ABSTRACT
On Isaiah Berlin's view it is part of the human condition that there are clashes of values, such clashes can at best be 'softened' to some extent. Gandhi would agree that the clashes cannot be eliminated altogether for the ideal 'blend' of all the cultures cannot be achieved totally, but our goal is to work towards a society where there is diversity with harmony rather than pluralism with discord. This chapter argues that this harmony is also one of the aims of the Indian Constitution. There are several political principles (that are partly discrepant with each other) that the Indian state, including the courts, may have to pay heed to: the principle of justice to the individual, the principle of unity in diversity, the principle of fairness or autonomy for different communities, the principle of secularism and the principle of equality before the law. A liberal secular state claims to be fair to different cultures and different religions.
