Topic: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
1. Has religion increased the social cohesiveness in Indian society? Argue (250 Words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: India Today
Why the question:
There is debate about the use of religion for nation-building, including in school.
Key Demand of the question:
How religion act as a force of cohesiveness and solidarity, but at the same time it is divisive.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by defining social cohesion i.e. Social cohesion is the degree of social integration and inclusion in communities and society at large, and the extent to which mutual solidarity finds expression itself among individuals and communities.
Body:
In the first part, argue how religion acts as force of social cohesion e.g. Religions in India do not reject the legacy of the past but absorb it, Religious customs and symbols help provide ethical teachings to society.
Then go on to argue how religion is decisive in nature e.g. Religion can be used to justify terrorism and violence, Religion as an institution that helps maintain patterns of social inequality.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced argument about the nature of secularism and how it can be used in the future to glue Indian society for overall progress.
