SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL DEEMED UNIVERSITY

Is Communalism a bigger threat?

Submitted by

——— Saransh Gupta ———

Division ‘B’, PRN – 19010323104,

Class of 2019 - 24, BA LLB, SEM - 2
SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, HYDERABAD

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In
January, 2020
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Under the guidance of

Mr. Radha Krishnan
Assistant Professor
Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad
 INTRODUCTION

Communalism just like most of the other ideology, is a school of thought which is shared by a
group of people. Communalism is a belief within a particular culture that promotes religious and
culture isolation from the other groups. In theory communalism typically resort to isolate itself
based on religion.

Despite the adoption of the principles of secularism and equality of the people, communalism in
one form or the other, continues to show its naked face in India. It has given a serious setback to
the cause of national integration and political stability and also is destroying human life and
national property. Communalism is generally associated with a narrow, selfish, divisive and
aggressive attitude of a religious group.

Positively, it stands for the protection and promotion of the interests of a particular community
and negatively, it is a disastrous dimension of fostering the interest of a section of the people
detrimental to the society as a whole. It develops active hostility towards other communities
living within the same body politic. Acting in the name of some religion or traditions,
communalism opposes all social change and progressive development and thus, generates
orthodoxy.

Ancient India was united and no such communal feelings were there. People lived peacefully
together, there was acceptance for each other’s culture and tradition. For example, Ashoka
followed religious tolerance and focused mainly on Dhamma.

In Medieval period, we have examples such as- Akbar, who was epitome of secular practices and
believed in propagating such values by abolishing Jajhiya tax and starting of Din-I- ilahi and
Ibadat Khana. Same acceptance for different cultures and tradition was practiced in several
kingdoms throughout India, because of which there was peace and harmony, barring few
sectarian rulers like Aurangzeb, who was least tolerant for other religious practices. But such
motives were guided purely for their personal greed of power and wealth.

Such rulers and actions by them like- imposing taxes on religious practices of other community,
destructing temples, forced conversions, killing of Sikh guru, etc. were instrumental in deepening
and establishing the feeling of communal differences in India. But these incidents were not
common as, huge majority of Indians were rural and were aloof from such influences and so
people coexisted peacefully. Though, they were very rigid in practicing their own rituals and
practice, but it never became barrier in the peaceful coexistence.

SCOPE

The scope of this research is to find out if communalism pertains potential threat to our society.
Along with various types of communalism and areas where they prevail. Also by the end of this
research paper we gain knowledge about origin of communalism in the world as well as in India

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The methodology of research used is the doctrinal approach. The doctrinal approach of

research involves the utilization of second party sources of information. In this paper, the

information obtained has predominantly taken place via websites, online journals, legal

dictionaries, etc. The researcher’s task is to gather such information, compile the information,

analyze, process and then to generate the output required. All the while, the researcher

pertains to the initial goals, questions and objectives set by himself.

 LITERATURE REVIEW

This research paper has made use of a lot of information from various research papers, based
on the reaction of the general public towards the issue and how they think of the same and also
using statutes and guidelines given by International Organizations on the concerned topic
and even constitutions of many other countries over the globe.

These are the following sources used for this research-

1. Communalism in Postcolonial India: Changing Contours by Mujibur Rehman

This book reconceptualizes the idea of communalism in independent India. It locates the
changing contours of politics and religion in the country from the colonial times to the
present day, and makes an important intervention in understanding the relationship
between communalism and communal violence. It evaluates the role of state, media, civil
societies, political parties, and other actors in the process as well as ideas such as
secularism, nationalism, minority rights and democracy. Using new conceptual tools and
an interdisciplinary approach, the work challenges the conventional understanding of
communalism as time and context independent.
2. Communalism, Caste and Hindu Nationalism: The Violence in Gujarat by Ornit Shani
Belligerent Hindu nationalism, accompanied by recurring communal violence between
Hindus and Muslims, has become a compelling force in Indian politics over the last two
decades. This book examines the rise of Hindu nationalism, asking why distinct groups of
Hindus, deeply divided by caste, mobilized on the basis of unitary Hindu nationalism,
and why the Hindu nationalist rhetoric about the threat of the impoverished Muslim
minority was so persuasive to the Hindu majority. Using evidence from communal
violence in Gujarat, Shani argues that the growth of communalism was not simply a
result of Hindu-Muslim antagonisms, but was driven by intensifying tensions among
Hindus, nurtured by changes in the relations between castes and associated state policies.
These, in turn, were frequently displaced onto Muslims, thus enabling caste conflicts to
develop and deepen communal rivalries. The book offers a challenge to previous
 scholarship on the rise of communalism, which will be welcomed by students and
professionals.

CONCLUSION

The subject matter in hand is a prominent issue often raised and much debated in the current
political scenario. The data and theory explained has been put down in layman terms so that
every reader could understand and draw an inference of his own. The data presented is simple
yet crisp and is a crossover of various theories and scholarly articles and provides a broad scoped
view about the matter in hand.