UP PCS Mains-2024

Approach Define the meaning of Communalism and show how it is a threat to social harmony. Explain Secularism highlighting how it can counter the threat posed by Communalism. Conclude suitably.

Introduction

Communalism, in a broad sense means a strong attachment to one’s own community. It is a sense of superiority where one’s religious interest is seen as antagonistic to others. In India’s popular discourse, it is understood as unhealthy attachment to one’s own religion.

The positive aspect of communalism stands for the affinity of an individual towards his own community involving efforts for the social and economic upliftment of his community. However, in negative connotation, it is an ideology which emphasizes the separate identity of a religious group in relation to other groups with a tendency to promote its own interests at the expense of the others.

Body

Communalism poses potential threat to the social fabric in the following forms:

• Creates divisions in society: Communalism is often defined as a political doctrine that makes use of religious and cultural differences in achieving political gains.
• Diverts the focus from the development: Communal hatred shifts the focus from development, promotes class divisions, which leads to poverty and unemployment that further aggravates insecurity in the common men which makes them vulnerable to political manipulation.
• Politics of Appeasement: Prompted by political considerations, and guided by their vested interests, political parties take decisions which promote communal violence.
• Minorities versus Majority conflict: The lack of inter-personal trust and mutual understanding between two communities often result in perception of threat, harassment, fear and danger in one community against the members of the other community, which in turn leads to fight, hatred and anger phobia. The insufficient representation of any one community in the public offices and industry has led to the feeling of relative deprivation among them. This shows the seed of disharmony in society.
• Creates Law and Order problem: Communal tension disturbs peace and order in the society. This leads to the breakdown of administrative machinery and thus, creates law and order problems.
• Indoctrination of the young minds: The most potent threat of communalism is brainwashing of youth for vested interest by religious propaganda.
• Threat to National Integration: Communalism promotes the sense of insecurity and fear in the minds of members of a community. This dilutes the common binding force.
• Mingling of Religion and Politics that is mobilization of votes on grounds of primordial identities like religion, caste and ethnicity, has put Indian secularism in danger.

George Jacob Holyoake in his book ‘The Principles of Secularism’ defines secularism as neutrality towards religion, promoting secular morality in the form of truth, honesty, empathy, non-violence. He says that secularism is about promoting rationality and scientific temper which is free from dogmas and superstitions.

Secularism is the response to the threat posed by communalism:

• Constitutional Provisions on Secularism
  • Preamble: Declares India a secular state, ensuring no preference for any religion.
  • Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law.
  • Article 15: Prohibits discrimination on religious grounds.
  • Article 25-28: Guarantees freedom of religion while maintaining public order.
  • 42nd Amendment (1976): Explicitly added the word "secular" to the Preamble.
• Judicial Safeguards Against Communalism
  • Kesavananda Bharati Case (1973): Established secularism as a Basic Structure of the Constitution.
  • S.R. Bommai Case (1994): Ruled that secularism means equal treatment of all religions by the state.
• Policy Initiatives to Uphold Secularism
  • Special Marriage Act, 1954: Allows interfaith marriages without religious conversion.
  • Sachar Committee Report (2006): Highlighted socio-economic disparities among minority communities, prompting the implementation of targeted welfare schemes

Conclusion

Fundamental Duties given under Article 51A oblige all the citizens to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood, to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. Indian political setup allows representation from all the sections of the society. There is a need to give more space to the progressive voice of every society. Indian secularism is not an end in itself but a means to address religious plurality and seek to achieve peaceful coexistence of different religions.