Communalism, secularism and the nation state MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Communalism, secularism and the nation state - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - Secularization

Key Points

• Secularization
  • Secularization is the process by which religion loses social and cultural significance. As a result, the role of religion in modern societies becomes less central to the functioning of other social institutions and to individual lives.
  • This decline in religious influence can be observed in various aspects of society, including politics, education, and family structures.
  • Secularization often accompanies the processes of modernization and rationalization, leading to the differentiation of the religious sphere from other spheres of social life.

Additional Information

• Communalism
  • Communalism refers to a system of allegiance to one's ethnic or religious community, often leading to tensions and conflicts between different communities.
  • It generally involves promoting the interests and identity of one’s own community while opposing those of other communities.
• Modernization
  • Modernization is the process of social change whereby less developed societies acquire characteristics common to more developed societies, often through industrialization, urbanization, and other aspects of societal transformation.
  • It can include technological advancement, economic development, and cultural shifts toward more secular, rational, and progressive ways of thinking.
• Regionalism
  • Regionalism refers to the expression of a common sense of identity and purpose combined with the creation and implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and shape collective action within a geographical region.
  • It often emphasizes the interests and culture of a specific region over the broader national or global context.

The correct answer is - In Indian Context, Secularism goes hand in hand with Communalism

Key Points

• In Indian Context, Secularism goes hand in hand with Communalism
  • This statement is NOT correct because secularism and communalism are fundamentally opposing concepts.
  • Secularism in the Indian context means that the state treats all religions equally and does not favor or discriminate against any religion.
  • Communalism refers to a political and social environment where different religious or ethnic groups are pitted against each other, often leading to conflict.

Additional Information

• There is separation of religious and political authority in Western Secularism
  • This is correct. In Western secularism, there is a clear separation between religious institutions and state/political authority.
  • The state does not interfere in religious matters, and religious institutions do not wield political power.
• Secular Indian state respects all religions
  • This is correct. India adheres to a principle of positive secularism, which means respect for and equal treatment of all religions.
  • The state does not establish a state religion and allows freedom of practice and propagation of religions.
• A Secular state does not favour any religion
  • This is correct. A secular state maintains neutrality in matters of religion, ensuring no religion is given preference over others.
  • This principle is fundamental to promoting religious harmony and safeguarding the rights of individuals to freely practice their faith.

The correct answer is - (A), (C) and (D) only

Key Points

• (A) Communal means something related to a community.
  • This statement is correct as the term "communal" refers to anything pertaining to a community or society.
• (C) A devout believer may or may not be communal.
  • This statement is true. A person can be deeply religious (devout) without promoting communalism.
• (D) Communalism results in constructing identity of large and diverse groups as singular and homogeneous.
  • This statement is accurate. Communalism often involves viewing diverse groups as one homogeneous entity, ignoring internal diversity.

Additional Information

• Communalism:
  • Refers to a system where communities are organized around shared religious or ethnic identities.
  • Often leads to social tensions and conflicts when one group tries to assert dominance over others.
• Religion and Politics:
  • While communalism is often associated with religion, it is also deeply intertwined with politics.
  • Political leaders may exploit communal sentiments to gain support, leading to polarization.
• Homogeneous Identity Construction:
  • Communalism simplifies complex social identities into singular categories, which can ignore the nuanced realities of the group.

The correct answer is - Religion

Key Points

• Communalism in India
  • Communalism refers to a situation where a particular community or religion is pitted against another, often leading to conflicts and tensions.
  • In the Indian context, communalism is mainly associated with religious identities.
  • It manifests as conflicts between different religious communities, particularly Hindus and Muslims.
  • Historical events, such as the partition of India in 1947, have significantly contributed to communal tensions.
  • Political manipulation and socio-economic factors often exacerbate communal divides.

Additional Information

• Race
  • India is a racially diverse country, but racial conflicts are not as pronounced as religious conflicts.
  • Racial identities are more relevant in other parts of the world where they have led to significant conflicts and issues.
• Tribe
  • India has numerous tribal communities, and there have been conflicts related to tribal rights and autonomy.
  • These issues are generally categorized under ethnic or regional conflicts rather than communalism.
• Class
  • Class conflict in India is associated with socio-economic disparities, primarily between different economic classes.
  • While class struggle is an important issue, it is distinct from communalism, which is primarily based on religious identities.

Indian Sociologist T. K. Oommen has theorized the six dimensions of communalism

Important Points

T.K. Oommen (1989) proposed six communalism dimensions: assimilationist, welfarist, retreatist, retaliatory, separatist, and secessionist.

• Small religious groupings that are incorporated into a larger religious body are referred to as assimilationist communalisms.
• The goal of welfare communalism is the welfare of a certain community. Such community mobilization is focused on serving the needs of its own people.
• Small religious communities that practice retreats communalism abstain from politics.
• The goal of retaliatory communalism is to hurt, harm, or injure members of other religious groups.
• When a particular religious or cultural community demands its own territorial state within the nation in order to preserve its cultural distinctiveness, this is known as separatist communalism.
• Last but not least, secessionist communalism refers to the desire for an independent state by a religious group to have a distinct political identity.

Therefore it was the Indian Sociologist T.K.Oommen who suggested the six dimensions of communalism.

The correct answer is S.P. Nagendra

Key Points

• Bipin Chandra:
  • According to Bipan Chandra, in his book, “India since Independence”, “Communalism is an ideology based on the belief that Indian society is divided into religious communities, whose economic, political, social and cultural interests diverge and are even hostile to each other because of their religious differences.”
  • Bipan Chandra has described Communalism with three stages in his book, “Communalism in Modern India”.
  • The first stage he calls is Communal Consciousness, the second stage is Liberal Communalism and the third stage is Extreme Communalism.
• Asghar Ali Engineer:
  • ​Asghar Ali Engineer published 52 books, many papers and articles, including those for scholarly journals. 
  • From 1980 he edited the journal 'The Islamic Perspective', and during the 1980s he published a string of books on Islam and communal violence in India, the latter based on his field investigations into the communal riots in post-independence India.
  • He also edited a journal named ‘Indian Journal of Secularism’ and a monthly paper named ‘Islam and Modern Age’.
• Mushirul Hasan:
  • ​Mushirul Hasan, the former vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (2004-09) and a renowned historian came into limelight with his book on the partition of India, and histories of Islam in south-Asia.

  • Apart from writing, Mushirul Hasan, had also edited a number of books on the subject of Islam in India and communal problems in India post-independence.​

Indian Sociologist T. K. Oommen has theorized the six dimensions of communalism

Important Points

T.K. Oommen (1989) proposed six communalism dimensions: assimilationist, welfarist, retreatist, retaliatory, separatist, and secessionist.

• Small religious groupings that are incorporated into a larger religious body are referred to as assimilationist communalisms.
• The goal of welfare communalism is the welfare of a certain community. Such community mobilization is focused on serving the needs of its own people.
• Small religious communities that practice retreats communalism abstain from politics.
• The goal of retaliatory communalism is to hurt, harm, or injure members of other religious groups.
• When a particular religious or cultural community demands its own territorial state within the nation in order to preserve its cultural distinctiveness, this is known as separatist communalism.
• Last but not least, secessionist communalism refers to the desire for an independent state by a religious group to have a distinct political identity.

Therefore it was the Indian Sociologist T.K.Oommen who suggested the six dimensions of communalism.

The correct answer is S.P. Nagendra

Key Points

• Bipin Chandra:
  • According to Bipan Chandra, in his book, “India since Independence”, “Communalism is an ideology based on the belief that Indian society is divided into religious communities, whose economic, political, social and cultural interests diverge and are even hostile to each other because of their religious differences.”
  • Bipan Chandra has described Communalism with three stages in his book, “Communalism in Modern India”.
  • The first stage he calls is Communal Consciousness, the second stage is Liberal Communalism and the third stage is Extreme Communalism.
• Asghar Ali Engineer:
  • ​Asghar Ali Engineer published 52 books, many papers and articles, including those for scholarly journals. 
  • From 1980 he edited the journal 'The Islamic Perspective', and during the 1980s he published a string of books on Islam and communal violence in India, the latter based on his field investigations into the communal riots in post-independence India.
  • He also edited a journal named ‘Indian Journal of Secularism’ and a monthly paper named ‘Islam and Modern Age’.
• Mushirul Hasan:
  • ​Mushirul Hasan, the former vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (2004-09) and a renowned historian came into limelight with his book on the partition of India, and histories of Islam in south-Asia.

  • Apart from writing, Mushirul Hasan, had also edited a number of books on the subject of Islam in India and communal problems in India post-independence.​

Communal politics is based on the idea that religion is the principal basis of a social community.Important Points

• The fundamental tenet of communal politics is that religion serves as the cornerstone of a social community.
• Communalism involves the following ways of thinking:
  • A specific religion's adherents must form a single community.
  • They have the same underlying interests.
  • Any differences they could have are unimportant or unimportant to daily life in the group.
  • People who practise various religions cannot be a part of the same social group
  • Even if the adherents of many religions share some similarities, these are trivial and unimportant.
  • Their differing interests will inevitably cause confrontation.
• In its most severe form, communalism promotes the idea that people of various religions cannot coexist as equal citizens in the same country. Either one of them must rule the others, or else new nations must be formed.
• This notion is erroneous in every way. People of the same religion do not always share the same goals and interests. Everyone also holds various positions, responsibilities, and identities. All of these opinions deserve to be heard.
• Therefore, any attempt to unite all adherents of a single religion in a setting unrelated to religion will inevitably silence numerous voices within that society.

Therefore, communal politics is based on the idea that religion is the principal basis of a social community.

The correct answer is - The communal states are always theocratic states

Key Points

• The communal states are always theocratic states
  • This statement is incorrect because communal states are not necessarily theocratic states.
  • A theocratic state is governed by religious leaders or based on religious laws, whereas a communal state may be influenced by communal identities but not necessarily governed by religious laws.

Additional Information

• The Communalist and fundamentalist differ in many ways
  • Communalism refers to allegiance to one's own ethnic group rather than to society as a whole, whereas fundamentalism is a strict adherence to specific theological doctrines typically in reaction against modernist theories.
  • While both can lead to social divisions, their motivations and methods can differ significantly.
• The communal states are not necessarily theocratic states
  • This statement is true because communal states may operate on the basis of ethnic or cultural identity rather than religious law.
  • There can be communal states that are secular in governance but still have strong communal influences.
• The communalist and fundamentalist have many similarities
  • Both communalism and fundamentalism can lead to exclusionary practices and intolerance towards other groups.
  • They often use identity politics to mobilize support and can result in social conflict.

The correct answer is - Secularization

Key Points

• Secularization
  • Secularization is the process by which religion loses social and cultural significance. As a result, the role of religion in modern societies becomes less central to the functioning of other social institutions and to individual lives.
  • This decline in religious influence can be observed in various aspects of society, including politics, education, and family structures.
  • Secularization often accompanies the processes of modernization and rationalization, leading to the differentiation of the religious sphere from other spheres of social life.

Additional Information

• Communalism
  • Communalism refers to a system of allegiance to one's ethnic or religious community, often leading to tensions and conflicts between different communities.
  • It generally involves promoting the interests and identity of one’s own community while opposing those of other communities.
• Modernization
  • Modernization is the process of social change whereby less developed societies acquire characteristics common to more developed societies, often through industrialization, urbanization, and other aspects of societal transformation.
  • It can include technological advancement, economic development, and cultural shifts toward more secular, rational, and progressive ways of thinking.
• Regionalism
  • Regionalism refers to the expression of a common sense of identity and purpose combined with the creation and implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and shape collective action within a geographical region.
  • It often emphasizes the interests and culture of a specific region over the broader national or global context.

The correct answer is - In Indian Context, Secularism goes hand in hand with Communalism

Key Points

• In Indian Context, Secularism goes hand in hand with Communalism
  • This statement is NOT correct because secularism and communalism are fundamentally opposing concepts.
  • Secularism in the Indian context means that the state treats all religions equally and does not favor or discriminate against any religion.
  • Communalism refers to a political and social environment where different religious or ethnic groups are pitted against each other, often leading to conflict.

Additional Information

• There is separation of religious and political authority in Western Secularism
  • This is correct. In Western secularism, there is a clear separation between religious institutions and state/political authority.
  • The state does not interfere in religious matters, and religious institutions do not wield political power.
• Secular Indian state respects all religions
  • This is correct. India adheres to a principle of positive secularism, which means respect for and equal treatment of all religions.
  • The state does not establish a state religion and allows freedom of practice and propagation of religions.
• A Secular state does not favour any religion
  • This is correct. A secular state maintains neutrality in matters of religion, ensuring no religion is given preference over others.
  • This principle is fundamental to promoting religious harmony and safeguarding the rights of individuals to freely practice their faith.

The correct answer is - (A), (C) and (D) only

Key Points

• (A) Communal means something related to a community.
  • This statement is correct as the term "communal" refers to anything pertaining to a community or society.
• (C) A devout believer may or may not be communal.
  • This statement is true. A person can be deeply religious (devout) without promoting communalism.
• (D) Communalism results in constructing identity of large and diverse groups as singular and homogeneous.
  • This statement is accurate. Communalism often involves viewing diverse groups as one homogeneous entity, ignoring internal diversity.

Additional Information

• Communalism:
  • Refers to a system where communities are organized around shared religious or ethnic identities.
  • Often leads to social tensions and conflicts when one group tries to assert dominance over others.
• Religion and Politics:
  • While communalism is often associated with religion, it is also deeply intertwined with politics.
  • Political leaders may exploit communal sentiments to gain support, leading to polarization.
• Homogeneous Identity Construction:
  • Communalism simplifies complex social identities into singular categories, which can ignore the nuanced realities of the group.

The correct answer is - Religion

Key Points

• Communalism in India
  • Communalism refers to a situation where a particular community or religion is pitted against another, often leading to conflicts and tensions.
  • In the Indian context, communalism is mainly associated with religious identities.
  • It manifests as conflicts between different religious communities, particularly Hindus and Muslims.
  • Historical events, such as the partition of India in 1947, have significantly contributed to communal tensions.
  • Political manipulation and socio-economic factors often exacerbate communal divides.

Additional Information

• Race
  • India is a racially diverse country, but racial conflicts are not as pronounced as religious conflicts.
  • Racial identities are more relevant in other parts of the world where they have led to significant conflicts and issues.
• Tribe
  • India has numerous tribal communities, and there have been conflicts related to tribal rights and autonomy.
  • These issues are generally categorized under ethnic or regional conflicts rather than communalism.
• Class
  • Class conflict in India is associated with socio-economic disparities, primarily between different economic classes.
  • While class struggle is an important issue, it is distinct from communalism, which is primarily based on religious identities.

Indian Sociologist T. K. Oommen has theorized the six dimensions of communalism

Important Points

T.K. Oommen (1989) proposed six communalism dimensions: assimilationist, welfarist, retreatist, retaliatory, separatist, and secessionist.

• Small religious groupings that are incorporated into a larger religious body are referred to as assimilationist communalisms.
• The goal of welfare communalism is the welfare of a certain community. Such community mobilization is focused on serving the needs of its own people.
• Small religious communities that practice retreats communalism abstain from politics.
• The goal of retaliatory communalism is to hurt, harm, or injure members of other religious groups.
• When a particular religious or cultural community demands its own territorial state within the nation in order to preserve its cultural distinctiveness, this is known as separatist communalism.
• Last but not least, secessionist communalism refers to the desire for an independent state by a religious group to have a distinct political identity.

Therefore it was the Indian Sociologist T.K.Oommen who suggested the six dimensions of communalism.