Gender, Religion and Caste | Class 10 Social Science Notes

Religion, communalism and politics

Religious diversity is widespread in India and many other countries, with followers of different religions living together. Religion is a system of beliefs and practices related to the sacred and divine. Religion and politics are often intertwined. For example, Mahatma Gandhi believed that politics must be guided by ethical values derived from religion, not by any particular religion itself. Human rights groups demand government action to prevent communal riots and protect religious minorities. Women’s movements highlight that family laws of various religions discriminate against women and call for reforms.

Religion can play a positive role in politics when it helps express the needs and interests of religious communities and when the state ensures equality and prevents discrimination within religious groups. However, problems arise when religion becomes the basis of the nation or political identity, leading to communalism.

Communalism is the belief that religion is the principal basis of social community, that followers of one religion form a unified community with common interests, and that people of different religions cannot live together as equal citizens. This belief is flawed because individuals have multiple identities and interests beyond religion, and there are diverse voices within every religious community.

Communalism manifests in several ways: everyday religious prejudices and stereotypes; quests for political dominance by majority or minority religious groups; political mobilization using religious symbols, leaders, and emotional appeals; and communal violence such as riots and massacres. India has experienced severe communal violence, especially during Partition and in the post-Independence period.

To combat communalism, India adopted a secular state model reflected in the Constitution. The Constitution declares no official religion, guarantees freedom to profess, practice, and propagate any religion or none, prohibits religious discrimination, and allows state intervention to ensure equality within religions (e.g., banning untouchability). Secularism is a foundational principle of India, necessary to protect the nation’s unity and democracy. However, constitutional provisions alone are insufficient; communal prejudices and politics must be challenged in everyday life and political arenas.

📊 Diagram: I am not religious. Why should I bother about communalism and secularism? (figure_10); Figure on page 9 showing communalism-related content (figure_11)

🔗 Connection: This section transitions to the next topic on Caste and politics by moving from religious social divisions and their political impact to caste-based social divisions unique to India.