Communalism

Communism its cause effect in Indian Society

1. COMMUNALISM & FUNDAMENTALISM Group Members: Aishwarya Soundarya Meryl Ronson Shveta Vivek Shivanand Treasa

2. What is 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 is associated with religious fundamentalism and dogmatism.

3. Definition of Communalism Ram Ahuja says “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”. Abdul Ahmed says “Communalism is a social phenomenon characterized by the religion of two communities, often leading to acrimony, tension and even rioting between them”.

4. Prabha Dixit says “Communalism is a political doctrine which makes use of religious and cultural difference to achieve political ends”.

5. Characteristics of Communalism Communalism is an ideological concepts; It has a broader base which encompasses social, economic and political aspects for its manifestation; It causes rivalry, violence and tension among masses; It strikes at the roots of democracy, secularism and national integration.

6. Causes of communalism Minorities fails 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 of their religion. They fails to generate the appropriate national ethos. The orthodox members of minorities feel that they have a distinct entity with their own cultural pattern, personal law and thought. Such feelings prevented them from accepting the concept of secularism and religious tolerance.

7. The British rule which produced the divide and rule policy, separate people on the basis of religion strengthen the basis of communalism in India. Ultimately the partition of the country into India and Pakistan provided further an antagonistic feeling toward each other. The majority of minorities communities has failed to adopt the scientific and technological education. Due to this they have not been represented sufficiently in public service, industry and trade etc. This causes the feeling of relative deprivation and such feelings contain the seeds of communalism.

8. There is no cultural similarities between majority and minority communities in India which is a powerful factor in fostering amicable relation. The social institutions, practices of both group are so divergent that they think themselves to be two distinct communities. One of the major psychological factor which play important role in the development of communalism is that Hindus think that Muslims are fundamentalist and not patriotic. On the other hand Muslims feel that they are being treated as second rate citizens in India.

9. Religion-based politics, religion-dominated political organizations, canvassing in elections based on religious considerations, political justification of communal violence and hated speech of political leaders are important cause of communalism. Some foreign countries try to destabilize our country by setting one community against the other through their agents. Alien invasions, damage to religious institution, old temple and mosque conflict, suppression by other religious ruler are also a factor for rise in communalism.

10. Communal Violence In India Communal violence is a mass mobilization of one religion people against other religion people. The movement are unpredictable, uncheckable and carry an emotional fury. Communal riot are more politically motivated Communal riots seems to be more common in northern India than in southern India. Out of major 58 riots in India only 13 were in south and east India. Most communal riots take place on the occasion of festivals.

11. Eradication of communalism Political parties which thrive on religious loyalties should be banned by the government. Feelings of nationalism should be inculcated in the mind of people by reminding them about the glorious moments of history where Hindu, Muslim & Sikh were combined to safeguard the interest of country. Value-oriented education should be emphasized in school and colleges.

12. Effort should be made through mass media for changing the attitude of people toward other communities. Youth organization and other types of associations should be formed in every locality to give opportunity to people of different communities to come closer and know each other. Inter-religion marriages should be appreciated which will lesser the social distance among the members of different religious groups.

13. Fundamentalism Fundamentalism is the type of religious behavior that embraces a central religious text and places it in such a holy, sacred place that it becomes considered infallible and from God rather than man. Fundamentalists take the tenets of their religion so seriously that Earthly evidence will not dissuade them from their religious views. Fundamentalism is often seen as violent, intolerant, backwards, inhuman, and godly.

14. Fundamentalism as a movement arose in the United States among conservative Presbyterian theologians in the late 19 th century and soon spread to the Baptists and other denominations around 1910-20. Its purpose was to reaffirm five key theological tenets, such as the inerrancy of every word of Bible, virgin birth of Jesus, bodily resurrection of Jesus, historical reality of Jesus' miracles, etc. Those who subscribed to these five fundamentals came to know as fundamentalists.

15. Islamic fundamentalists, believe that Islam is based on the Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah and “criticize the tradition, the commentaries, popular religious practices, deviations and superstitions. Islamic fundamentalism has appeared in many countries. Islamic fundamentalist movement have their origin in the late 19 th century. Scholars identify several politically active Hindu movements (RSS, VHP) as part of the “Hindu Fundamentalist”