Introduction
Religion has always occupied an important place in Indian society. From ancient spiritual traditions to everyday social practices, faith has shaped values, identities, and community life. However, religion can manifest in different ways. While religiosity reflects personal faith and spiritual engagement, communalism represents the politicization of religious identity, often leading to social division and conflict.
Understanding the difference between religiosity and communalism is essential for analyzing Indian society, particularly in the post-Independence period. Although India’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, it also envisions a secular state. Yet, over time, religious sentiment has increasingly been mobilized for political purposes, transforming faith from a private spiritual experience into a tool of collective mobilization.
This essay distinguishes between religiosity and communalism and examines how the former has sometimes transformed into the latter in independent India, using a concrete example.
Meaning of Religiosity
Religiosity refers to an individual’s or community’s sincere attachment to religious beliefs, rituals, and moral values. It is primarily a spiritual and cultural phenomenon.
Key Features of Religiosity
Religiosity is characterized by:
- Personal faith and devotion
- Participation in religious rituals and festivals
- Ethical living inspired by religious teachings
- Respect for multiple paths to spirituality
- Emphasis on inner transformation
In Indian tradition, religiosity has generally been inclusive. People often participate in festivals of different faiths, visit diverse places of worship, and accept religious plurality as natural.
Historically, movements like Bhakti and Sufism promoted love, equality, and devotion rather than rigid dogma. Religiosity in this sense strengthened social harmony rather than undermining it.
Meaning of Communalism
Communalism, in contrast, is a political ideology that views society primarily in terms of religious communities whose interests are seen as mutually antagonistic. It converts religious identity into a basis for political mobilization and social polarization.
Key Features of Communalism
Communalism involves:
- Treating religious identity as the primary social identity
- Creating a sense of “us versus them”
- Politicization of religious symbols and emotions
- Projection of other communities as threats
- Use of religion for electoral or power gains
Unlike religiosity, communalism is not about spirituality. It is about power.
Distinction Between Religiosity and Communalism
Although both involve religion, their nature and consequences differ fundamentally.
1. Nature
Religiosity is spiritual and personal.
Communalism is political and collective.
Religiosity focuses on faith; communalism focuses on group dominance.
2. Orientation
Religiosity promotes moral values and inner peace.
Communalism promotes group loyalty and confrontation.
3. Social Impact
Religiosity encourages coexistence.
Communalism leads to division and conflict.
4. Inclusiveness
Religiosity is often inclusive and pluralistic.
Communalism is exclusive and rigid.
5. Relationship with the State
Religiosity thrives independently of political power.
Communalism seeks state power to advance sectarian interests.
In short, religiosity unites, while communalism divides.
Historical Background: From Spiritual Pluralism to Political Communalism
Traditional Indian society accommodated multiple religions without sharp boundaries. However, colonial policies such as separate electorates and census-based categorization strengthened religious identities as political categories.
After Independence, India adopted secularism, hoping religion would remain largely personal. Yet, socio-economic inequalities, political competition, and identity anxieties gradually created conditions in which religious sentiment could be mobilized for political ends.
Transformation of Religiosity into Communalism in Post-Independence India: The Ayodhya Movement
One of the most prominent examples of this transformation is the Ram Janmabhoomi–Babri Masjid dispute.
Religious Roots
Lord Ram is a deeply revered figure in Hinduism. Devotion to Ram has existed for centuries through temples, festivals, and devotional poetry. This was largely an expression of religiosity—personal faith and cultural tradition.
Political Mobilization
From the late 1980s, religious devotion was increasingly converted into a political movement. The demand for a Ram temple at Ayodhya was framed not merely as a spiritual aspiration but as a matter of collective Hindu identity and historical justice.
Religious symbols, processions, slogans, and pilgrimages were organized on a massive scale, transforming individual faith into political mobilization.
Emergence of Communal Consciousness
Gradually, the issue was portrayed as a conflict between religious communities. Emotional narratives of historical grievance were emphasized, and electoral strategies were built around religious solidarity.
This culminated in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, followed by widespread communal violence.
Here, devotion to Ram (religiosity) had been transformed into a political movement that divided communities (communalism).
Consequences
The episode illustrates how:
- Faith became a political instrument
- Religious identity overshadowed civic identity
- Social polarization intensified
- Democratic processes were influenced by religious mobilization
This represents a clear shift from spiritual religiosity to political communalism.
Why Does Religiosity Turn into Communalism?
Several factors contribute to this transformation:
1. Political Competition
Parties mobilize religious sentiments to consolidate vote banks.
2. Economic Insecurity
Unemployment and inequality make people receptive to identity-based appeals.
3. Social Anxiety
Rapid modernization and globalization create cultural insecurity, which communal narratives exploit.
4. Media Amplification
Social media spreads polarized narratives quickly, reinforcing communal perceptions.
5. Weak Civic Identity
When citizenship identity is weak, religious identity becomes dominant.
Impact of Communalism on Indian Society
Communalism undermines:
- National unity
- Social trust
- Democratic values
- Economic development
It diverts attention from real issues like education, health, and employment, replacing them with symbolic conflicts.
Role of the Constitution and Civil Society
India’s Constitution promotes secularism, equality, and fraternity. Educational institutions, judiciary, media, and civil society play crucial roles in resisting communal tendencies.
Interfaith dialogue, cultural exchange, and civic education help restore the balance between faith and social harmony.
Conclusion
Religiosity and communalism, though both linked to religion, represent fundamentally different social phenomena. Religiosity is rooted in personal faith, moral values, and spiritual growth. Communalism, on the other hand, is the politicization of religion for power and dominance.
Post-Independence India provides clear examples—most notably the Ayodhya movement—where sincere religious devotion was transformed into communal mobilization, leading to division and conflict.
For a diverse society like India, preserving the spiritual essence of religiosity while resisting the divisive pull of communalism is essential. True democracy can flourish only when religious faith remains a personal matter and citizenship remains the primary collective identity.
