Subject: Indian Society

Religious Consciousness to Communal Politics: The transformation of religious identity from a spiritual force to a political tool marks a significant shift in post-independence India, where religious practices once fostering social harmony have sometimes devolved into communal tensions.

Religiousness/Religiosity

• Religiousness represents genuine spiritual devotion and faith-based practices that promote inclusive values and social cohesion.
• It manifests through celebration of festivals, participation in religious ceremonies, and respect for diverse faiths (e.g., Ajmer Sharif Dargah visited by people of all faiths).
• Religious practices often serve as platforms for cultural exchange and community bonding (e.g., langars in Gurudwaras serving food to all regardless of religion).

Communalism

• Communalism represents the politicization of religious identity for socio-political gains.
• It promotes exclusivity, antagonism, and sometimes violence against other religious groups.
• Characterized by the use of religious symbols and sentiments to create social divisions and political mobilization.

Transformation from Religiousness to Communalism

• The Manipur Crisis (2023) serves as a prime example where religious identity transformed into communal conflict:
  • Initially: Peaceful coexistence of Meitei (Hindu majority) and Kuki (Christian majority) communities with distinct religious practices.
  • Transformation: Religious differences became politicized, leading to violent clashes resulting in 219 deaths and displacement of 60,000 people.
  • Factors: Economic disparities, political interests, and manipulation of religious sentiments fueled the transformation.

Impact and Challenges

• Creation of social polarization and erosion of India's secular fabric.
• Rise in hate crimes and religious violence (e.g., 2023 Nuh clashes causing 7 deaths).
• Weakening of inter-religious dialogue and cultural exchange.

India's constitutional vision of "Unity in Diversity" and secular democracy faces challenges as religious consciousness sometimes transforms into communal politics, necessitating renewed focus on interfaith dialogue, constitutional values, and social harmony (e.g., Sarva Dharma Sambhava principle).