COMMUNALISM
– POLITY
News: Civil society activists to fight
against communalism with DOSTI
Communalism:
● Communalism,
in its broadest definition, refers to a strong sense of belonging to one's own
community. It is interpreted as an unhealthy connection to one's own faith in
Indian popular discourse.
● It
promotes orthodox tenets and ideals, as well as intolerance and hatred of other
religions, dividing society.
Communalism:
● People
who follow the same religion have common secular interests i.e. they have the
same political, economic and social interests.
Causes:
1.
British Policy of Divide and Rule:
● Partition
of Bengal
● Government
of India Act 1919 (separate electorates)
● Communal
Award 1932 are a few examples.
2.
Socio-economic reasons:
● Stagnant
economy.
● Rivalry
for trade, job and industry among Muslim and Hindu classes.
3.
Communalism in History writing:
● Ancient
India as Hindu phase and Medieval India as Muslim phase.
4.
Reform movements:
● Wahabi
movement, Shuddhi Movement, etc fanned the fire of communalism.
5.
Militant Nationalism:
● Quest
for Hindu Rashtra, Hoisting of Hindu festivals, etc gave nationalism a communal
colour.
6.
Feelings and fear:
● The
minority community was afraid and insecure and started demands of a communal
fervour and increased communal tendencies of the majority community.
7. Evolution of two-nation theory
8. Politics of appeasement
9. Caste Politics:
● Vote
bank politics in post-independent India.
Impacts:
● Affecting
peace & hearing tranquility.
● Threat
to national integration and security.
● Communal
riots and violence such as demolition of Babri masjid in 1992 causes communal
violence b/w hindus muslims in several parts of the nation.
● Increase
in radicalisation & terrorism and leads to conflict and chaos in society.
● It
is used as a political propaganda tool to create division and differences.
Mitigation:
● Effective
law enforcement
● Abolition
Communal organizations
● Education
& development saves many people from radicalisation.
● National
integration as the first preference than religions
● Bringing
integrity measures rather than making a Community Isolate by means of govt.
programs, NGOs as well as sports and cultural Events.
● Awareness
among people to not become prey to false political propaganda.