Minorities, communalism and secularism

Indian nationalism during the freedom struggle was inclusive and democratic: it sought a nation for all, of every religion and region. Gandhi and Tagore both warned against narrow, exclusive nationalism that defines the nation by one group.

Minorities: in sociology, a minority is not just a smaller group. It is a group that is relatively small, disadvantaged in some way, and has a sense of group solidarity. Rich minorities may still face cultural disadvantage.

The Constitution protects minorities:

• Article 29: any group may protect its distinct language, script and culture.
• Article 30: religious and linguistic minorities may set up and run their own educational institutions.

B.R. Ambedkar warned that minorities are an explosive force if neglected. He noted that India's minorities had placed their trust in the majority by accepting a democratic constitution, and the majority must honour that trust.

Communalism is aggressive chauvinism based on religious identity: treating one's own religious community as superior and others as enemies. It is about politics, not faith: many communalists are not deeply religious at all; they use religion to win power.

India also has a long syncretic heritage, in which traditions mixed peacefully. The Bhakti and Sufi movements blended Hindu and Muslim devotion. The poet-saint Kabir rejected the divisions between them in his verses.

Secularism has two meanings:

• Western: the separation of religion (the church) and the state.
• Indian: the state shows equal respect for all religions and does not favour any.

There is a tension here: protecting minorities can be called 'favouring' them, while ignoring their needs harms them. Balancing the two is a constant challenge. Pluralism is part of India's history.