Equimindedness: Rethinking Secularism Through a Gandhian Framework

This paper explores Gandhi’s idea of equimindedness (sarva-dharma-sambhāva) as a framework for analysing the relationship between religion, secularism, and democracy in plural societies. Rather than treating secularism solely as separation between religion and the state, the paper conceptualises equimindedness as an ethical principle grounded in equal moral regard for all religions. This perspective allows a closer examination of how democratic states manage religious diversity beyond rigid institutional models. The study adopts a mixed-methods design centred on semi-structured interviews with five categories of actors: political representatives, bureaucrats, judicial–legal professionals, religious institutional leaders, and citizens. The interviews focus on participants’ understandings of equality of religion, state involvement in religious practices, and the appropriate limits of religious accommodation in a democratic polity. By comparing perspectives across actor groups, the paper seeks to explore how differing interpretations of equality, neutrality, and state symbolism shape democratic debates on religion. The aim is to understand why similar constitutional commitments may lead to divergent positions on religion–state relations, especially under conditions of political contestation. The paper highlights the continued relevance of equimindedness for analysing contemporary struggles over religious diversity, inclusion, and democratic legitimacy.