Hindi ‘ English

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ethnicity
(Ethnicity)

will learn:
In this chapter we
meaning of ethnicity
groups
Constitution of India and ethnic
ethnic conflict
ethnic conflicts
Solution to the problem of

An ethnic or racial group is defined as a group of people who are

perceived by themselves as well as others as having certain cultural
characteristics that distinguish them from other groups in society. Membership
of such groups is based on common national origin, religion, language
and region.
Race and ethnicity are two different concepts. Sometimes they are
mistaken for the same thing. Racial characteristics (zoological characteristics,
such as height, complexion, hands, length of legs, hair texture, eye color, etc.)
used to identify
are used to identify race, while racial characteristics are
traditions
ethnicity. Cultural characteristics, such as religion, language, occupation, customs,
and form of politics etc. are also taken into consideration. In fact, the word
ethnicity was created as an antonym of race.
meaning of ethnicity
(Meaning of Ethnicity)
Ethnicity or ethnicity is a specific and separate socio-cultural category which is
composed of similar language, religion, race (appearance) and culture (food, drink,
 241

It is characterized by qualities like Va). While the concept of ethnic group

emphasizes on some strong cultural characteristics and patterns of behavior of the group that
ifferentiate it from other groups in the society, the concept of ethnicity also emphasizes
on social discrimination differences. When the characteristics of an ethnic or
racial group are used as the basis of economic discrimination and other groups are treated
like non-fraternity (oppression, exploitation etc,), then it is called ethnicity
or casteism.

During Hitler's time in Germany, Jews were treated in a similar manner,

which was plagued by a sense of racism. Similarly, the demand for independence
by the constituent parts of the Soviet Union in the last decades is also based on ethnicity.

Yes, one ethnicity can include castes and also more than one religion. Even
though Tamil-speaking Mustamans, Hindus and Christians have their own worship systems,
they are referred to as 'Samil ethnicity.
Constitution of India and ethnic groups
(Constitution of India and Ethnicity Group)
After India became independent in 1947, Dr. Bhimrao was appointed Chairman
of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution and Law Minister in the government. Various

committees were formed to discuss important topics. of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Aminority committee was formed under his chairmanship.

Constitutional arangements are contained in five parts. Various provisions of the

Constitution are related to many aspects of life, such as right to equality, any kind of discrimination
on the basis of religion, caste, sex, place of birth etc. is banned and
everyone is allowed to practice their religion openly. Went. By the 17th Act of the
Constitution, the inhuman practice of untouchability was banned and any kind
of untouchable conduct was made punishable by law.
Provisions were also made for minorities in the Constitution. Although the Constitution
has not specifically defined the term minority. There is mention of freedom for
minorities because freedom from any kind of disability is included in the fundamental
rights. According to the Constitution, any group whose number is less than 50
percent of the population can be called a minority. But this does not larify
the meaning of the word minority because less than 50 percent of the population is
meant in the context of a specific area or in the context of the whole of India. But in
the Minority Act, except Hinduism, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
all
other religions have been called minorities.
 ethnicity
are given
of minorities
249 the interests
Constitution passed for
of the
Some of the acts
discriminatory situations in the context
below specific any
Act 15 explains there is a ban on exploiting
In this, restrictions
religion, caste, race, sex etc. imposing some
of exploiting any group by earlier.
citizen or mentioned
to any provides that citizens have the right to preserve
reason
etcBond
d Act 29 (1)
language, script or culture. minorities
their distinct gives the right to linguistic and religious
AshtaAdityanam 3O(1)
institutions.
educational people
own Constitution is that
to run their behind giving guarantee to minorities by the The
The main reason linguistic identity in the country.
religious and
of these classes
can maintain their as divisive but saw it
did not consider this uniqueness
Constitution minorities
framers of the Indian
diversity of India. He felt that the
contribution to the unity in made partners in
as a positive position. Therefore, if they have to be
disadvantageous Scheduled
were at a
need protection. Making laws for
of the country, they socially and
economically
the development Classes meant that
Other Backward forward.
Castes, Tribes and an opportunity to move
given
disadvantaged groups should be and reservation
of minority rights
both the issues
In Indian society, becoming more and mnore
sensitive. On
classes are debate and
policy for backward the focus of divisive
have been
these issues
many occasions, both
destructive violence.
ethnic conflict
(Ethnicity Conflict)
across ethnic boundaries have not
minorities and social relations
The rights granted to of violence
violence between ethnic groups. Over the years, incidents
prevented incidents of this
of
groups have occurred from time to time. Incidents
and conflict between ethnic government. Here the question
arises that
violence are a matter of concern for the
type of become
suddenly
together peacefully for many decades
why people who have been living
behind these incidents are religion or language.
against each other. The obvious reasons

linguistic conflict

(Conflict on Languages)
regarding
last few years, there has been an atmosphere of tension and conflict
In the
in an ethnic society divided into small parts
by the government
language. A widespread national movement
 awareness
243
The desire to start over created tension in many parts of the country. The government chose
Hindi as the national language to create a national community by establishing unity among
members of different ethnic groups. This effort of unity in diversity' had an adverse effect on
the people of India. Before us, widespread violence broke out in Tamil Nadu in the south and
there were terrible riots on the question of Hindi. Non-Hindi speaking people say that the
language policy of the government is in the interest of Hindi speakers. This will give them
dominance in economic institutions and hence they will have political power. Another example of
such conflict is the linguistic conflict in Assam.
In Assam too, in 1972, riots broke out between immigrant Bengali Hindus and the local
Assam community. The Assamese had demanded that the option of giving answers in Bengali language in
the examinations should be abolished. Due to this, similar riots took place even after complete
independence. Whereas the Assamese had demanded to make their language a regional language.
These conflicts need to be seen within the economic and political structure of Assam.
Three communities dominate different parts of the economic sector in Assam. One of them
is the Bengali Muslims who have come from Bangladesh who either work in
tea gardens or take care of their land. Second are Marwaris who have monopoly on trade
and third are Bengali Hindus who have come from West Bengal. They dominate the
administrative services. The people of Assam are unable to handle these tasks because they
lack the skills and necessary contacts. They are not even in a position to handle
the work of moneylenders of Marwaris. Secondly, they lack education so they cannot work

in administrative services. Thirdly, they do not want to work in areas like tea
plantations etc. due to low wages.

religious conflict
(Religious Conflict)
The emergence of religious conflict in India is linked to the arrival of Muslims
in this country. But it is not right to make such a theory because communalism, in a
socio-political form, is a gift of the modern era. Tension existed between Hindus
and Muslims even before colonial rule. The reason was to snatch the property
of
and dominance of Hindus and Muslims (in Malabar). But later, the introduction
imperialists
the election policy of the British rulers and the 'divide and rule' policy of the
competition and
gave more importance to these tensions. This increased the feeling of
emergence of the Muslim
hostility between the two communities, resulting in the
leaders believed that
League and later the formation of Pakistan. Although the nationalist
communal problems would be resolved after independence, their view proved to

be wrong.
 ethnicity
(241
"Muslim conflict in Moradabad, (Uttar Pradesh) August 1980 was the
communal riots in Moradabad in
The apparent cause of
occasion of Eid prayers. About fifty thousand
arrival of a pig on the Qutba. At the same time a pig entered
listen to the
people had gathered to and violated the sanctity of prayer. After this
Muslims
here. This hurt the sanctity of rape and arson. made by a class
mad mob went on looting,
incident, the
revenge out of anger and murders.
The other class took
(Godhra incident)
"Hindu-Muslim conflict in Gujarat Muslims came to the fore in the
form of Godhra incident
between Hindus and
Similarly, in 2002, the conflict fall of
communal tension increased. The
there was huge loss of life and property and
in Gujarat, in which
incident.
considered to be the Godhra
the government was
in Punjab
Conflict between Hindus and Sikhs Hindus and Sikhs we have to face a
of
When we look at the situation Punjabi Hindu
marriages take place between Hindus and Sikhs. In
problem. In Punjab, initiated into Sikhism. The
traditional
for a boy to be
families, it is not unusual Hindus and Muslims is not
found
relations between
bitterness that is found in conflict arises between the
sometimes fierce
anywhere among Hindu Sikhs. Yet
two communities conflict
aspirations of the upper class of Sikhs and are in
The Akalis represent the separate Indian nationalism from
class Hindus of Punjab. The growing need to
support from affluent Sikhs,
with the upper
support and financial
the mainstream receives are divided into three classes,
these are the extremist
abroad. Today the Sikhs
especially those living the third middle class or
conservative ideology and
Sikhs, the Sikhs who support
two ideologies.
are different from the above
ordinary Sikhs who communal
it is clear that these ethnic conflicts are due to organized
Therefore, organizations
with the masses, these organized
organizations. To connect this struggle these
forward with the support of political parties. In this way
generally come no
organizations take the form of institutions. Ethnic conflicts indicate that
communal conflict,
may be the apparent cause of ethnic
matter how language, region or religion
disparities are not their root cause at all. Opposing economic and political
cultural
these conflicts. Generally, tension
interests are the underlying root causes of economic
it is not getting equal status in the
starts when the minority group feels that
majority group. Then that group activates its
or political field as compared to the
against the group which has influence
ethnic group and inspires it to fight
there.
 phylogeny 245

Solution to the Problem

of Ethnicity Conflicts
Considering a coherent and effective response to an ethnic conflict would seek
to find a common and single cause responsible for the conflict between the
two groups. Some people believe that as long as economic inequalities among
people persist, these conflicts will also persist. Since economic inequalities among
people cannot be easily eliminated, ethnic conflicts also cannot be easily
prevented.
Some others are of the view that some immediate effective measures can be taken

before finding long term solutions for these institutions. Those who are in favor of this are
of the view that to maintain communal harmony, first of all the reasons for instigating
these riots should be identified. These reasons could be- (1) rumours,
(2) feeling of suspicion towards other communities and (3) inciting communal sentiments
among people by religious meetings, local political parties and so-called leaders etc.
To control these emotions, it is necessary to encourage people. Their
mental perspective should be broadened. Their minds should be kept
away from communal sentiments and they should be made tolerant towards
others. To achieve this, people of diferent communities should be encouraged
to interact. This willhelp us understand people from other communities
and also reflect or become aware of our own disabilities. Possibilities to
control them will also arise.

Those in favor of these measures are of the view that they should participate
more in each other's cultural celebrations, especially festivals and other events. People who live

in trouble prone areas should be made to understand that they should not believe in
rumors unless they have concrete evidence for the same. This increases
no
stress. The process of maintaining communal harmony is extremely important,
matter how temporary it may be. No matter how much patience is required for
public so that they
this. For this, there will be a need to reach out to the general
can be motivated and socialized.