This document discusses the topic of communalism in India. It begins with an introduction noting India's religious pluralism and history of tensions between Hindus and Muslims. It then defines communalism as a system of political organization based on communes and federations of independent communities. The document goes on to describe communalism in India as blind loyalty to one's own religious group that is used to mobilize people along communal lines. It lists some key characteristics of communalism such as being ideological, complex, and causing violence. Some causes of communalism discussed are the tendency of minorities like Muslims to not integrate fully and the role of communal leaders in exploiting religious differences for political ends. The conclusion restates that communalism integrates communal ownership and independent

1. ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC: COMMUNALISM
Submitted to Submitted by
Nimmy Varghese Rincy Thomas
BMM II Training College Social Science
Kottarakara BMM II Training College
Kottarakara

2. INTRODUCTION
Indian society is pluralist from of Religion point of view. Here we have the
followers of the great Religious system Indians constitute the bulk of population
and they inhabit in all pairs of the country. Muslims constitute the largest religious
minority. But the adjustment between Hindu and Muslims has been failure several
times resulting in violent communicate role.
DEFINITIONS
Communalism means a principle of political organization based on federated
communes. Communalism usually refers to a system that integrates communal
ownership and federations of highly localized independent communities.

3. MEANING OF COMMUNALISM
Communalism, as we understand it in our country is blind loyalty to one’s
own religious group. It is described as a tool to mobilize people for or against by
raising an appeal on communal lines. Communalism and dogmatism.
Abdul Ahmed says,
“Communalism is a social phenomenon characterized by the religion of two
communities of the leading to acrimony. Tension and even rioting between
them”.Prabha fixit writes, “Communalism is a political doctrine which makes use of
religious and cultural difference to achieve political ends.
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNALISM
1. Communalism is an Ideological concept.
2. It is a complex process.
3. It has a broader base which encompasses social, economic an d political aspects.
For its manifestations.
4. It causes rivalry, violence and tension masses.
5. It is used by the higher classes people and elites as an instrument for division and
exploitation of the communal identities of the poorer section of their co-religion.

4. 6. Communalism is simply engineered by opportunities political and economic
interest of extending groups and functions within a political party or by political
parties.
7. It strikes at the roots of democracy, secularism and national integration.
8. Its effects are disastrous.
CAUSES OF COMMUNALISM
There are number of causes which are responsible for the prevalence of
communalism. Some of two important causes of communalism are discussed below.
1. Tendency of minorities
The Muslims fall to be intermingled in the national mainstream. Most of them do
not participate in the secular nationalistic politics and insist on maintaining for
separate identity the elite among the Muslims have failed to generate the
appropriate national ethos.
2. Design of the leaders
Communalism has flourished in India because the communalist leaders of both
Hindu and Muslims communities desire to flourish it in the interest of their
communities. The demand for separate electorate and the organization of
Muslims leaguer were the practical manifestations of this line of thought. The
British rule which produced the divide and rule policy, separate electorate on the
basis of religion strengthened the basis of communalism in India ultimately the
partition of the country into India and Pakistan provided further an antagonistic
feeling towards each other.

5. 3. Geographical causes
The territorial settlement of different religious groups especially Hindu, Muslims
and Christians causes of them wide variation in the mode of life, social standards
and belief system. Most of these patterns are contradictory and this may cause
communal tension.
CONCLUSION
Communalism usually refers to a system that integrates communal
ownership and federations of highly localized independent communities. It is the
Principles or practices of communal ownership. Communalism is an ideology
which states that society is divided into religious communities whose interests
differ and area 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’
REFERENCES
Eg.wikipedia.org/wiki/communalism
www.mkgandhi.org/.../communalism.htm