BOOK of ABSTRACTS XXTh WORld COngReSS InTeRnATIOnAl ...

While discussing the role of women renunciation in
ancient Indian religious history, one wonders at the
richness of the tradition that one has the existing paper
had vividly elaborated the lot of extremely strong,
scholarly and spiritually enlightened who at different
points in history contributed to the cause of humanity
in their own way. The aim and objective of this paper is
to highlight and explore the role of women in ancient
Indian Religious history. In this paper presentation the
following ideas and views are to be incorporated and
analyzed :– 1) A study about women renunciation in
ancient Indian religious history 2) Religious and
spiritual revival of women in ancient period and its
impact on socio-religious Indian life at that time. 3)
Major religious performances of women in ancient
period 4) The role of women saints in nation building 5)
To elaborate the present religious status of Indian
women and its impact on national polity.
Singh, Kameshwar Prasad – Ranchi University, India
prof.kpsingh@rediffmail.com
tHeory and Practice of individual’s
freedom of religion in indian context –
an aPPraisal
The necessary corollary to the absence of any state
religion is the freedom of religion to all. It is generally
considered and accepted as one of the essential
ingredients of a secular state. Most of the constitutions
of the world that provide freedom of religion, do not
explicitly guarantee right to propagate religion as a
justifiable fundamental right. The individual right of
freedom of religion as amplified in Indian constitution is
of far greater importance, particularly for the religious
minorities for their smooth development, it is further is
consonance with the provision of united nations
declaration of human right . Article 25 of Indian
Constitution declares “freedom of religion.” It
guarantees freedom not only to the citizens of India but,
also persons including aliens. It deals with particularly
the individual aspect of religious liberty, which consists
of freedom to choose a particular faith he likes, to
believe in and to manifest his belief in such overt acts as
are prescribed by religion. The right is further
supplemented by the freedom to practice and propagate
religion. In theory citizens of India have obtained
individual’s freedom of religion but in practice there are
certain limitations and trammels on the that particular
freedom of religion. The paper intends to explore such
ideas and views which have promoted freedom of
religion to the citizens of India. India in recent years has
been witnessing an escalation of religious revivalism,
fundamentalism and religious communal identification.
The paper also focuses such issues and aspects which are
hindering the communal harmony in India due to
upsurge of religious terrorism. The following areas of
study are to be covered in this paper ; 1) Theory and
practice of secularism and religion in Indian context. 2)
Limitations on individual’s Freedom of Religion in India
3) Freedom of religion in the frame work of Indian
constitution 4) Factors responsible for the growth of
religious fundamentalism in India 5) Reconciliation and
conflicts of various religious groups in India
Singh, Pradip Kumar – Ranchi University, India
adipks@gmail.com
religion and tecHnology: a case study of
triBal JHarkHand
Religion is one of the oldest of Anthropological
concerns. At least in the first six or seven decades of
existence of Anthropology, the theoreticians and
practitioners of Anthropology found the study of
religion, particularly the religion of the tribals, of their
major interest. Almost every early anthropologist tried
his hand in enunciating a theory of origin of religion
and almost limitless variations it manifests in different
societies.
This paper tries to understand religious beliefs and
practices in terms of the technology, ecology, economy
and social system of a society, particularly tribal society.
It shows that religion is a part of overall adaptive
strategy a society employs in adaptation to the
environment. As the economy undergoes changes, or
the ecology is modified, or a social system is
transformed, there is change in the belief system also.
The paper also shows that though there appears to be
great variation in religious beliefs and practices the
world over, the religious beliefs can be divided into only
two types – belief in supernatural forces and belief in
anthropomorphized spiritual beings. It shows that as the
techno-economic features of a culture become more
complex and the society advances, there is a
corresponding change in the religious beliefs and
practices also. The evolution of religion shows a
progression from belief in supernatural forces to belief
in anthropomorphized spiritual beings .
Singh, Prabhat K. – Ranchi University, India
triBal religion of JHarkHand : Persistence
and cHange
The tribal religion is variously known as animism,
animistic religion, primitivism, primitive religion,
aboriginal religion, nature religion, adivasi or janjati
dharma, bongaism, sarana, and so on. In Jharkhand
tribal religion is popularly known “sarana dharam.”
174 BOOk Of ABstRACts • RELIGION: A HUMAN PHENOMENON • 15-21 AUGUst, 2010 • tORONtO, CANAdA