ABSTRACT
Traditionally, children in India are given a rather free upbringing until they start school. It is the duty of a parent or guardian to provide education opportunities for children from the age of 6–14. However, many schools do offer care for younger children, in the form of ‘nursery’. In the Indian context, religion is a phenomenon which is expressed in abundance and great variety in society overall, yet is also handled with some caution. The Indian constitution defines the country as firmly secular. This principle has been of utmost importance, to safeguard the co-existence of the plurality of groups found throughout the country. Yet ‘secular’ must be understood in its context, as the Indian understanding is different from the rigid form expressed, for instance, by French laïcité. Crucially, Indian secularism does not entail separation from religion, but equal respect paid to different religions. This open and inclusive form of secularism is not uncontested, and recent developments include increasing influence from hindutva, a form of Hindu nationalism, which is also reflected in education.
