The Rise of Communalism in India
Fayassir Haqna
Prof. Robert Menzies
ASIA 1430 A02
February 14 2013
ASIA 1430 A02 ASSIGNMENT #1
The Rise of Communalism in India
The Rise of Communalism in India
Communalism could be defined as a consciously shared religious heritage, which becomes the dominant form of identity for a given segment of society (Jones 1968).
It mainly occurred between Muslims and Hindus. The autocratic Hindus in India insisted that the nation should be based on the Hindutva ideology, which are Hindi language, Hindu belief and Hindustan land.
However, Hindutva ideology should not be the only cause of the rise of communalism in India since Muslims and Hindus had lived together for over than centuries. Colonialism took part on creating tensions between Muslim and Hindus. In addition, political clash had raised the tensions between them. In this research paper, I will prove that the rise of communalism in India was not just because of the Hindutva ideology and the Hindutva movement but also because of the British involvement and intervention in Indian society. Furthermore, the Muslims also raised the tension by making themselves apart from the Hindus and created conflicts against the Hindus.
Hinduism as a benchmark of Nationalism
Hindu was the belief of the ancestors of India. Hindu had been the beliefs of the ancestry of Indians for millenniums, and has become an inherent part of the Indian culture, for instance, the caste system. Hinduism and Nationalism is inseparable as Hindu had became tradition of Indians. In fact, 80.5% of the India populations are Hindus, and clearly shows Hindu dominated India.
The emergence of the communalism was indicated by the outbreak of Hindutva ideology. Hindutva ideology came up in the late 1800’s by Savarkar, which means “Hinduness”. The Hindu nationalists believed that Motherland India is the land of Hindus, meaning if you are not a Hindu, you are not Indian. Indians should speak Hindi,
Prof. Robert Menzies
ASIA 1430 A02
February 14 2013
ASIA 1430 A02 ASSIGNMENT #1
The Rise of Communalism in India
The Rise of Communalism in India
Communalism could be defined as a consciously shared religious heritage, which becomes the dominant form of identity for a given segment of society (Jones 1968).
It mainly occurred between Muslims and Hindus. The autocratic Hindus in India insisted that the nation should be based on the Hindutva ideology, which are Hindi language, Hindu belief and Hindustan land.
However, Hindutva ideology should not be the only cause of the rise of communalism in India since Muslims and Hindus had lived together for over than centuries. Colonialism took part on creating tensions between Muslim and Hindus. In addition, political clash had raised the tensions between them. In this research paper, I will prove that the rise of communalism in India was not just because of the Hindutva ideology and the Hindutva movement but also because of the British involvement and intervention in Indian society. Furthermore, the Muslims also raised the tension by making themselves apart from the Hindus and created conflicts against the Hindus.
Hinduism as a benchmark of Nationalism
Hindu was the belief of the ancestors of India. Hindu had been the beliefs of the ancestry of Indians for millenniums, and has become an inherent part of the Indian culture, for instance, the caste system. Hinduism and Nationalism is inseparable as Hindu had became tradition of Indians. In fact, 80.5% of the India populations are Hindus, and clearly shows Hindu dominated India.
The emergence of the communalism was indicated by the outbreak of Hindutva ideology. Hindutva ideology came up in the late 1800’s by Savarkar, which means “Hinduness”. The Hindu nationalists believed that Motherland India is the land of Hindus, meaning if you are not a Hindu, you are not Indian. Indians should speak Hindi,
References: K.W. Jones (1968), “Communalism in the Punjab,” Journal of Asian Studies 28, 39. E. Nandrajog (2010) “Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Communal Violence in India Under the Bharatiya Janata Party 3, 64. Y. Sneshi (2003) Social Change Vol.33 No.4 10-11 G. Flood (2003) The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism 1-17 R. Kumar (1990) Problem of Communalism in India 1-3 Adil Mohd “ ‘Communalism result of British policy of Divide & Rule’ Katju to Adilmohd. Question is British are gone! Yet forces Divide & Rule us. Why?” April. 20. 2012. Web. 13 February 2013. (http://www.adilmohdblog.com/communalism-result-of-british-policy-of-divide-rule-katju-to-adilmohd-question-is-british-are-gone-yet-forces-divide-rule-us-why/) R. Murphey (2009) A History of Asia 6th edition Ch.20 p.465 N.p. Direct Action Day Manifesto, Calcutta and “Analysis of the Calcutta Killings, 1946.” Web. 13 February 2013. (http://www.leics.gov.uk/directactioncalcutta46.pdf)