In the intricate tapestry of India’s sociocultural landscape, the nuanced interplay between religiousness/religiosity and communalism has been a subject of profound significance. While religiousness/religiosity embodies the personal and spiritual aspects of an individual’s faith, communalism manifests as the politicization and polarization of religious identities, often leading to social discord. This demarcation becomes particularly relevant in the context of independent India, where the coexistence of diverse religious communities has been both a source of strength and a potential breeding ground for communal tensions. A notable example of the transformation from religiousness to communalism can be observed in the case of the Ayodhya dispute. Initially rooted in religious reverence for the birthplace of Lord Rama, the Ayodhya issue gradually evolved into a flashpoint of communal strife. The fervent religious devotion to the sacred site transformed into a catalyst for communal discord, culminating in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. This stark shift from religious sentiments to communal animosity underscores the complex dynamics at play, illustrating how the sacred can be manipulated for political purposes, and religious devotion can metamorphose into a divisive force in the socio-political fabric of independent India. In navigating these intricacies, it becomes imperative to discern the fine line between religiousness/religiosity and communalism to foster a harmonious and pluralistic society.
Tag: Society of India.
Decoding the Question:
- In Introduction, try to start by defining religiosity and communalism.
- In Body,
- Write some difference between communalism and religiosity.
- Discuss how religiosity has got transformed into communalism in independent India.
- In Conclusion, summarize the relationship and suggest a way forward.
Answer:
Through the ages India society has been spiritual and religious and its Indian connotation Dharma has been the guiding force of Indian civilization by setting the standards for personal and social life. Religiosity is the totality of religious beliefs, values, practices and rituals. In other words it is known as having a strong religious feeling or belief. Whereas communalism is an aggressive political ideology linked to religion. Religiosity is as old as religion and civilization itself.
Difference Between Communalism and Religiosity:
| Religiosity | Communalism |
| Religiosity is as old as religion and civilization itself. | Communalism is a newer phenomenon compared to religiosity. It was born during the colonial times, when the British used religious contrasts among different communities to rule over them. |
| Religiosity is Universal | Communalism is a phenomenon mainly confined to the Indian subcontinent, and South Asia. |
| Religiosity is concerned with the worship of God. Religiosity is often accompanied by 1) prayers i.e. petition directed at a supernatural power and 2) rituals i.e. symbolic series of actions to appear the aid supernatural power. | Communalism is a belief system and a social phenomenon wherein, history is interpreted for mobilization of people. It involves the use of sacred symbols, religious leaders, emotional appeal and plain fear in order to bring the followers of one religion together in the political arena. Secularism and egalitarianism are portrayed as abnormal. People belonging to other faiths and religions are portrayed as antagonists. |
| A person usually engages in religiosity to seek help from a supernatural power to solve his problems. Religiosity is the human response to those elements in the life and environment which are beyond his ordinary comprehension. | A person engages in communalism to fulfill the social, economic of his community and or his personal political ambitions. |
| Religiosity by default is not associated with violence, unless the religious tenants themselves require human or animal sacrifice. | In Communalism the religious identity overrides everything else. Anyone who doesn’t share this identity can be attacked verbally or physically. When communalism escalates into communal riots, people become faceless members of their respective communities. They are willing to kill, rape, and loot members of other communities in order to redeem their pride, to protect their home turf or avenge the death of dishonour suffered by their co-religionists elsewhere or even in the distant past. |
How Religiosity has Been Transformed into Communalism in Independent India:
- Role of British – British rule and its policy of Divide and Rule to govern India bore special responsibility for the growth of communalism in modern India.
- Partition and the 2 nation theory – After independence two most important factors fuelled communalism. Firstly, the partition deeply wounded the people’s psyche, Secondly, the resurgence of Hindu-Muslim economic competition fuelled a communal ideology.
- Votebank politics – Political parties, prompted by political considerations, take decisions, which promote communal violence.
- Communal Riots – Communal riots have also taken place after independence. For example: Ram Mandir & Babri masjid demolition issue, cow slaughter issue etc.
The transformation of religiosity into communalism creates serious obstacles to good governance, economic development, and social harmony in our country. Therefore, both the state and the society must prevent any individual, organization or event that encourages such a process. So, for peaceful coexistence in a diversified nation like ours, we should always promote the ideas of religiosity not the idea of communalism. Government programs like Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat etc. are the right steps in the direction of communal harmony in society.
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