Evolution of Communalism in India
Communalism, a force that divides people based on religion, ethnicity, and caste, has had a significant impact on India’s social and political landscape. Its influence can be traced back to the colonial period, the movement for independence, partition, and the post-independence era, leaving a lasting imprint on the country’s history. It is crucial to comprehend the evolution of communalism in India to grasp current issues and find ways to promote peace in society.
Colonial legacy:
Communitarianism has its roots in the exploitation of religious, ethnic, and caste differences under British colonial rule through means such as religious patronage to maintain electoral separation and control. was built by.
Early nationalist movements:
Early Indian nationalist leaders such as Gandhi and Nehru opposed colonialism, despite continued tensions caused by events such as the caliphate movement and Hindu-Muslim riots. It aimed to overcome communal gaps and promote secular ideas.
Partition and Independence:
The partition of India in 1947 was driven by communal tensions, which resulted in massive violence, large-scale immigration, and the formation of India and Pakistan along religious lines, leaving long-term scars in both countries.
Post-Independence Challenges:
Independent India struggled to unite its diverse population in the face of political opportunism, socio-economic inequality, and communalism fueled by external influences, and in 1984 It led to anti-Sikh riots and incidents such as the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992.
Modern Dynamics:
Modern India continues to struggle with communism through religious polarization, hate speech, mass violence, identity politics, and extremist ideology spread through social media, political polarization, and economics It is exacerbated by inequality, urbanization, and globalization, creating new challenges posed by the population. With it comes social cohesion.
Communalism in India
Communalism is a social and political ideology that emphasizes the division between states based on religion, ethnicity, beliefs, etc. In general, historical events like conflicts within communities and religious divisions are the cause. Communalism is a significant social problem in nations like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.
Communalism in India is an essential part of Indian history and has existed much before independence. It came to emerge more aggressively with modern politics which was aggravated by British colonialism and imperialism. There are different instances of communalism, which was used for gaining political advantage as well as creating communal unrest.
Table of Content
- What is Communalism?
- Types of Communalism
- Evolution of Communalism in India
- Factors for the Growth of Communalism in India
- Stages of Indian Communalism
- Why Communalism still persists in India?
- Communal Violence in India
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Communalism