprets itself today originate outside its own philosophical traditions, encouraging reflection on whether this has contributed to a disconnect between Bharat’s constitutional language and its civilisational heritage.

Moving beyond constitutional history, Pt. Sharma discusses the broader implications of intellectual decolonisation. He advocates for renewed confidence in India’s indigenous knowledge systems, including Sanskrit scholarship, classical philosophy and traditional sciences, whilst emphasising that such a revival need not involve rejecting democracy, scientific enquiry or modern institutions. Rather, he proposes a constitutional consciousness that draws upon Bharat’s own intellectual inheritance whilst remaining fully engaged with the contemporary world.

At its heart, ‘Dharma vs Secularism’ is an invitation to think critically about the language through which nations understand themselves. Whether readers ultimately agree or disagree with the arguments presented, the monologue raises important questions about constitutional identity, cultural confidence and the relationship between inherited political concepts and indigenous civilisational traditions.

Can a civilisation flourish whilst interpreting itself through concepts developed elsewhere? Is there a distinctively Bharatiya understanding of governance that deserves renewed attention in the twenty-first century?

Watch Pt. Satish K. Sharma’s full monologue below and explore a thought-provoking discussion on constitutional language, civilisational identity and the continuing relevance of Dharma in modern Bharat.