ROLE OF COMMUNALISM AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCE

ROLE OF COMMUNALISM

Introduction

Communalism is when people of different religions or communities go against one another.

Definition

Communalism is an ideology stating the division between states (people, group of people or
communities) on the basis of ethnicity, religion, beliefs and values etc.

The difference of two or more religious, ethnic and social communities can sometimes
produce clashes in society.

Issues attached to communalism

1: it is a threat to national integrity.

2: it is a catalyst for political and social tensions in the state.

3: it leads to division between the people, groups of communities or groups of states in the
country.

4: it is attached to the rivalry of one religion, belief and values etc. against one another's.

5: active hostility or opposition towards others' religions and beliefs often leads to issues in
society.

Types of communalism It is simply defined in three ways:

1. Political communalism
2. Social communalism
3. Economic communalism

Political communalism Social communalism Economic communalism

To survive in the sphere of When the societies’ beliefs The difference in economic
politics, leaders tend to divide these into different interests of the groups of
promote the idea of divisions groups and lead to rivalry people or communities, leading
among the communities. This among each other, it further to further clashes in the
gives rise to political leads to Social Communalism. society, can be termed
communalism where different Economic Communalism.
sets of people are divided into
political lines and ideologies.
Communalism in India

From a religious point of view, Indian culture is pluralistic. Here, we have the adherents of
all the great systems of religion. Hindus are the majority of the population and all areas of
the country are populated by them. The largest religious group consists of Muslims. But at
times, the adjustment between the Hindus and Muslims was a disaster, resulting in violent
communal disturbances.

Millions of people were left homeless during community protests during the time of
independence and millions of others perished. Communalism was in charge of splitting India
and Pakistan. The partition was expected to solve the riddle, but it was unsuccessful. The
living pattern between Hindus and Muslims still needs to be established.

Growth of Communalism in India

Hindus and Muslims had fought shoulder to shoulder during the Revolt of 1857. Till 1870
the British oppressed the Muslims greatly for they held them responsible for the revolt.
After 1870 the British changed colours and instead started favouring the Muslim
community. The rise of nationalism had threatened the British power in India and their
efforts obviously were directed to suppress it.

Sayyid Ahmad Khan played an important role. Though a great educationist and social
reformer, Sayyid Ahmad Khan became towards the end of his life a conservative in politics.
He laid the foundations of Muslim communalism when in the 1880s he gave up his earlier
views and declared that the political interests of Hindus and Muslims were not the same but
different and even divergent.

The Bengal Partition of 1905 is one example of the British’s efforts to add communal shades
to the Hindu-Muslim equation. Announced by Lord Curzon, this reorganized the state of
Bengal based on its population, with Hindus acquiring the west and Muslims acquiring the
east. This partition was undone six years later. However, the seeds of communal differences
had started to take shape.

The separatist and loyalist tendencies among a section of the educated Muslims and the big
Muslim nawabs and landlords reached a climax in 1906 when the All India Muslim League
was founded under the leadership of Aga Khan, the Nawab of Dhaka, and Nawab Mohsin-ul-
Mulk. Founded as a loyalist, communal and conservative political organisation, the Muslim
League made no critique of colonialism, supported the partition of Bengal and demanded
special safeguards for the Muslims in government services.

In 1938 when the congress prohibited communalists from functioning within the Congress
organization, thus the congress was criticized for preaching that Hindus were the only
Nation living in India. This led to the Hindu fundamentalist’s version of ‘two nation theory’.
The ‘two nation theory’ states that the country belongs to only Hindus and the Muslims
should find their own home or should remain obedient to Hindus. And other ‘the Muslim
League’ wherein it states that Pakistan is the only option to protect the interest of Muslims
as it has the maximum population of Muslims.

Causes of Communalism
Here are a variety of factors which are responsible for communalism’s prevalence. Some of
main causes of communalism are discussed below:
1. Tendency of Minorities:
The Muslims are not mixed into the mainstream of the country. Most of them are not
interested in secular nationalistic politics and insist that the elite of Muslims do not establish
the required national ethos.
2. The Leaders’ Design:
Communalism has flourished in India because the communalist leaders of both Hindu and
Muslim communities desire to flourish it in the interest of their communities.
3. Historical Factors:
The Muslims in the subcontinent are converted from Hinduism, because of the caste-hate
ties and the restrictions of Muslim rulers.
4. Social Factors:
Cultural similarity is an important factor in cultivating good relations between two separate
social classes. But Hindus and Muslims’ social institutions, traditions and practises are so
different that they feel that they are two separate groups.
5. Faith difference
Difference of faith among communities is also an important factor.

ROLE OF RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCE

Definition: Religious diversity is the fact that there are significant differences in religious
belief and practice. It has always been recognized by people outside the smallest and most
isolated communities.

Religious differences played a significant role in the evolution of the Two-Nation Theory and
the partition of India. Here's how:

1. Hindu-Muslim divide: The most significant religious difference was between Hindus and
Muslims, which was exploited by political leaders to create a sense of separate identities.

2. Religious identity: Religion became a primary marker of identity, with Hindus and
Muslims seeing themselves as distinct nations with different beliefs, practices, and cultural
traditions.
3. Religious nationalism: Religious differences fuelled religious nationalism, where Hindus
and Muslims began to see their respective religions as the foundation of their national
identity.

4. Muslim fears of Hindu dominance: Muslims feared that a united India would lead to
Hindu dominance and marginalization of Muslims, while Hindus saw a separate Muslim
state as a threat to their own dominance.

5. Hindu-Muslim riots: Religious differences led to numerous violent clashes and riots,
particularly in the 1920s-1940s, which further widened the divide.

6. Religious symbols and practices: Religious symbols and practices became politically
charged, with issues like cow slaughter, music before mosques, and separate electorates
becoming contentious points.

7. Religious leaders' influence: Religious leaders like Shah Abdul Latif and Maulana
Mawdudi played a significant role in shaping Muslim opinion and reinforcing the idea of a
separate Muslim state.

8. British manipulation: The British exploited religious differences to maintain their control
over India, often pitting Hindus and Muslims against each other.

9. Pakistan's creation: The Two-Nation Theory ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan, a
separate homeland for Muslims, which was seen as a safe haven from perceived Hindu
domination.

In summary, religious differences were used to create and reinforce separate identities,
fuelling the demand for a separate Muslim state and ultimately contributing to the partition
of India.