COMMUNALISM

Published on 13 Feb 2025

Communalism in India refers to the prioritization of the interests of one religious or ethnic group over others, leading to social and political divisions. It often results in communal violence, discrimination, and polarization, undermining unity and secular ideals. Combating communalism requires promoting inclusivity, interfaith dialogue, and equitable policies to safeguard minority rights and foster social harmony

Types of Communalism

✔     Religious Communalism: Focused on promoting the interests of a specific religious community over others, often leading to tension and conflict between religious groups.

●      Example: Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute

✔     Ethnic Communalism: Driven by differences in ethnic identities, this form of communalism can lead to discrimination and violence based on ethnicity or caste.

●      Example: Manipur conflict between Kuki and Meitei groups

✔     Political Communalism: Exploiting communal sentiments for political gain, some political parties or leaders may incite communal tensions to consolidate support within specific religious or ethnic groups.

●      Example: 2002 Gujarat riots

✔     Cultural Communalism: Emphasizing cultural differences between communities, this form of communalism may lead to the marginalization or exclusion of certain cultural practices or traditions.

●      Example: Beef ban controversies

✔     Economic Communalism: Favouring a specific religious group in government contracts, disadvantaging others, causing economic disparities and social unrest.

●      Example: Aftermath of Gujarat riots.

✔     Regional Communalism: Occurring at the regional level, this type of communalism involves tensions between communities within a particular geographical area, often exacerbated by historical grievances or competition for resources.

●      Example: Assam- Meghalaya Border clashes

Dimensions of communalism

✔     Assimilationist: Minority assimilation into majority culture, sometimes forcefully.

●      Example: Applying Hindu Marriage Act to Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains.

✔     Welfarist: Emphasizes social welfare and affirmative action; uplifts disadvantaged, yet may reinforce separation, perpetuating differences.

●      Example: Policies like reservations for scheduled castes and tribes in India.

✔     Retreatist: Minority withdrawal to protect identity; creating separate spheres defensively, distancing from mainstream society for cultural integrity.

●      Example: Amish community in the United States maintain a distinct lifestyle, separate from mainstream American society

✔     Retaliatory: Driven by grievance and anger; reacts to perceived injustices through violence or hostility towards other communities.

●      Example: Rohingya crisis in Myanmar

✔     Separatist: Advocates for separate state or homeland; can be peaceful or violent, aiming to establish distinct cultural-political entity.

●      Example: demand for a separate state of Khalistan by some Sikh groups in the 1980s in India

✔     Secessionist: Extreme; seeks complete separation, often resorting to violence to achieve independence from existing political system.

●      Example: Sri Lankan Civil War

Factors that led to the rise of communalism in India

✔     Colonial Legacy: British divide-and-rule policies fostered religious tensions, sowing seeds for future communalism during their rule in India.

✔     Partition Trauma: The traumatic partition of India in 1947 exacerbated communal tensions, resulting in widespread violence and displacement.

✔     Post-Independence Politics: Communalism exploited by political parties for electoral gains, perpetuating religious divisions and tensions in Indian society.

✔     Socio-economic Disparities: Economic inequalities and caste-based discrimination contribute to communal grievances and tensions among marginalized communities.

✔     Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi Dispute: Demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 sparked communal violence, highlighting deep-seated religious tensions.

✔     Rise of Extremist Groups: Emergence of extremist religious organizations promotes exclusivist ideologies, fuelling communal polarization and violence.

✔     Social Media Influence: Rapid spread of hate speech and misinformation on social media platforms exacerbates communal tensions and polarization.

Use of Communalism in India

✔     Political Gain: Parties exploit religious divisions for votes, using inflammatory rhetoric during elections to polarize and mobilize supporters.

✔     Religious Nationalism: Some groups advocate religious dominance, leading to violence against minorities, citing protection of Hindu culture.

✔     Electoral Strategies: Parties target religious or caste groups, promising preferential treatment, deepening societal divides for political advantage.

✔     Social Media Manipulation: Fake news and hate speech on social media escalate tensions, sparking violence and spreading communal discord.

✔     Legal Battles: Contentious cases like Ayodhya dispute fuel communal agendas, prolonging legal battles and inflaming religious sentiments.

✔     Communal Violence: Disputes over religious sites or processions often erupt into riots, resulting in loss of life and property.

✔     Identity Politics: Communal affiliations drive identity politics, leading to exclusionary practices and discrimination against marginalized communities.

Major Incidents of communal violence in India

✔     Partition of India (1947): The partition led to widespread communal violence between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, resulting in massive displacement and loss of life.

✔     Anti-Sikh Riots (1984): Following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, communal violence erupted against Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of India, resulting in mass killings and destruction.

✔     Bhagalpur Riots (1989): Communal violence broke out in Bhagalpur, Bihar, resulting in significant loss of life and property, with Muslims bearing the brunt of the attacks.

✔     Babri Masjid Demolition and Mumbai Riots (1992-1993): The demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya sparked communal violence across India, culminating in the Mumbai riots which resulted in hundreds of deaths.

✔     Godhra Train Burning (2002): The burning of a train carrying Hindu pilgrims in Godhra, Gujarat, sparked communal violence across the state, leading to the Gujarat riots.

✔     Gujarat Riots (2002): Communal violence erupted in Gujarat following the Godhra train burning incident, resulting in widespread killings, displacement, and destruction primarily targeting Muslims.

✔     Aligarh Riots (2006): Communal clashes occurred in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, leading to loss of lives and property, highlighting persistent religious tensions in the region.

✔     Kandhamal Violence (2008): Communal clashes erupted in Kandhamal district, Odisha, resulting in the deaths of over 50 people, primarily targeting Christians.

✔     Assam Riots (2012): Communal violence between Bodo tribes and Muslim settlers in Assam resulted in numerous deaths and displacement, highlighting religious tensions and ethnic conflict.

✔     Muzaffarnagar Riots (2013): Communal clashes broke out in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, leading to deaths, injuries, and displacement of thousands, primarily along religious lines.

Communalism in Contemporary India

✔     Political Polarization: Parties exploit communalism for votes, deepening religious divides and polarizing society for electoral advantages during elections.

✔     Communal Violence: Disputes trigger clashes, causing casualties and property damage, with religious or caste-related tensions leading to communal violence.

●      Example: Delhi riots 2020 in the background of citizenship (amendment) act and the National Register for citizens (NRC)

✔     Religious Nationalism: Rising majoritarianism discriminates against minorities, fostering communal tensions, and marginalizing minority communities in contemporary India.

●      Example: Ghar Wapsi programs by Hindu Organisations

✔     Hate Speech and Misinformation: Social media spreads hate speech, misinformation, fuelling communal tensions, and contributing to outbreaks of violence.

✔     Legal Battles: Contentious cases like Ayodhya dispute, Gyanvapi mosque case heighten communal tensions, perpetuating divisions, and inflaming religious sentiments among communities.

●      Example: Hadiya case 2017 and love jihad controversy

✔     Discrimination and Marginalization: Minorities face bias, with Muslims, Christians, and Dalits experiencing discrimination and marginalization, intensifying communal tensions.

●      Example: Cow vigilante targeting certain sections of society.

✔     Interfaith Harmony Efforts: Initiatives aim to bridge communal divides, fostering understanding and cooperation among religious communities despite challenges.

Religiosity to Communalism – A case study

Religiousness is more about attaining peace and harmony within oneself as well as among people. While communalism is a power struggle against other communities and is more focused upon some deprivation which is sought to be corrected by mobilizing people.

✔     Religiosity: Hindus believed Babri Masjid was Lord Ram's birthplace, leading to demands for a temple, stirring religious sentiments.

✔     Communal Tensions: Politicized Babri Masjid issue fuelled Hindu-Muslim tensions.

✔     Demolition: Hindu nationalists demolished Babri Masjid, sparking nationwide violence.

✔     Political Exploitation: Politicians exploited Babri Masjid issue for electoral gains, worsening communal tensions.

✔     Legal and Social Fallout: Babri Masjid demolition led to legal battles, social divisions, and the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute.

✔     Reconciliation Efforts: Despite violence, civil society and religious leaders promote reconciliation and interfaith dialogue post-demolition.

✔     Final case verdict: Supreme Court paved way for construction of temple and an alternative 5-acre plot will be found for a mosque in the holy town in UP.

Measures to Control and Eradicate Communalism

✔     Short term Measures

●      Legal enforcement: Strict implementation of laws against hate speech and violence to immediately address communal incidents and prevent escalation.

●      Rapid response: Establishing quick-response mechanisms within law enforcement to swiftly address communal incidents and prevent escalation.

●      Media regulation: Immediate regulation of media platforms to curb the spread of hate speech and misinformation during periods of communal tension.

●      Public awareness: Launching targeted awareness campaigns to promote communal harmony and tolerance during times of communal unrest.

●      Emergency relief: Providing immediate relief and support to victims of communal violence, including shelter, medical aid, and rehabilitation assistance.

✔     Long term Measures

●      Educational reforms: Implementing reforms to promote secularism, pluralism, and interfaith understanding through the education system from early childhood.

●      Socio-economic development: Addressing underlying socio-economic disparities through long-term poverty alleviation and social welfare programs.

●      Interfaith dialogue: Institutionalizing sustained interfaith dialogue and engagement to foster mutual understanding and respect among religious communities.

●      Strengthening institutions: Enhancing the capacity and independence of law enforcement agencies, judiciary, and human rights bodies to effectively address communal violence.

●      Community empowerment: Investing in community empowerment initiatives that promote grassroots leadership, civic engagement, and conflict resolution skills within diverse communities.

Role of Government and Civil Societies in Eradicating Communalism

✔     Government Role

●      Policy Formulation: Creating comprehensive policies addressing root causes of communalism, focusing on education, socio-economic development, and interfaith cooperation.

o   Example: The National Action Plan on Communal Harmony and its Implementation

●      Community Policing: Establishing community policing initiatives to build trust between law enforcement and communities, preventing and managing communal conflicts.

o   Example: The Mumbai Police’s Community Policing Initiative involves local officers engaging with communities to build trust and prevent communal conflicts.

●      Rehabilitation Programs: Implementing rehabilitation programs for individuals involved in communal violence, offering support for their reintegration into society.

o   Example: Rehabilitation schemes for victims of communal violence, such as the Karnataka Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program in India

●      Electoral Reforms: Introducing electoral reforms to discourage communal politics and promote secularism in political discourse and campaigning.

o   Example: Implementation of stricter election laws to curb hate speech and communal polarization, as seen in amendments to the Representation of the People Act.

●      International Cooperation: Collaborating with international organizations and neighbouring countries to address transnational factors contributing to communalism.

o   Example: India's engagement with Bangladesh to tackle communalism.

●      Monitoring Platforms: Establishing monitoring platforms to track and analyse communal incidents, facilitating data-driven policymaking and targeted interventions.

o   Example: Ministry of Home Affairs' Communal Violence Monitoring System, which tracks communal incidents and supports evidence-based policymaking

✔     Civil Society role

●      Conflict Resolution: Providing mediation and conflict resolution services to communities facing communal tensions, promoting dialogue and reconciliation.

o   Example: Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation in Delhi, which mediates between communities to resolve communal conflicts peacefully.

●      Grassroots Mobilization: Mobilizing grassroots movements and campaigns advocating for communal harmony, engaging diverse communities in collective action.

o   Example: United Religious Initiative (URI) in India, a grassroots movement that brings together people from different faiths to promote peace and understanding.

●      Youth Education: Organizing educational programs and workshops for youth on interfaith understanding, human rights, and social justice.

o   Example: Youth-led organizations like the Youth for Peace International, which organizes workshops and campaigns to educate young people on communal harmony.

●      Cultural Exchanges: Facilitating cultural exchanges and celebrations that bring together individuals from different religious and cultural backgrounds to foster understanding.

o   Example: The Indo-Pak Peace Calendar initiative, which brings together artists from India and Pakistan to promote peace and mutual understanding.

●      Community Outreach: Conducting outreach programs in marginalized communities to address grievances and build solidarity across religious lines.

o   Example: The Dalit Rights Organization in Uttar Pradesh, which conducts outreach programs in Dalit communities to address grievances and promote unity.

●      Legal Advocacy: Advocating for legal reforms and policies that protect minority rights and promote inclusivity, challenging discriminatory laws and practices.

o   Example: The Lawyers Collective, which provides legal aid and advocacy for minority communities facing discrimination and communal violence.

Secularism as an antidote to communalism in India

✔     Equal Treatment: Secularism ensures all religions receive fair treatment under the law, mitigating discrimination and preventing favouritism toward any faith.

●      Example: All religions enjoy legal protection and rights in India.

✔     Separation of Religion and State: Divorces religious institutions from political power, reducing exploitation of religion for political gain and communal polarization.

●      Example: India's secular constitution ensures government neutrality- state's non-interference in religious practices or institutions.

✔     Protection of Minority Rights: Safeguards minority religious communities from oppression, ensuring their freedom of worship and countering communal discrimination.

●      Example: Legal provisions like Article 25 of the Indian Constitution safeguard the rights of minority religious communities.

✔     Promotion of Pluralism: Celebrates diversity, fostering interfaith dialogue and mutual respect, which diminishes communal tensions and promotes inclusivity.

●      Example: India celebrates diverse festivals, fostering interfaith harmony and mutual respect.

✔     Prevention of Religious Hegemony: Prevents dominance of any single religion, fostering tolerance and averting conflicts arising from religious supremacy.

●      Example: Indian secularism prevents dominance of any single religion.

✔     Focus on Civic Identity: Prioritizes citizenship over religious identity, fostering unity based on shared civic values, undermining communal divisions.

●      Example: India prioritizes citizenship over religious identity, promoting national unity and diversity.

✔     Secular Education: Promotes critical thinking and tolerance in a secular curriculum, respecting all beliefs equally and countering communal indoctrination.

●      Example: India's education system teaches tolerance, respecting all religions equally without favouritism.

Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

1.     ‘Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation’. Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (2018)

2.     Distinguish between religiousness/religiosity and communalism giving one example of how the former has got transformed into the latter in independent India. (2017)

Tags:
Society

Keywords:
Communalism Social media Religiosity Secularism

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
Indian Society