Communalism refers to using religion for political gain by exploiting differences between religious communities. It originated and grew in British India as the British employed a strategy of divide and rule by exacerbating religious tensions. Communalism remains a challenge for Indian democracy as some political elements continue to use it to divide the nation. To combat communalism and promote secularism, the document recommends measures like openly opposing communal forces, punishing communal violence, and reforming education and media to reduce religious prejudice.

1. MILLATH
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
(Affiliated to the University of Kerala)
SOORANAD, KOLLAM-690522
––
ASSIGNMENT
(SEMESTER-2)
B.ED. COURSE 2013-2014
Submitted to Submitted by
SUBA BASHEER LEKSHMI K
Reg.No.13375013
Social Science

2. TOPIC
COMMUNALISM

3. INTRODUCTION
Communalism is a challenge to Indian democracy. It is an ideology of
religious fundamentalism. Adherence to a religion orreligious system is not
communalism. On the other hand using a religious community against other
communities and against the nation is communalism. It is a political orientation
that state as the focal point of political allegiance. A communalism is basically
interest in ‘using’ and ‘exploiting’ religion, and that too for political, electoral,
factional or personal purpose. It is in this historical context that communalism
came to acquire the meaning of being opposed to national; of being too narrowly
and negatively attached to one’s own religious community and that too essentially
for political benefits.
THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF COMMUNALISM IN INDIA
In India, communalism led to violence between different
communalism. It served the British to divide and rule. The prevailing religious
differences were first used to project the social and cultural variations and then to
promote political divisions by treating Indians basically not as Indians but as
members of religious communities. The British imperialists exploited the inbuilt
divisions and tensions existing among the religious communities.
COMMUNALISM AS A FACTOR IN INDIAN POLITICS
Communalism has remained with us even after the end of the British
rule, partly because of old traditions and partly because certain elements in our
country continue to use communalism to divide the Indiannation, if it serves their
sectarian or narrow partisan interests. At present communalism manifests itself in
different forms. To use the issues of the past for setting the scores in the present

4. against another community is communalism. To punish the present generation for
the misdeeds of the past generation is communalism. To punish innocent members
of a community today due to acts of omission or commission of few other
members of the same community in the past, is rank communalism. To attack and
murder an innocent human being in frenzy of riots, only because he belongs to
another community, is the worst form of communalism.
MEASURES TO COMBAT COMMUNALISM AND PROMOTE SECULARISM
To make the democratic system combat communalism and sub serve
the cause of secularism a few suggestions may be made:
1. Communalism has to be fought openly and the national parties should have
no truck with the communal forces. They should subscribe a pre-election
and post-election secular code.
2. Parties which by their polices and practices encourage or promote
communalism should be de-recognized.
3. Education should be so devised as to develop in the students a critical
faculty. It should enable the students to rise above religious bigotry and
obscurantism. Any communal orientation in text books and reading material
prepared for schools should be removed.
4. All police personnel found guilty of neglecting their duty, or conniving or
encouraging communal violence should be punished.
5. Another effective step to combat communalism is punishment to concerned
officers in a locality or district found guilty of dereliction of duty in
controlling communal violence or threat of violence.

5. 6. The mass media, Radio and T.V can play a significant role in combating
communalism and promoting secularism. These mass media should avoid
coverage of News and views likely to promote communal prejudice and
hatred.
CONCULSION
In the end, government and few well-intentioned citizens alone cannot
combat communalism. The writers, the artists, the leaders and all of us should
come forward to preserve and protect the framework of democracy. To protect
their rights, citizens also must shoulder their responsibilities of safeguarding
country’s integrity and unity.
REFERENCE
1. www.google.com
2. Dr.K.Sivarajan, Social Science Education.