GS Question

Religiousness or religiosity refers to the personal belief, devotion, and adherence to a particular religion or its practices. It relates to an individual's faith, spirituality, and personal relationship with their religion. On the other hand, communalism refers to the tendency of individuals to prioritize their religious or communal interests over other social, political, or national identities. It involves the promotion of one's own religious group's interests while disregarding or opposing those of other communities.

In independent India, one example of the transformation of religiousness into communalism can be seen during the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition. The Babri Masjid, located in Ayodhya, was a 16th-century mosque that had been a point of contention between Hindus and Muslims for many years. Hindus believed that the mosque was built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, a Hindu deity.

Over time, the issue of the Babri Masjid became highly politicized, and religious sentiments started getting manipulated for political gains. What began as religiousness and faith in their respective religions turned into a highly charged communal conflict. Politicians exploited the religious sentiments of the people to mobilize support. This led to communal violence, culminating in the demolition of the Babri Masjid by a large mob of Hindu activists on December 6, 1992.

The transformation of religiousness into communalism during this incident can be observed through the polarization of the two religious communities. Personal religious beliefs and devotion turned into a clash of identities, resulting in violence and deepening the divide between Hindus and Muslims in India. The incident highlighted how religiousness can be manipulated and transformed into communalism, causing communal tensions and conflicts within a society.