The Philosophy of the Constitution — Important Questions

The state stays distant from all religions but can intervene or abstain when liberty, equality, and social justice require it

Principled distance is not strict separation. It allows the state to intervene in religion or stay away, depending on what better protects democratic values.

Individual rights, particularly women's rights

The chapter identifies Rammohan Roy as the founder of the first stream of Indian liberalism, focused on individual rights and especially women's rights.

K.C. Sen, Justice Ranade, and Swami Vivekananda

The chapter groups these three thinkers in the second stream of Indian liberalism, which introduced social justice within orthodox Hinduism.

It expresses faith in the common people and democratic rule

Universal franchise is treated as a major achievement because it shows trust in ordinary people and in democratic government.