Communal riots are an indicator of socio-cultural difference existing between the communities An event is identified as a communal riot if: 1) There is a violence. 2) Two or more communally different groups confront each other or members of the group at some point during the violence.

1. Presentation topic
communal riots
Prepared by
FARHANA KHALIQ
Master of education(M.Ed)
Semester 111
Department of school of education
Central University of kashmir

2. Communalism
 “Communalism” is an ideology which states that society is divided into
religious communities whose interests differ and are, at times, even opposed to
each other. The antagonism practiced by the people of one community against
the people of other community and religion can be termed ‘communalism’. This
antagonism goes to the extent of falsely accusing, harming and deliberately
insulting a particular community and extends to looting, burning down the
homes and shops, dishonouring women and even killing persons.
 Communal Persons” are those who practise politics through religion. Among
leader, those religious leaders are ‘communal’ who run their religious
communities like business enterprises and institutions.‘communal’ is not one
who is “a man of religion” but “one who practises politics by linking it with
religion”.ss

3. Communal riots
 These power politicians are not good Hindus nor good Muslims, Sikhs,
Christians, Parsis or Buddhists. • They can be viewed as dangerous political
‘scum’. • For them, God and religion are merely instruments to be used to live
luxuriously as the ‘kind parasites’ of society and to attain the political goals.
The dangerous outcome of the communalism is communal riots.
 Communal riots have become a distinct feature of communalism. Whenever
Conflicting groups from two different religions, which are self conscious
communities, clash, it results in a communal riot.
 Communal riots are nothing but clashes between two or more communities
owing to clashes of communal interests.
 Paul Brass defines riot as a “violent disturbance of peace by an assembly or
body of persons” and a programme as “an organized massacre”.

4.  Communal riots are an indicator of socio-cultural difference
existing between the communities
An event is identified as a communal riot if:
1) There is a violence.
2) Two or more communally different groups confront each other or
members of the group at some point during the violence.
 The reason for such a clash could be superficial and trivial,
though underlying them are deeper considerations of political
representations, control of and access to resources and power.

5. Dimensions of Communalism
T.K. Oommen has suggested six dimensions of
communalism:
• Assimilationist
• welfarist
• Retreatist
• Retaliatory
• Separatist
• Secessionist

6.  Assimilationist:- Assimilationist communalism is one in which small
religious groups are assimilated/integrated into a big religious group. •
Such communalism claims that Scheduled Tribes are Hindus, or that Jains,
etc.
 Welfarist:- Welfarist communalism aims at the welfare of a particular
community, say, improving living standard and providing for education and
health of Christians by the Christians associations, or Parsi associations
working for the benefit of the Parsis. • Such communal mobilization aims
at working only for the members of one’s own community.
 Retreatist:- Retreatist communalism is one in which a small religious
community keeps itself away from politics. • For example, Bahai
community, which proscribes its members from participating political
activities.

7.  Retaliatory :-Retaliatory communalism attempts to harm, hurt,
injure the members of other religious communities
 Separatist :-Separatist communalism is one in which one religious
or a cultural groups wants to maintain its cultural specificity and
demands a separate territorial state within the country. • For
example, the demand of some Mizos and Nagas in northeast India
or Bodos in Assam or of Jharkhand Tribals in Bihar, etc.
 Secessionist:-Secessionist communalism is one in which a
religious community want a separate political identity, and demands
an independent state. • A very small militant sections of Sikh
population demanding Khalistan or some Muslim militants
demanding independent Kashmir were engaged in practising this
type of communalism

8. Causes of communal riots.
 Historical factors
 Educational factors
 Political factors
 Religious factors.
 Socio-economic factors
 Demographic factors
 Psychological factors
 Social media factors

9. Factors Responsible For
Communal riots
. Historical Factors: The history of Partition and the two-nation theory
have generated a deep sense of communalism and lack of mutual trust
among both the communities. It discouraged a harmonious association
and peaceful co-existence.
Political Factors: Divide and rule policy practiced by the British and the
subsequent vote-bank politics followed by Indian political parties after
Independence have added to the divide between the communities. Lack
of liberal, progressive and modern attitude in both communities has
also weakened the cause of communal harmony.
Educational Factors: There is lack of modern education among a large
section of Indian society. A majority of Indians failed to adopt a
scientific and technological approach, hence are reluctant to adopt
liberal, progressive values.
Religious factors:- Decline in religious norms and secular values •
Narrow and dogmatic religious values • Use of religion for
political gains • Communal ideology of religious leaders

10. Socio-Economic Factors: Due to their educational backwardness, the
Muslims have not been represented sufficiently in public services,
industry and trade, etc. Their economic status is very low. This
causes the feeling of relative deprivation and such feelings contain
the seeds of communalism.
Psychological Factors: Psychological factors play an important role
in the development of communalism. Both communities have
perceived grudges against each other. There is a sort of fear
psychosis amongst Muslims. These lead to communal ill-feelings.
Demographic Factors: Demographic changes in Assam, West Bengal
and the Kashmir Valley create opportunities for manipulation of
communal sentiments for short-term political objectives.
Social Media Factors: Negative impact of social media in spreading
rumours, disinformation, hate-campaign and fanning violence

11. MAJOR COMMUNAL RIOTS
TAKEN PLACE IN INDIA
 Calcutta riots or direct action day riots(1946)
 Partition riots(1947)
 Delhi sikh massacre(1984)
 Bhagalpur riots, Bihar(1989)
 Hyderabad riots(1990)
 Gawakadal massacre,kashmir(1990)
 Ayodhya riots(1992)
 Bombay riots(1993)
 Gujarat bloodshed(2002)
 Aligarh riots (2006)
 Deganga riots (2010).

12. Consequences of Communal
Conflicts
 The greatest sufferers of communal violence are the innocent
common people who get caught inextricably into circumstances
beyond their control.
• There is an avoidable loss of life and essential public property gets
damaged. It lends to hooliganism, and the situation is often
exploited by anti social elements by plundering and indulging in
activities only for their personal gains.
• The anti national elements get adequate opportunity to fan anti
national feelings and work on creating an atmosphere to break the
cohesiveness of our society.
• The atmosphere of uncertainty and internal turmoil dissuades the
foreign investors to set up their businesses in India.

13. • Lawlessness accruing out of communal disharmony is exploited by
the divisive forces operating in the country because of which
internal security risks gets heightens.
• The social fabric of the society gets irreparably damaged and the
conditions of mistrust serve as a catalyst for future conflicts on
flimsy grounds.
• Deployment of large scale security forces dissipates the state
exchequer and may result in occasional Human Rights abuses.
• The Human Development Index of the society is adversely affected
by these hampering restrictions that are laid on the basic right to
freedom of people.

14. Overall the consequences are
 Dignity of an individual may suffer.
 Unity & Integrity of the nation may see an adverse jolt.
 Law & Order challenges may increase
 Loss of public property plausible
 Business confidence may plummet.
 A communally charged atmosphere may spike social polarization.
 Social harmony is critical for smooth functioning of trade and
business.
 Politico-socio uncertainty may increase risk of doing business.

15. Steps to Handle Communal
Violence
 • Quick and appropriate decisions by the administration. After
identifying the type, stage and gravity of the disturbance, must take
immediate actions to mitigate the losses and be proactive to
requisition and move the resources and detain personnel with
provocative behaviour.
 • Police forces especially trained for the purpose must be promptly
deployed in adequate numbers with requisite equipment and proper
gear to handle situation at the physical, as well as emotional level.
 During the outbreak of a riot, the local people must be regularly
kept updated regarding the prevailing situation through various
forms of media, which must be controlled to ensure it does not
aggravate the situation further.

16. • Prior to the actual build up of tension, licensed weapons such as
revolvers, guns and corrosive materials must be ceased.
• States must maintain emergency funds for the procurement of basic
items such as medicines and food or for compensating the losses of
the people.
• Cyber police should be watchful of posts made in the social media
and websites carrying any provocative content with the aim of
spreading communal tension and bring to book such people

17. Conclusion
 We are aware that communalism is one of the most dangerous threat
to Indian democracy and National integrity. If we do not attempt to
curb this evil force this will engulf the harmony of our country,
which will spread like a epidemic. To get justice for every
individual in the country social workers should intervene
proactively in this area so that it can create a society which will give
justice and provide human conditions for living