2. first, some Context
My and my nation’s Identity
• Everyone has an identity; it is the core of an
individual.
• It is influenced and moulded by numerous
factors. Such as culture, language, economy,
history, locality, religion, etc.
• And so does a community, an ethnicity, and a
nation have an identity.
• India is a multicultural, multilingual and
pluralistic mix of a stunning diversity of
people.
• In India, religion often plays a bigger role in
influencing one’s identity.
• Peaceful coexistence within communities has
been a mainstay in India’s history.
...Then why communalism?
3. A Definition
Communalism is an ideology that
supports and promotes division
between communities, most
often, on the basis of religion and
ethnicity.
Characteristics of Communalism
Communalism builds
upon an existing
‘dividing line’
between communities;
differences are
exacerbated.
The communities
involved have
reached, or are in
an antagonistic
state with each
other.
On some existing
grounds, a vocal
minority from each
community pushes
the ideas that give
rise to
communalism.
Communalism
need not always
give rise to
communal
violence; it is an
escalation of
communalism.
There is a strong
sense of
belonging to
that particular
community.
• Festering hatred among
communities living in
close proximity.
• Ultimately leading to
communal violence.
• A threat to the national
integrity and antecedent
to secessionist ideas.
• The psychological
impact of conflict on
children and adult
alike.[5]
• A negative impact on
economy, e.g.,
Punjab’s economy was
paralyzed until the
1990s.
Effects of Communalism
4. History
• Communalism has been a significant issue since
independence in India.
• It finds its origin before partition, during the British Raj.
• Implementation of policies built on the doctrine of
Divide and Rule, pushed different sectors of society,
that were otherwise cohabitating, into a tense
antagonistic state.
• A few political dissidents pushed communalist ideology
— either for their own interests or some political goal,
or in return for favours from the Imperial government.
• A separate electoral for Muslims and a skewed view of
Indian history taught in educational institutions that
affirmed Hindu-Muslim differences, further bolstered
the divide between religious sects. (See The History of
Direct Action Day (16 August 1946)
5. In India
The partition of
1947.
Direct Action
Day of 1946.
1969 Gujarat riots.
Incidents culminated
into an outbreak of
violence.
In October, 1984, the
anti-Sikh riots broke
out after the
assassination of Indira
Gandhi.
Marks of violence
1985 Babri Masjid
controversy and the
subsequent 1992
demolition which led
to the Bombay riots.
In 2002, Gujarat
witnessed communal
riots.
2013, Uttar
Pradesh,
Muzaffarnagar.
And lynches throughout
the country continue...
Dancing Refugees at Kurukshetra camp, Punjab, 1947
More than a thousand
were killed in the
Bhagalpur Riots of
1989.[2]
Shiv Sena, a Hindutva
political party in
Maharashtra, is said to
have organised the
riots.[1]
More than
eight
thousand
Sikhs killed.[3]
Up to a million killed.[4]
6. CAUSES OF COMMUNALISM
• A History of Bad Blood
• Politics
• Economics and Unemployment
• Disparities between Communities
• Failure on part of Administration
• Psychological Factors
• The Influence of Media
• And now Social Media
In India
7. Measures to Tackle Communalism
Political
Measures
Legal Measures Social Measures
Political measures include
promoting secularism and
inclusivity in politics.
The Indian government has
enacted several laws to prevent
communal violence and promote
social harmony.
Social measures include
promoting interfaith dialogue and
understanding among different
communities.
This can be done by ensuring that
political parties do not use religion
as a tool to gain votes or power.
Some examples include the Indian
Penal Code (IPC), which
criminalizes hate speech and
incitement to violence.
This can be done through
community outreach programs,
cultural events, and educational
initiatives.
8. Conclusion
• Communalism is a social menace that
traces back to pre-independence
days.
• It leads to political and social tensions
in the state and can be a threat to
national integrity.
• In modern days, communalism has
become a tool of exploitation for
political agitation.
• It is essential to take measures to
prevent it from spreading further. Lest
needless fear and violence run
rampant in our communities.
• Despite the occurrences, the majority
9. Q&A
Raise your hand
if you have a
question
Limit the
question to the
topic
Wait for your
turn to speak
10. Bibliography
[1]: Tambiah, Stanely J. (1997). Leveling Crowds: EthnoNationalist Conflicts and Collective
Violence in South Asia. University of California Press. P. 254. ISBN 978-0520206427.
[2]: Charu Gupta & Mukul Sharma (July 1996). “Communal constructions: media reality vs
real reality”. Race & Class. 38 (1): 1–20. doi:10.1177/030639689603800101
[3]: Joseph, Paul (11 October 2016). The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science
Perspectives. SAGE. P. 433. ISBN 978-1483359885. “around 17,000 Sikhs were burned
alive or killed”
[4]: Dyson, Tim (2018). A Population History of India: From the First Modern People to the
Present Day. Oxford University Press. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-19-882905-8.
[5]: Khan, Waheeda (2015), “Conflict in Kashmir: Psychosocial Consequences on Children”,
in Sibnath Deb (ed.), Child Safety, Welfare and Well-being: Issues and Challenges, Springer,
pp. 83–93, ISBN 978-81-322-2425-9.
Web sources:
• https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/communalism
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_violence_in_India#
