No India was not secular, when it got "independence" from the "British", who supposedly ruled "India" when Punjab, Hydrabad province, Trivancore and other areas were not covered under "India".
India became "secular" only during the Indira Gandhi's regime when such expression was added.
Of course, it is fact that non-Hindus and pseudo-Hindus (all God disbelieving categories, who many times believe non-Hindu Gods or be careful in treading such path - such tactics can give "seculkar" status) misuse and abuse.
We have here "Karunanidhi", the "again CM" of "Tamilnad". He would call "HIndus" - thief and so on and get away! He drinks "kanji" during Ramzan and comment about "fasting festival" of Hindus, of course, the Lady-CM was also not far behind - as both donned the garb of "Muslim", Karunanidhi favouritely with "kulla"=, a cap identifying with "Muslim" and Jayalalita with her"fgreen sari covering over head" and so on!
However, the proclaimed and certified secularists do not come and attend Hindu functions. When a DMK Minister attended a fire-walking ceremony, Karunanidhi reportedly called and chided him for his unatheistic act that may make him erring from "analyrical wisdom" (Paguttarivu).
Iif anyone wants to get certified, they have to come to India, as in India, we have so many organizations, they certify "secularism" od anybody just like ISO 9000, ISO 9002, and so on.
Therefore, let us not worry about the word.
Note the fate of Supreme Court.
Once, it gave verdit (famous Hindutva judgement), the "eminent historian" Romila Thapar declared that "we would appral against it", but nothing happened. Anyway, "THe Hindu" prominently ublished her glorious all, but kept mum about her inaction.
And Romila Thapar - she gets Laurels, wherever she goes. She has somersaulted several times for the AIT. None bothers and the Indian schools children read the false histories. The college stuidents and degree-holders write their exames vomitting such false histories to score marks.
And, if anybody wanted to or tried remove such stuff - all "eminent historians", "scholars", "Gitarwallas", "tamburawallah" woul come together and give a signed statement with due publicity.
Again Supreme Court gave verdict last year clarifying that -
a. there is no bar in promoting Sanskrit.
b. no violation in teaching astrology
c. teacing Vedic Mathematics
d. promoting culture, tradition etc.
But keeping quite or again, the same intellectuals cry about "saffronization" of Indian education. Anyway, Romila Thapar has been very careful this time for not making any statement to "appeal against such Order"!