COMMUNALISMAnurag Bhojwani A022

Prateek Maheshwari A039

Devesh Mohan A040

What is Communalism?

• The word Communalism is used to denote attempts topromote primarily religious stereotypes between groupsof people identified as different communities and tostimulate violence between those groups. It derives notfrom community but from ‘tensions between the(religious) communities’.

• Communal riots are an indicator of socio-culturaldifference existing between the communities.

Rise Of Communalism In India

• Religious violence has probably existed for aslong as religion.

• The progress of science and technology haveenabled religious extremists to hate and kill evenmore effectively.

• Communal violence in India started during theemergence of mass politics in the 1920s and havepersisted after Independence.

• India has a pluralistic society. The multi-racial,multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-culturalpolity is bound to have conflicting interests.

• Each community tries to preserve and promote itsown interest, and when the interest of twocommunities clash, communal conflict is triggeredoff.

• Communal Riots are not caused spontaneouslyand also they are rarely caused by religiousanimosity. They arise due to conflicting

political interest often linked to

economic interest.

Characteristics Of Communalism• Communalism is an ideological concept,

• It is a complex process,

• It encompasses social, economic and political aspects for its manifestation,

• It causes rivalry, violence and tension among masses,

• Communalism is simply engineered by opportunistic political and economic interest of contending groups and factions within a political party or by political parties.

• It strikes at the root of democracy, secularism and national integration

• Its effects are disastrous.

Causes Of Communalism:

• Divide & Rule Policy Of British

• Political Organizations & Political Factor

• Economic Factor

• Educational & Cultural Factors

• Inertia Indifferent Government

• Ineffective Handling Of Communal Riots

Effects Of Communalism• Communalism is the major obstacle that tends to separate

people on the basis of religion, language, territories andethnic origin.

• Communalism inevitable leads to communal riots and theauthorities in order to ‘control’ the situation imposescurfew.

• Furthermore, the worst form of violence takes place duringthe period of curfew in the course of police “hunt” for antisocial elements

• Another negative effect of communalism upon people isthat of an unhealthy development that has

crept into society.

• The biggest sufferers due to religious communalism arethe minorities.

• The communal riots between Hindu & Muslim in Indiaevoke unfavourable reaction and criticism not only fromPakistan but in other Islamic countries of West Asia andAfrica, which adversely affects our relations with them.

• Communalism give rise to terrorism.

Future Scenario

• Looking at the factors and forces responsible forthe riots and every riot becoming moreorganized, widespread, and use of more andmore lethal weapons it can be assumed that soonit would take the shape of pitched battles, like acivil war.

• If we want to save our nation from such a fate aconcerted economic, political and socio-culturalprogram should be initiated and followedvigorously.

Conclusion