Have you ever thought about secularism? No, no, we don't mean in the tired sense that the word seems to have taken on. We mean, have you ever thought of the meaning of secularism, its worth to you, whether it can have wide appeal, and why it should? (Or shouldn't).

Well, if you have ever thought on those lines, you're not alone. We at Citizens for Peace have been searching for answers to those questions too. We think a bright, vibrant, alive secularism is not just what India needs, it is what India holds at its heart. It's what India is, in every sense.

We'd like to define and give shape to that secularism once more. And we'd like your help and guidance to do it. With the Indian Express, we are holding our third annual essay competition this year, and the theme is "Living With Differences."

What would you make of a community made up of different religious groups? What if you heard that they have their tensions and misunderstandings, yet have attempted to build bridges of trust?

What if these were other kinds of groups -- caste, or linguistic, or choose your own?

Have you ever come across such a community, such a process? Even if you have not, if you heard about one would you choose to learn more about it, maybe even to live with them?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Citizens for Peace and the Indian Express want you to join our collective quest to find ways to build a vibrant secular culture that means something to 21st century India. We want to learn about the things that drive people apart, but equally, those that encourage people to respect differences and live with them.

So tell us your thoughts about Living with Differences. Tell us about your curiosity. Tell us about secularism if you like. Tell us your stories. Don't exceed 1500 words, and use either English or Hindi.

First Prize: Rs. 1 lakh

Second Prize: Rs. 50,000

Third Prize: Rs. 25,000

Entries due by October 31 2007. Send them to IE-CFP essay competition, The Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd., Express Towers, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 or to citizensforpeace@gmail.com

editor@expressindia.com