Revival and Growth of Communalism

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the definitions of secularism and communalism in the context of Indian society and politics.
2. Explore the historical evolution of communalism and its impacts on Indian polity.
3. Recognize the socio-economic factors contributing to the rise of communalism.
4. Assess the role of communal organizations and political opportunism in sustaining communal tensions.
5. Identify the distinction between communal ideology and communal violence.

Communalism and communal parties are deeply embedded in today’s political environment. Electoral mobilization often involves communal appeals, and the nation has seen regular instances of communal riots for nearly three decades. Communalism presents one of the most severe threats to Indian secularism, the unity of the Indian people, and the stability of the nation’s polity.

Defining Secularism and Communalism

Secularism refers to the separation of religion from the state and politics, ensuring that religion is a personal matter. The state should not discriminate based on religion or caste.

Communalism is the belief that Indian society is divided into religious communities with divergent interests. It functions as an ideology akin to racism or fascism, viewing society, politics, and economy through the lens of religious conflict. It fosters hostility between religious groups.

Key Characteristics:

1. Communal ideology precedes communal violence.
2. Communal thinking builds fear, suspicion, and hatred.
3. Communal violence acts as a symptom of the larger communal belief system.
4. The primary goal of communalists is to spread the belief system, rather than incite violence alone.
5. Genocide is not the main aim; the target is mass communalization of people.

Important Note: The presence of communal ideology is often ignored until communal violence erupts, diverting attention from the real issue—the spread of communal beliefs.

Secularism’s Roots in India

The Indian National Movement significantly promoted secularism, despite the partition and the ensuing communal riots. The movement’s leaders, including Gandhiji, Nehru, and others, upheld secularism as a core value. Communal parties performed poorly in the 1950s elections, and communalism remained a marginal force during this period.

Key Developments:

1. Nehru’s commitment and the backing from other national leaders established secularism in the 1950s.
2. The National Integration Council was formed in response to communal riots in the 1960s.
3. Although the 1962 Chinese aggression fostered national unity temporarily, communal forces re-emerged in the mid-1960s.
4. The rise of communal riots marked the increasing strength of communalism.
5. The Bangladesh war in 1971 provided a brief respite from communalism, but communal tensions escalated again by 1978.

Characteristics of Communalism

Communalism has roots in socio-economic and political conditions but distorts reality. It presents itself as a solution to social issues, yet it is a social malady. Indian development has struggled with poverty, unemployment, and inequality, which foster communalism. These socio-economic strains have impacted the middle class, which suffers from competition for scarce resources and employment opportunities.

Key Features:

1. Economic inequality exacerbated communal tensions, especially within the petty bourgeoisie.
2. Rapid social changes after independence led to the breakdown of traditional social structures.
3. Communalism often appeals to old social solidarities, like caste or religion, in times of economic or social distress.
4. The rise of communal ideologies filled the vacuum left by the erosion of older social institutions.

Important Note: The communal problem does not only lie in the economic realm but also in the realm of social transitions, where old societal structures are collapsing without newer ones replacing them adequately.

Long-term and Short-term Causes of Communal Violence

Communalism as an ideology and communal violence need to be distinguished. While communalism grows over time, communal violence is often triggered by specific incidents, such as minor religious disputes or localized conflicts.

Immediate Causes of Communal Violence:

1. Local disputes, like the teasing of a girl or arguments between individuals from different religious groups.
2. Urban poor and lumpen elements are often involved in communal riots due to economic frustration.
3. Criminal gangs sometimes exploit communal riots to settle scores or pursue illegal activities.

State Response:

1. Laxity in state apparatus, especially in the police, has aggravated communal violence.
2. Inadequate and delayed state actions have allowed communal tensions to escalate.
3. Communal forces have made inroads into the state apparatus, leading to bias and inaction during communal riots.

Political Opportunism and Communalism

In recent decades, political parties, including secular ones, have compromised with communal forces for electoral gains. This has legitimized communalism, weakening the legacy of the national movement.

Notable Political Alliances:

1. Congress aligned with the Muslim League in Kerala during the early 1960s.
2. Communist parties allied with the Akali Dal in Punjab and the Muslim League in Kerala.
3. In the 1977 elections, the Jan Sangh became part of the Janata Party government, reflecting further political compromises with communal forces.

Important Note: A major consequence of these alliances was the legitimization of communalism, making it more acceptable in Indian politics.

Hindu and Muslim Communalisms

In the 1980s, Hindu communalism began adopting strategies from pre-1947 Muslim communalism, particularly by emphasizing religious issues. The Babri Masjid–Ram Janmabhoomi controversy became the focal point of Hindu communal politics.

Key Events:

1. 1983: The VHP began demanding the liberation of Ram Janmabhoomi, leading to increased tensions.
2. 1986: The district judge’s decision to open the mosque to Hindu worshippers caused communal riots across the country.
3. 1989: The VHP launched a campaign to start construction of a Ram temple at the site of the Babri mosque.
4. 1992: The mosque was demolished by BJP-VHP volunteers, resulting in widespread communal riots, claiming over 3,000 lives.

Important Note: Although the Babri Masjid–Ram Janmabhoomi issue appears to be religious, it is primarily a political manipulation of religion to advance communal politics.

Role of the Indian State and Secularism

Despite the rise of communalism, India remains largely secular. Communal ideology has not yet become the dominant mode of thought. Indian society’s secular fabric has prevented the permanent polarization of religious communities.

Key Aspects:

1. Opportunistic parties have occasionally pandered to communal sentiments, but most political parties have remained secular.
2. The Indian state has generally opposed communalism, though it has not always acted with the necessary political will.
3. State neutrality has prevented communalism from gaining total dominance, unlike in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and fascist regimes in Italy and Germany.

Important Note: Communal movements cannot succeed without state support. The Indian state’s opposition to promoting communal ideology has been a significant barrier to the rise of communalism.

Hindu and Muslim Communalisms: A Comparative View

MCQ: Which factor primarily fuels communal violence in India?

• a) Religious diversity
• b) Spread of communal ideology
• c) Economic development
• d) Population explosion
  Answer: b) Spread of communal ideology