- Institutional communalism can be defined as the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people belonging to minority religions.
- In particular Institutional communalism in India goes beyond the ‘extremist’ political, social and cultural organisations promoting it. It has come to pervade all the major institutions of the country.
- This is to mean that the majority has accumulated social and cultural capital, and hence economic and political capital, by the simple fact of being socially and culturally positioned as a majority.
- Institutional communalism is, therefore, the exercise of accumulated power – the power of its social/cultural/political/economic capital – by the majority.
- (Social capital has been defined as the sum of the resources that accrue to an individual or a group by virtue of possessing a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition, which provides each of its members with the backing of the collectively-owned capital, a “credential” which entitles them to credit, in the various senses of the word. For example, financial credit, trust etc.)
- Further, the work of psychologists suggests that biases in favour of the dominant groups/ against the minorities affects judgments and decision making. Even in selection processes, the decision makers tend to favour those who are “like them”.
- Institutional communalism in India, that is to say Hindu majoritarian bias, pervades the Indian constitution, bureaucracy, security forces, parliamentary institutions, judiciary, prisons, academic institutions, health services, media, and the cultural and art organisations.
- There is a reasonable amount of evidence and research already in circulation, which indicates the pervasiveness of Hindu–communalist bias in a range of institutions in India.
- In India with nearly 81% share of the population being Hindu and most institutions of power being dominated by upper caste Hindus, there is an inbuilt bias towards privilege of Hindus but almost non-existent institutional mechanisms to counteract this inbuilt bias.
- The National Minorities Commission doesn’t have enough power or proper tools to closely watch unfair treatment against religious minorities. The Sachar Committee, which made a report in 2006, looked into how Muslims in India were doing economically, socially, and in education. They pointed out that there were things in place that were making it hard for Muslims to progress.
- The challenge is, therefore, bigger than just inflicting electoral defeats on communal parties and organisations. Even if such parties are defeated electorally, institutional communalism remains pervasive in varying degrees in India’s Constitution, judiciary, civil services, electoral and parliamentary institutions, security forces, prisons, academia, media, corporate business, and even non-governmental organisations. It will continue as a social, cultural and politico-economic force to disadvantage the lives of minority communities in India.
FAQs
1. What is institutional communalism?
Institutional communalism refers to the systemic propagation of communal ideologies and practices within formal institutions such as governments, educational systems, or religious organizations. It involves the promotion of communal interests or the marginalization of certain communities within the framework of these institutions.
2. How does institutional communalism manifest in politics?
Institutional communalism in politics often involves the exploitation of communal identities for electoral gains. Political parties may engage in divisive rhetoric or policies that cater to specific religious or ethnic groups, fostering polarization and undermining the inclusive functioning of democratic institutions.
3. What are the impacts of institutional communalism on society?
Institutional communalism can exacerbate social tensions, leading to conflicts and violence between different religious or ethnic groups. It hampers social cohesion, undermines trust in institutions, and impedes the development of a harmonious multicultural society. Moreover, it can perpetuate discrimination and hinder the progress of marginalized communities.
4. How does institutional communalism affect education?
In education, institutional communalism can manifest through biased curriculum content, discriminatory practices, or the segregation of students based on religious or ethnic backgrounds. It impedes the promotion of secular and inclusive values, hindering students’ holistic development and fostering intergroup prejudices.
5. What measures can be taken to combat institutional communalism?
Combatting institutional communalism requires concerted efforts at various levels. This includes promoting secularism and inclusivity in institutional frameworks, implementing strict regulations against hate speech and discriminatory practices, fostering interfaith or intergroup dialogue, and promoting education that emphasizes universal values of tolerance, empathy, and respect for diversity. Additionally, promoting political accountability and strengthening democratic institutions can help mitigate the influence of communal forces in governance.
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