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Issues in Indian Political

Economy

COMMUNALISM

FYBSc; SSE

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Defining Communalism

Communalism- intervening in politics toprotect the interests of a particularcommunity; In India communalism is referred

in context of inter-religious conflict Communalism is an ideology based on the

belief that Indian society is divided intoreligious communities, whose economic,

social and cultural interests diverge are evenhostile to each other because of theirreligious differences

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Defining Communalism

It is a belief systemthrough which a society,

economy and polity are viewed and

explained; and around which politics is

organised. As an ideology it is similar toracism, fascism

Involves conversion of religious community

into political community

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Features of Communalism as an Ideology

Communalism tries to create a cohesive,

homogenouscommunity

Homogenisation involves each community

developing its own perspective about thehistory

Homogenisation also involves accepting or

discarding certain traditions Existence of the otheris actively cultivated

as a symbol of hatred

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Features.

Communal politics seeks to identify a person

with reference to only religious identity, it

seeks to eliminate other identities;

homogenous identity is used for politicalpurpose; religious identities are played up

Violence is legitimised and justified

Impose a model cultural dominancee.g. Opposing Valentines Day; Books and

Films

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Features.

Communal Violence and Communal Ideology

Communal ideology involves spread of

communal thoughts and ideas

Communal violence occurs when communal

ideology reaches its peak, when insecurities

and fears intensify

Ideology can exist without violence, hence itoften gets ignored

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Communalism and Democracy

Communalism has no faith in democracy; it is

critical of democracy

But communalism has an instrumental view

of democracy; it is used to participate inpolitics. Democracy provides the space for

all kind of ideologies to exist including

communalism. Hence democracy has to beconstantly safeguarded and nurtured

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Communalism: a reaction to Modernity?

Modernisation:a process which upholdsnew, secular identities like nationality,citizenship, consumer or global citizen.

Traditional identities based on religion, casteand language are no longer important

Modernity emphasises on democracy, masspolitics; here communalism uses religion to

mobilise people Advanced Capitalist Society; growing

insecurities

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Causes of Communalism.

Social Transitions

Various social institutions are breaking down-

neighbourhood, social clubs and other non-

religious associations are weakening

Political Parties have failed to act as bodies

that provide people direction and cohesion

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Causes of Communalism in India

The Economic Realm Communalism has social and economic

roots; various social strains have beencreated due to the pattern of economic

development Post-1947- economic growth has occurred

but problems of inequality, unemploymentand deprivation remain

Middle class, the urban poor and the pettybourgeoisie- groups most vulnerable tocommunalism

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Muslim Communalism

After independence, the leaders of MuslimLeague in India either joined the Congress orquit politics; only in Kerala and Tamil NaduML organised as Indian Union Muslim

League Till 1960s Muslims mostly voted for the

Congress, but then their role as vote-bankgot fractured

Pre-independence- Muslim Leagueleadership comprised of educated middle-class and intelligentsia

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Muslim Communalism.

Post independence, the leadership passed

onto conservative element. Hence post-1947

Muslim demands have been religious and

symbolic Muslim Personal Law, Shah Bano case; role

of the Shahi Imam in Muslim politics

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Hindu Communalism Hindutva- is a form of Hindu cultural nationalism; it is

political philosophy of the Hindu Right Wing

V.D. Savarkar spoke aboutpitrubhumi (fatherland)and punyabhumi (holy land)

Assimilationism- try to reconvert all non-Hindu tothe Hindu fold; Savarkar spoke about ending thecaste system- not for reform purpose but to identifythe dalits as Hindus. Similarly they referred Sikhism,Buddhism and Jains as sects of Hinduism

On same grounds tribals are claimed to be Hindus.Prefer to use the term Vanvasi rather than Adivasi

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Hindu Communalism post-1990s

Babri Masjid and the 2002 Gujarat riots- defining

moments of Hindu Communalism

More public mobilisation; violence was no longer

used as retaliation, but now was actively initiated,used as tool

Use of CDs, Internet

Women being recruited- Durga Vahini, active

involvement during the Gujarat riots Hindus mobilised as political actors and not as

believers

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Conclusion

There is a need to rethink the nature of

secularism in India

Instead to being imposed from above/by the

state; secularism should emerge from below;it should emerge from a dialogue among

various communities

Idea of religious tolerance

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Readings:

Chapter 35 Revival and Growth of

Communalism; in India SinceIndependence; Penguin, 2007

Extra reading:

Chapter 2 Politics of Hindutva and the

Minorities; in Power and Contestation-

India since 1989; Nivedita Menon andAditya Nigam; Orient Longman, 2008