SECULARISM IN INDIA

India is a diverse country with many religions, ethnicities, and cultures. What makes India special is that despite this diversity, people come together as one.

The Indian Constitution is a valuable document that protects our rich culture and promotes the principles of Indian politics. It establishes a secular state where everyone is treated equally and there is no discrimination. The Supreme Court has even made secularism an essential part of our constitution that cannot be changed by the Parliament.

In India, secularism means that all religions are treated equally and respected by the government. This promotes harmony among different communities and religious tolerance.

Our secularism is based on the principles of treating all religions equally and with respect. It is different from the western idea of separating religion and the state. Instead, the Indian model focuses on non-discrimination and the government actively participating in all religions.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF COMMINAL VIOLENCE IN INDIA

The roots of the current communal violence can be traced back to the aftermath of the freedom struggle and the partition. The British played a role in dividing the Indian society along religious lines with the partition of Bengal in 1905. This led to the formation of the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha, which marked the beginning of communalism in India.

The two-nation theory advocated by the Muslim League resulted in the division of the country into India and Pakistan, causing widespread displacement and loss of life.

Since then, India has experienced recurring communal riots in different parts of the country. Events like the Shah Bano case in 1986 and the Ayodhya controversy in the 1990s fueled religious tensions. Muslims felt fearful, while some Hindus criticized what they saw as biased policies by the government.

The post-Ayodhya riots in 1992 and subsequent incidents, such as the Godhra riots in 2002 and clashes in Muzaffarnagar in 2013, further disrupted communal harmony.

The Ministry of Home Affairs' data shows a decline in communal incidents from 2008 to 2011, followed by a sharp increase in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, the number of deaths due to communal riots exceeded the total for the three-year period of 2010-2012, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for a significant portion of the incidents.

In recent years, there has been a rise in both Muslim and Hindu extremist organizations. While most Indian Muslims have resisted radicalization, some vulnerable individuals within the community can be exploited by anti-India forces seeking to wage a proxy war. These forces take advantage of political and criminal manipulation of communal sentiments.

In the next chapter, we will delve into the reasons for communal violence in India and then a way-forward.