MILLATH

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

(Affiliated to the University of Kerala)

SOORANAD, KOLLAM-690522

––

ASSIGNMENT (SEMESTER-2)

B.ED. COURSE 2013-2014

Submitted to Submitted by

SUBA BASHEER LEKSHMI K Reg.No.13375013 Social Science

TOPIC

COMMUNALISM

INTRODUCTION

Communalism is a challenge to Indian democracy. It is an ideology of

religious fundamentalism. Adherence to a religion orreligious system is not

communalism. On the other hand using a religious community against other

communities and against the nation is communalism. It is a political orientation

that state as the focal point of political allegiance. A communalism is basically

interest in ‘using’ and ‘exploiting’ religion, and that too for political, electoral,

factional or personal purpose. It is in this historical context that communalism

came to acquire the meaning of being opposed to national; of being too narrowly

and negatively attached to one’s own religious community and that too essentially

for political benefits.

THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF COMMUNALISM IN INDIA

In India, communalism led to violence between different

communalism. It served the British to divide and rule. The prevailing religious

differences were first used to project the social and cultural variations and then to

promote political divisions by treating Indians basically not as Indians but as

members of religious communities. The British imperialists exploited the inbuilt

divisions and tensions existing among the religious communities.

COMMUNALISM AS A FACTOR IN INDIAN POLITICS

Communalism has remained with us even after the end of the British

rule, partly because of old traditions and partly because certain elements in our

country continue to use communalism to divide the Indiannation, if it serves their

sectarian or narrow partisan interests. At present communalism manifests itself in

different forms. To use the issues of the past for setting the scores in the present

against another community is communalism. To punish the present generation for

the misdeeds of the past generation is communalism. To punish innocent members

of a community today due to acts of omission or commission of few other

members of the same community in the past, is rank communalism. To attack and

murder an innocent human being in frenzy of riots, only because he belongs to

another community, is the worst form of communalism.

MEASURES TO COMBAT COMMUNALISM AND PROMOTE SECULARISM

To make the democratic system combat communalism and sub serve

the cause of secularism a few suggestions may be made:

1. Communalism has to be fought openly and the national parties should have

no truck with the communal forces. They should subscribe a pre-election

and post-election secular code.

2. Parties which by their polices and practices encourage or promote

communalism should be de-recognized.

3. Education should be so devised as to develop in the students a critical

faculty. It should enable the students to rise above religious bigotry and

obscurantism. Any communal orientation in text books and reading material

prepared for schools should be removed.

4. All police personnel found guilty of neglecting their duty, or conniving or

encouraging communal violence should be punished.

5. Another effective step to combat communalism is punishment to concerned

officers in a locality or district found guilty of dereliction of duty in

controlling communal violence or threat of violence.

6. The mass media, Radio and T.V can play a significant role in combating

communalism and promoting secularism. These mass media should avoid

coverage of News and views likely to promote communal prejudice and

hatred.

CONCULSION

In the end, government and few well-intentioned citizens alone cannot

combat communalism. The writers, the artists, the leaders and all of us should

come forward to preserve and protect the framework of democracy. To protect

their rights, citizens also must shoulder their responsibilities of safeguarding

country’s integrity and unity.

REFERENCE

1. www.google.com

2. Dr.K.Sivarajan, Social Science Education.