Author:

Dr.Sumit Kumar Monda
Assistant Professor
Department of History
Gobinda Prasad Mahavidyalaya
Amarkanan,Bankura,India

Email: mondalsumit201617@gmail.com

Abstract:: Abstract:The study of modern Indian history includes a complex and significant issue: communalism.Communal problems in India were primarily observed from the colonial period. The communities that
played the role of invaders in ancient India largely assimilated, but since the advent of Islam in the
country, they have maintained their distinct identity. From the beginning, the Hindu and Muslim
communities have been divided into opposing camps and have lived side by side. British colonialism and
the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy, along with political opportunists, exploited ambitious middle-class youth,
leading to frustration and discontent. This situation arose due to a stagnant agrarian economy, a lack of
modern industrial development, and insufficient employment opportunities. The revival movements in
Hinduism and Islam further contributed to this phenomenon.Communalism is the belief that if a group of
people follows a particular religion, their social, political, and economic interests are all the same.
According to this belief, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and other distinct communities in India exist
independently. Communalism is a political and economic ideology that supports the division of wealth
and property. It refers to the sharing of political unity and power within a small resource base.
Communalism is an ideology that promotes division within a state based on ethnicity, religious beliefs,
values, and other factors.

Key Words::Communalism., Divide and Rule, Hindu-Muslim, socio-political, Values etc.