New Delhi: Gitanjali Angmo, founder and CEO of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) and wife of education activist Sonam Wangchuk, on Friday said that describing India as "secular" in the Constitution is "like calling water wet", arguing that the country's civilisational ethos had long embraced religious pluralism even before the term was added to the Preamble. In a post on X, Angmo said India had practised equal respect for all faiths long before the word "secular" was inserted into the Constitution in 1976. She described the addition as a "tautology", suggesting it merely stated what she believes was already embedded in India's constitutional framework and social traditions. Referring to constitutional provisions, she argued that the country's commitment to religious freedom and equality was evident through various Articles that protect citizens' rights regardless of religion. According to Angmo, India's traditional philosophy is better represented by the idea of Sarva Dharma Sambhava, or equal respect for all religions, rather than the Western understanding of secularism.

In her post, Angmo said the concept of secularism originated in Europe as a response to conflicts between the Church and the State and therefore did not accurately reflect India's historical experience. She wrote that India's approach to religious diversity was rooted in values such as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which promotes the idea that the world is one family. She argued that the country has historically accommodated multiple religions, philosophies and belief systems while respecting the dignity of different paths. Angmo maintained that India's constitutional and cultural traditions already reflected these principles, making the later addition of the word "secular" to the Preamble unnecessary in her view. Her remarks have come amid an ongoing public debate on constitutional values and national identity, with discussions around the meaning and interpretation of secularism continuing in political and academic circles.

Angmo has remained active in public discussions in recent weeks, particularly during the nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. She had joined demonstrations alongside her husband, Sonam Wangchuk, after he was removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site by Delhi Police ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's Parliament march. She also questioned the Congress party's decision to stage a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence instead of joining students at Jantar Mantar, saying political leaders should stand with protesters where the movement was taking place. Angmo had further remarked that Wangchuk's public image should not be used for political symbolism and said people were capable of distinguishing between genuine support and symbolic gestures. Meanwhile, Wangchuk has returned to Ladakh after ending his indefinite hunger strike over examination-related issues and receiving medical treatment in Gurugram. He travelled back through Jammu and Kashmir after completing his journey on a Vande Bharat train.