Secular India has withstood strains

Pluralism could be very aptly explored in India,and in declaring itself a secular state at Independence,India was making a clear option for a certain kind of public and political neutrality, said Roman Williams,head of the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury.

Delivering the Chevening Scholarship lecture on pluralism and the dialogue of religions at the British Council here on Friday,the archbishop,who is here on a two-week visit,spoke of Indias consistent struggle to maintain its stance on secularism,even with emerging communal tensions in Ayodhya and Orissa. The problem does not lie with the national government alone, he said. The local governments are also responsible for the law and order situation.

He maintained in order to have a stable political future,it is important to have an argumentative democracy.

One of the biggest challenges the Church faces today is that the younger generation is very distant from the institution, said Williams,who has been persistent in leading the anti-Iraq war campaign against the British government. They do not belong to a culture of unification,whether it is in church,politics or football clubs.