Communalism, specifically in the Indian context, is commonly understood as the occurrence of religious differences between groups, often resulting in tension and even violent clashes. It can also manifest in forms of discrimination against religious communities in areas like employment and education.

Features of Communalism

• Communalism is a multifaceted phenomenon characterised by orthodoxy and intolerance.
• It promotes a strong aversion and hostility towards other religions.
• It advocates for the exclusion and eradication of other religions and their values.
• It may resort to extremist tactics, including employing violence against other individuals or groups.
• Communalism exhibits an exclusive outlook, where adherents consider their own religion as superior to others.

Three Stages of Communalism in India

Types of Communalism 

Communalism, an ideology can be classified into:

• Religious Communalism: This type of communalism is based on religious differences and involves the promotion of the interests of one religious community at the expense of others. It can result in religious tensions, discrimination, and conflicts.
• Ethnic Communalism: Ethnic communalism focuses on the interests of a particular ethnic group and can involve the exclusion or marginalization of other ethnic groups. It often leads to identity-based conflicts and challenges to national unity.
• Political Communalism: Political communalism refers to the instrumental use of religious or ethnic identities by political parties or leaders to gain power, mobilize support, or polarize communities for electoral or political gains. It exploits communal divisions for political purposes, leading to communal tensions and conflicts.
• Cultural Communalism: Cultural communalism emphasizes the cultural identity and heritage of a particular group and can result in the marginalization or suppression of other cultural groups. It can manifest in cultural dominance, cultural clashes, or the imposition of a dominant culture on others.
• Economic Communalism: Economic communalism involves the preferential treatment or economic exploitation of a particular religious or ethnic community in terms of access to resources, employment, business opportunities, or economic benefits. It can lead to economic disparities, resentment, and social tensions.
• Regional Communalism: Regional communalism focuses on the interests and aspirations of a particular region or geographic area, often leading to conflicts with other regions. It can involve demands for regional autonomy or the perception of unfair distribution of resources and opportunities between regions.

Factors Leading to the Rise of Communalism in India

 Historical Causes

• Policy of Divide and Rule: The colonial rule of the Britishers implemented a policy of dividing communities along religious lines to maintain control and exploit divisions for their own benefit. For instance, the policy of separate electorates by Morley Minto Reforms.
• Partition legacy: The traumatic experience of partition and the formation of Pakistan based on religious lines have left a lasting impact on communal relations.

 Political Causes

• Communal politics: Politicians exploiting religious sentiments for electoral gains and promoting divisive agendas. g., Recently the Supreme Court raised concerns about Hate speeches
• Failure of secular governance: Ineffective implementation of secular policies and inability to address communal tensions.

Economic Causes

• Socio-economic disparities: Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities leading to feelings of marginalisation among certain communities.
• Economic competition: Perceived competition for limited resources, jobs, and economic benefits leading to communal tensions. g., Issue of alleged illegal migrants consuming local resource and jobs is often seen the context of Assam and Bengal.

Social Causes

• Identity politics: The promotion of religious identity as a primary marker of social and political affiliation, leading to the strengthening of communal divisions.
• Social segregation: Communities living in separate enclaves and limited social interactions contributing to the development of communal attitudes.
• For e.g., Issues like Cow Slaughter, Religious processions often lead to communal clashes

Psychological Causes

• Prejudices and biases: Deep-rooted prejudices, stereotypes, and biases against other religious communities leading to communal tensions.
• Fear and insecurity: Perceptions of threat and fear, fuelled by communal propaganda and incidents, leading to the rise of communalism.

Conclusion

Communalism, with its roots in political, economic, historical, social, and psychological causes, has had a profound impact on Indian society. It has led to divisions, conflicts, and a sense of mistrust among different religious communities. Overcoming communalism requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes and promotes unity, tolerance, and harmony.