Communal

Conflicts
Let us see…

 Causes
 Consequences
 Measures to prevent Communal Conflicts
 Communal Harmony
Communal Conflict

 The term “communal conflict” embraces both inter-

religious and inter-ethnic conflict but also may include
inter-village clashes where narrower identities define
the parties.
What is Communalism?

 If Hindu declares that he is a Hindu, is that

communalism?
 If a Muslim says he is proud of being a Muslim, is that
communalism?
 If a person or a community want to lead a religious life
of his or their fashion, can this be called as
communalism?
Concept of communalism
 An ideology where the state is divided into religious
communities whose interests are different and even
opposed to each other.
 The antagonism practised by members of one community
against the other community can also be termed as
communalism.
(Antagonism – deliberately harming, dishonouring and
insulting)
Communal persons
 Who practise politics thorough religion.
 Dangerous politician ‘scum’
 They use God and religion as instruments to live
luxuriously – ‘king parasites’
Communalism practised as

 Political communalism
 Religious communalism
 Economic communalism.
Major causes of communalism
in India
 A Legacy of Past
 Presence of Communal Parties
 Isolation of Muslims
 Poverty
 Hindu Chauvinism
 The Social Cause
 Communalization of Politics
 Cross-Border Factors
 Failure of Government.
A Legacy of Past

 “Two Nation” theory of Jinnah - Communal politics had

played its nasty game during the immediate past of
independent India.
 The “Divide and Rule” policy of the British Government
served their colonial interest.
 Despite the emergence of Pakistan, a large number of
Muslims are staying in India.
 India has adopted the principles of secularism and
equality of the people.
 But communalism as a legacy of past, is continuing and
expressing itself in various form.
Presence of Communal Parties
 Religion in India has become an important agency of
political socialization and it is also reflected in the
ideology of a number of political parties. 
 The so called secular political parties also enter into
alliance with communal forces for electoral benefit.
 Some political leaders preach communalism to attain
their immediate political goal. 
Isolation of Muslims
 Indian Muslims have developed a tendency of
isolationism even long after the creation of Pakistan.
 They remain aloof from the mainstream of national
politics.
 Most of them are not interested to take part in the
secular-nationalistic politics of the country.
 They insist on to be treated as a separate entity.
Poverty
 Mass poverty and unemployment create a sense of
frustration among the people.
 It generates backwardness, illiteracy, ignorance, etc.
 The unemployed youth of communities can be easily
trapped by religious fundamentalists and fanatics.
 Moreover, in comparison with the Muslims, Hindus are
better placed in service, industry and trade which cause
a sense of contempt among them.
 The weak economic status often breeds communalism.
Hindu Chauvinism

 The growths of Hindu chauvinistic attitudes have further

strengthened the communal tensions in India.
 The Hindu religious groups often pressurize the
government to take steps suitable to the interest of
Hindus.
 They consider each Muslim as pro-Pakistani and anti-
national.
 They oppose the minority protection policies of the
government and treat it as appeasement policy.
The Social Cause
 The two major communities of India have been
suspicious towards each other.
 The Muslims complain of the threat of Hindu cultural
invasion upon their lives and have become more
assertive of their rights.
 Every Indian has the right to follow whatever religion
he/she likes. But when conversion from one religion to
another is made by offering some facilities like money,
education, service etc. it creates negative reactions.
Communalization of Politics

 Electoral politics in India has become more expensive and

competitive.
 Different political parties are not hesitating to use any means,
fair or foul, for electoral victory.
 Concessions are granted to various minority groups for
appeasing them.
 Each and every party is playing communal card and if situation
so demands, is not hesitating to join hands with the communal
parties for coming to power.
 Communalization of politics as a process is supporting the
growth of communalism in India.
Cross-Border Factors

 Communal tensions in India sometimes are highly

intensified due to the rule of two neighbouring theocratic
countries.
 These countries try to create communal problems in the
border states.
 The communal problems of Punjab and Jammu Kashmir are
caused due to provocation of Pakistan.
 So long as this cross-border factor is not removed,
communal problems are likely to stay in India.
Failure of Government

 Both the Union and the State Governments often fail to

prevent communalism in the country.
 Due to lack of prior information, they fail to take any
preventive measures.
 So the communal violence can easily take innocent lives
and destroys property.
 Failure of immediate and effective steps has been a
cause of the continuance of communalism.
Consequences
 Communalism is the major obstacle and it separates
people on the basis of religion, language, territories and
ethnic origin.
 Leads to communal riots and curfew.
 Worst form of violence – police ‘hunt’ for antisocial
elements.
 Gives rise to terrorism.
Future….

 Looking at the organised and widespread terrorist

attacks with lethal weapons, it would lead to pitched
battles, like a civil war.
 All round care on economic, social and political
programmes should be initiated and followed strictly.
Measures to prevent communal
conflicts
 This is a difficult task but must be achieved through hard
work and perseverance on part of well meaning
individuals. 
Use the simplest humanistic logic

 all made of flesh and blood

Ask people to be rational

 Falsification of history is a very common strategy of the

communal elements.
 some of the major ethnic or territorial disputes today,
in most cases, it always boils down to some sort of
contestation over space, identity and sense of belonging.
 India takes pride in calling itself the largest democracy
and yet it cannot protect the religious rights of the
minority.
Countering the “I was here before”
type of logic

 This type of reasoning leads us nowhere.

 A good example will be the conflict between Israel and
Palestine. Or the tug of war over Kashmir.
 The people of Kashmir are not really asked as to what
they want.
 Instead, both India and Pakistan try to establish their
hegemony over this piece of land.
 makes no sense to claim who was the “original
inhabitant” of a place.
Being sympathetic

 Whenever a person who has a communal mindset is

confronted with, the idea should be to immediately
sensitize that person about the condition faced by the
group to which they are being hostile.
 In some cases it may even be empathy.
Understanding social complexity in its
totality

 It would be rather silly to think that maintaining law and

order by using coercion and force can actually help
prevent riots.
 The places where various communities live together
should be visited by peace loving people and interactions
should be encouraged and initiated.
 The children with their natural innocence can become
great mascots of peace. 
Building solidarity at various levels of
society

 Various communities remain intertwined and

interdependent, these networks and channels must be
explored thoroughly.
 The people should be encouraged to explore their other
identities apart from the religious one.
 The more these communities engage with each other on
a normal level, they will see that they are not much
different at all.
Fighting prejudices daily

 Unfortunately, a society does not know how to celebrate

diversity.
 This is why it shudders at the prospect of having to share
space with the “other”.
 This mindset has to change as well.
 However, the person’s mind needs to be receptive
enough as well. 
Fostering a secular culture

 There are many religious festivities.

 Firstly, any person of any community can be asked to
enjoy any religious festivity. This will break the ice.
 Secondly, there should be efforts to encourage
alternative forms of cultural festivities which are not
related to religion.
 Posters, paintings, songs, street plays can help build the
bridge.
Learning from the past

 History teaches us to be patient and observant.

 one must not let knee to jerk reactions that
predominate.
 Experience clearly shows that patient negotiation alone
can solve the problem.
Envisioning a better society

 Most importantly, it is necessary to build a vision for an

alternative society, free from such hatred.
 True democracy will mean accepting the rich cultural,
ethnic, sexual and various other forms of diversity in
which we live.
 Embracing the “other” should be the theme of this
better society.
 One should try to find out ways of achieving such an
existence to truly make our living more meaningful.
Communal Harmony

 Communal Harmony refers to the harmony, acceptance

and love among the people of various communities
belonging to different castes, races and religion.
 Communal Harmony is the most important pre-condition
for feeling of Unity and National Integration in India.
Communal harmony in India

 Communal Harmony is necessary for every nation.

 Only if there is peace and harmony in the country can
grow.
 India is known to maintain communal harmony even as
people of different religions and castes reside here. It is
known for its secular ways.
 The state does not follow any official religion. It gives its
citizens the freedom to choose their religion and change
it at any time.
 Strict action is taken against individuals or groups who try
to tamper with the communal harmony of the country.
 Communal Harmony is the great nature of the India and India is
that community, where a various type of the religions and belief
are living in the country.
 “We must know our own roles. We should also know the roles
that others play, and the rules such roles follow. In this manner,
social harmony is maintained. It is when we overstep our roles or
act without knowing them, that social anarchy ensues”.
 Mutual tolerance and regards for other religions is an age-old
tradition of the country.
Steps taken by different
people.
 For the sake of maintaining communal harmony, Akbar started a
new religion Din-e-Iiahi. He made a Rajput lady his wife gave equal
respect is Hindu religion.
 Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was the founders of our constitution
also underlined the need of co harmony and provided for equal
rights to all Indians irrespective of caste, colour and creed.
 It made our democracy system stronger and main problem is how
to maintain communal harmony at administrative and social levels.
 There is the lack of political consciousness among common people
due to illiteracy. Secondly, antisocial and professional criminals
have been playing a key role in communal riots and flare-up as
agents of vested interests and their hirelings.
To sum up

 Communal harmony is the great concept by which India

become a great country.
 if communal harmony is maintained in the country by
everyone, various type of process and development of
the country will be possible.
Thank you…