Communalism
Share
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this user should be reported.
“What do you think is the most pressing social issue in our community?”
A social issue or social problem is an unfavorable condition that has a negative impact on people’s personal or social lives or on various societal groups. People may have different views about these issues and how they can be tackled more effectively. For example, a social problem might be best resRead more
A social issue or social problem is an unfavorable condition that has a negative impact on people’s personal or social lives or on various societal groups. People may have different views about these issues and how they can be tackled more effectively. For example, a social problem might be best resolved by actions being applied to the issue as a whole as opposed to addressing each person as an individual case.
Violence
In a nutshell, violence is the use of force that is intended to cause harm which can be either physical, psychological, or both (including gender-based violence). violence represents one of the most significant social issues with the potential to seriously affect both people and entire societies. Violence has far-reaching effects; it can destabilize regions and be the cause of humanitarian catastrophes in areas with vulnerable communities.
See lessWhat were the main reasons behind the rise and fall of the Roman Empire?
The rise and fall of the Roman Empire can be attributed to several key factors. Initially, its rise was propelled by a combination of effective governance, military prowess, engineering innovations (such as roads and aqueducts), and a strategic expansionist policy that allowed it to accumulate vastRead more
The rise and fall of the Roman Empire can be attributed to several key factors. Initially, its rise was propelled by a combination of effective governance, military prowess, engineering innovations (such as roads and aqueducts), and a strategic expansionist policy that allowed it to accumulate vast territories and resources. The Roman military, organized and disciplined, ensured territorial stability and facilitated economic growth through trade and agriculture across its vast domain. However, internal factors such as political corruption, economic instability due to over-reliance on slave labor and the depletion of resources, and societal decay including declining moral values contributed to its eventual decline. External pressures such as invasions by barbarian tribes, particularly in the 5th century AD, further weakened the empire’s defenses and contributed to its fragmentation. Additionally, administrative inefficiency and the division of the empire into Western and Eastern halves weakened its ability to respond cohesively to external threats. Ultimately, the combination of internal weaknesses and external pressures led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, although the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire continued for nearly a millennium thereafter
See lessStock market
Individual investors’ decisions in the stock market are heavily influenced by several psychological factors. One major factor is herd behavior, where investors follow the actions of others, leading to rapid price increases or drops based on perceived trends rather than fundamental analysis. This canRead more
Individual investors’ decisions in the stock market are heavily influenced by several psychological factors. One major factor is herd behavior, where investors follow the actions of others, leading to rapid price increases or drops based on perceived trends rather than fundamental analysis. This can cause significant market volatility as prices swing sharply with shifts in sentiment.
See lessOverconfidence is another factor. Investors often overestimate their knowledge and ability to predict market movements, leading to excessive trading and risk-taking. This behavior can inflate stock prices beyond their intrinsic value, eventually causing corrections when reality sets in.
Loss aversion describes investors’ tendency to fear losses more than they value gains. This can lead to panic selling during market downturns, exacerbating declines and increasing volatility. Conversely, greed can drive investors to hold onto stocks too long, hoping for higher returns, which can result in sharp sell-offs when the market turns.
Anchoring is when investors rely too heavily on the initial piece of information they encounter, such as a stock’s past performance, ignoring new data that might suggest a different direction.
These psychological factors contribute to unpredictable market behavior, making stock prices more volatile and sometimes misaligned with the underlying economic fundamentals. Understanding these factors is crucial for both investors and market analysts to better navigate the complexities of the stock market.
How has communalism has its roots in relative deprivation and regionalism?
Communalism can be fueled by both relative deprivation and regionalism, creating a sense of "us vs. them" that can lead to conflict. Here's how: When a group feels they have fewer resources (economic opportunities, jobs, education) compared to another group, resentment can build. This feeling of beiRead more
Communalism can be fueled by both relative deprivation and regionalism, creating a sense of “us vs. them” that can lead to conflict. Here’s how:
When a group feels they have fewer resources (economic opportunities, jobs, education) compared to another group, resentment can build. This feeling of being unfairly left behind can be exploited by political leaders who scapegoat other communities for their own problems. Strong regional identities can sometimes lead to a sense of competition or even animosity towards other regions. This can be particularly true if there’s a perception that one region is favored by the government or receives more resources. Regional political parties may exploit these feelings to gain power, potentially using religious differences to further divide the population.
Relative deprivation and regionalism can often reinforce each other. For instance, a region with a distinct cultural identity may also have a high level of poverty. This combination can create a potent mix of resentment towards outsiders who are perceived as benefiting from the region’s resources. The partition of India in 1947 is a historical example where religious and regional tensions fueled by relative deprivation contributed to a violent conflict.
See lessWhat are the major features of communalism? Can it be said that these features themselves pose a challenge to Indian democracy?
Communalism is an ideology based on the belief that Indian society is divided into religious communities, whose economic, political, social and cultural interests diverge and are even hostile to each other because of their religious differences. K.M. Ashraf calls this “Mazhab ki siyasi dukandari”( pRead more
Communalism is an ideology based on the belief that Indian society is divided into religious communities, whose economic, political, social and cultural interests diverge and are even hostile to each other because of their religious differences. K.M. Ashraf calls this “Mazhab ki siyasi dukandari”( political trade in religion). Communalism has been a burning issue examined by various scholars. Several key features have emerged from that examination. According to Bipan Chandra, there Communalism has three key elements or stages: <ol> <li>First, it is the belief that people who follow the same religion have common secular interests, that is, common political, economic, social and cultural interests. This is the first bedrock of communal ideology. From this arises the notion of socio-political communities based on religion. It is these religion-based communities, and not classes, nationalities, linguistic-cultural groups, nations or such politico-territorial units as provinces or states that are seen as the fundamental units of Indian society .</li> <li>The second clement of communal ideology rests on the notion that in a multi-religious society like India, the secular interests, that is the social, cultural, economic and political interests, of the followers of one religion are dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the followers of another.</li> <li>The third element of communalism is reached when the interests of the followers of different religions or of different ‘communities’ are seen to be mutually incompatible, antagonistic and hostile. The communalist asserts at this stage that different religions cannot have common secular interests, that their secular interests are bound to be opposed to each other.</li> </ol> <h3>Impacts Of Communalism</h3> <ol> <li>Breakdown of Social Cohesion and civic life as communities become hostile to each other and there is widespread mistrust.</li> <li>Everyday Communalism: According to Sudha Pai, Communalism today has become normalised through small and frequent clashes and radicalisation of communities.</li> <li>Violent riots leading to loss of life and property: Gujarat 2002, Delhi 2020, Muzaffarnagar Riots.</li> <li>Ghettoisation, i.e., communities living in segregated and isolated parts of the city or village.</li> <li>Politics of opportunism and appeasement, as religious identities are used as the basis of vote appeals rather than development and welfare. Communities are pitted against each other for electoral gains, further increasing hostilities.</li> </ol> <h3>How Communalism Is A Threat To Indian Society</h3> Communalism becomes a threat to democracy when it begins to strain the fabric of social democracy and subvert political democracy. As a phenomenon without leading to any tangible outcome, process or event (like riots or ghettoisation) it may not directly threaten democracy. However, when Communalism becomes active, all-pervasive process with tangible outcomes it threatens democracy through the following processes: <ol> <li>Everyday Communalism undermines social capital and therefore social democracy itself. As Dr Ambedkar would say, without social democracy, political democracy remains a farce.</li> <li>Riots and genocide undermines law and order and the fraternity between communities.</li> <li>Communalism also undermines constitutionalism and constitutional morality.</li> <li>It also subverts the electoral process by promoting vote bank politics based on religious identity.</li> <li>Communalism manifests due to an underlying economic competition for jobs and economic gains can also create deeper economic inequalities in society.</li> <li>Communalism also undermines fraternity by prioritising religious identity over other identities of Indians and reduces people to monolithic entities.</li> </ol> These features of Communalism therefore when combined with other societal processes like politics of opportunism, economic competition for limited jobs and opportunities, inequities of class, and an already weakened sense of fraternity pose a threat to Indian democracy. As a combined force they artificially manufacture a civilisational war between communities. <h3>Way Forward</h3> The challenge of communalism has been a historic one and continues to strain the democratic fabric of the nation. Addressing the threat of Communalism to Indian Democracy is a priority and can be pursued by: 1.Upholding constitutional principles of Equality, justice and fraternity. 2.Reviving the secular ideals of India which encompasses <ol style=”list-style-type: lower-alpha;”> <li>Nehru’s Dharma Nirpekshata.</li> <li>Gandhi’s Sarva Dharma Sambava</li> <li>Ambedkar’s preservation of minority rights.</li> </ol> 3. Addressing the Institutional apathy around communalism, example inaction of police as seen during the 1984 riots. This can be done by substantively implementing Prakash Singh case guidelines for police reforms given by Supreme Court. 4. Introduce dedicated legislation on lines of Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill 2011 . Though Communalism has been a scar on the Indian body politic since before independence, it needs to be eradicated. This can be achieved as Neera Chandhoke would say, by upholding the basic constitutional principles. An institutional bulwark of accountable police, responsive bureaucracy and speedy justice system can complement this pursuit.
See lessThe major paradox of caste today is the rising caste groups/identities, declining caste system. Clarify your argument on this paradox.
India is a land of contrasts as seen in the emerging paradox of caste: the rising caste groups/identities, declining caste system. India’s caste system divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and dharma is among the world's oldest forms of surviving social stratificRead more
India is a land of contrasts as seen in the emerging paradox of caste: the rising caste groups/identities, declining caste system. India’s caste system divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and dharma is among the world’s oldest forms of surviving social stratification (more than 3,000 years old). The Indian caste system is a complex social structure wherein social roles like one’s profession became ‘hereditary,’ resulting in restricted social mobility and fixed status hierarchies. Furthermore, we argue that the inherent property of caste heightens group identification with one’s caste. Highly identified group members would protect the identity of the group in situations when group norms are violated.
Factors Contributing To Decline Of Caste System
Factors For Rising Caste Groups/Identities
1.Development policies targeting the backward castes and scheduled have benefitted only a section of the population who have emerged as the elite. This has created a division within the backward castes with them asserting their caste identity more than before. 2.In place of caste rules, a mythology of the ethno-futures (of caste) that embraces and celebrates caste identities as cultural identities, caste pride as a cultural assertion, and caste endogamy as natural affinity to those who are culturally alike. 3.Viewed as a positive contribution to India‘s cultural diversity, caste is set to enter public policy, not as a problem of inequality, but as a problem of ‘management’ of ethnic and cultural diversity. 4.In contrast to the older structure, various caste communities have asserted themselves and began to politically mobilize by forming political parties based on caste identities. For example- Bahujan Samaj Party. Political mobilization based on caste has been rising. Lingayats’ demand to be considered as a minority community. 5.The welfare policies have led to social stigma among the castes which are not included. These policies have strengthened the caste-based mobilization. For example:
6.The expression of social exclusion and maintaining the caste-based division by the communities has however not vanished but has only become more subtle.For example-
7.Caste is being used as pressure groups for seeking favourable changes in policies e.g. demands for affirmative action by Patels of Gujarat, Marathas of Maharashtra, and Jats of Haryana.
Reasons For The Paradox
The paradox is that despite the declining caste system, the rise in caste groups and caste identities has been observed. These are invoked in public, and persist and flourish in Indian society, not only in matrimonial markets and electoral politics but also in everyday life-shaping access to land, credit, capital, employment, housing and knowledge, prestige, and power. This can be attributed to multiple factors:
The above factors advance the claim that castes can exist without a caste system because caste is fundamentally about ‘social difference’ not hierarchy and it is only the latter that requires a caste system. Further, the existence of castes need not be considered a social problem since caste groups are simply ‘cultural communities’ or ethnicities, and caste identities are cultural identities that enrich India’s diversity. There should be the caste-conscious anti-caste political mobilization of multi-caste groups for critically demanding an anti-caste agenda from the caste-conscious mobilization of jati-clusters for electoral purposes, explicitly reject the liberal disavowal of casteism as a fundamental organizing principle of current Indian society, and recognize the need for anti-caste politics to work through identity towards solidarity.
See lessHow can education and awareness help in reducing communal tensions and promoting harmony among diverse communities?
Education and awareness play vital roles in reducing communal tensions and promoting harmony among diverse communities. Fostering Understanding: Educational programs that include curricula on different cultures, religions, and histories can cultivate empathy and understanding. When individuals learnRead more
Education and awareness play vital roles in reducing communal tensions and promoting harmony among diverse communities.
By prioritizing education and awareness, societies can create environments where diversity is celebrated, leading to stronger, more cohesive communities and reduced communal tensions.
See lessAgriculture
The government's emphasis on organic farming has indeed made a significant impact on agricultural practices in India. By promoting organic farming methods, the government has encouraged sustainable and environmentally friendly practices among farmers, leading to various positive outcomes in the agriRead more
- The government’s emphasis on organic farming has indeed made a significant impact on agricultural practices in India. By promoting organic farming methods, the government has encouraged sustainable and environmentally friendly practices among farmers, leading to various positive outcomes in the agricultural sector.
- One notable example of the impact of the government’s focus on organic farming is the increase in the adoption of organic cultivation techniques by farmers across the country. Through initiatives like the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, farmers have been incentivized to shift from conventional farming methods reliant on chemical inputs to organic practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and sustainability.
- Furthermore, the government’s focus on organic farming has led to an expansion of markets for organic produce both domestically and internationally. Consumers are increasingly valuing organic products for their health benefits and environmental sustainability, creating new opportunities for farmers engaged in organic cultivation to access premium markets and receive better prices for their products.
- Under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), farmers are encouraged to adopt organic farming techniques such as crop rotation, mixed cropping, use of organic manure, and biological pest control methods. By shifting towards organic farming, farmers can improve soil health, reduce environmental pollution, and produce chemical-free, healthier crops.
- The scheme provides financial support to farmers to help them transition to organic farming practices. This support includes assistance for training, capacity building, organic inputs, certification, and marketing of organic produce. By incentivizing the adoption of organic farming, the government is promoting sustainable agriculture practices that benefit both farmers and the environment.
- The impact of the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana can be seen in the increased adoption of organic farming practices across various states in India. Farmers participating in the scheme have reported higher yields, improved soil fertility, reduced input costs, and better market access for their organic produce. Additionally, organic farming helps preserve biodiversity, conserve natural resources, and promote healthier food choices for consumers.
See lessCommunalism in India is a complex issue with deep historical roots and multifaceted causes. Its impact on Indian society is detrimental, fostering divisions, violence, and hindering social and economic progress. Examine.
Communalism was one of the byproducts of colonialism, of the colonial character of the Indian economy, of colonial underdevelopment and, in recent years, of the failure and incapacity of capitalism to develop the economy and society. The lower middle classes were increasingly placed in a position ofRead more
Communalism was one of the byproducts of colonialism, of the colonial character of the Indian economy, of colonial underdevelopment and, in recent years, of the failure and incapacity of capitalism to develop the economy and society. The lower middle classes were increasingly placed in a position of economic misery, lack of opportunity, constant threat to their existing position and increasing breakdown of their class position and social status and value systems. As a struggle it became increasingly sharp and bitter though often frustrating, leading to a sense of social deprivation and a constant fear of loss of status, created an atmosphere of violence and brutality which when triggered off by a religious issue led to communal riots. The petty bourgeois ego got tied up with the protection of such supposed rights – cow or peepal tree protection and music before mosque. Economic stagnation compelled people to compete for scarce opportunities which resulted in a perpetual and increasingly intense and unhealthy competition for jobs. This competition among individuals could be given the turn of being a struggle between two ‘communities’. Government or municipal bodies’ became the main avenue of employment, especially for the educated middle and lower middle classes, possessing little capital or land. Sectional groupings around individual interests became particularly important because they involved politics directly, making communalism ‘fruitful’ in this sphere for wider groups. Constitutional reforms increased the rivalry among classes. Almost all the basic guarantees demanded by the communal leaders for their communities referred to these two aspects. The dependence of the middle classes on government services placed the levers of patronage in the hands of the colonial state and the communal leaders capable of influencing appointments from within or without the administration. This could be used to encourage communalism and discourage nationalism among the job-hungry middle classes. Negotiations on the question of communal reservations enabled the communal leaders to emerge in the public eye as the champions of the ‘interests’ of their respective communities. The failure to fight communalism and communal type movements in post-independence India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can also perhaps be best explained on a similar basis. Communalism neither comprehended the problem correctly nor provided a correct solution.
See lessCommunalism is one of the biggest threats that Indian society faces today. Outline the reasons and highlight some solutions to counter communalism?
Introduction: Communalism, the allegiance to one's own ethnic or religious group rather than to society as a whole, poses a significant threat to Indian society. It undermines the unity and integrity of the nation, leading to social unrest and violence. Reasons for Communalism: Read more
Introduction:
Communalism, the allegiance to one’s own ethnic or religious group rather than to society as a whole, poses a significant threat to Indian society. It undermines the unity and integrity of the nation, leading to social unrest and violence.
Reasons for Communalism:
– Colonial Legacy: British colonial policies of divide and rule fostered religious divisions.
– Partition: The partition of India and Pakistan entrenched religious animosities.
– Vote Bank Politics: Politicians often exploit religious sentiments to secure electoral gains.
– Communal Polarization: Political parties and leaders incite communal sentiments to create vote banks.
– Social Segregation: Lack of social integration among different religious communities.
– Economic Disparities: Economic inequalities and competition for resources exacerbate communal tensions.
– Prejudices and Stereotypes: Deep-rooted prejudices and stereotypes against other communities.
– Fear and Insecurity: Insecurity about cultural and religious identity fuels communalism.
– Sensationalism: Media sometimes sensationalizes communal incidents, inflaming tensions.
– Propaganda: Spread of misinformation and hate speech through social media.
Solutions to Counter Communalism:
– Strict Enforcement: Implement and enforce laws against hate speech and communal violence.
– Judicial Action: Fast-track courts for speedy trials of communal violence cases.
– Inclusive Policies: Promote inclusive development policies that address economic disparities.
– Accountability: Hold politicians accountable for inciting communal tensions.
– Curriculum Reform: Include lessons on communal harmony and national integration in school curricula.
– Awareness Campaigns: Conduct public awareness campaigns to promote communal harmony.
– Interfaith Dialogues: Promote interfaith dialogues and cultural exchanges to foster understanding.
– Community Programs: Encourage community programs that bring different religious groups together.
– Ethical Reporting: Media should adhere to ethical standards and avoid sensationalism.
– Countering Misinformation: Promote fact-checking and responsible use of social media.
Conclusion:
Communalism is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive approach. By addressing the root causes and implementing these solutions, India can strive towards a more united and harmonious society, upholding the values of secularism and pluralism enshrined in its Constitution.
See less