“Communalism arises either due to power struggle or relative deprivation.” Argue by giving suitable illustrations. (Answer in 250 words)

Communalism is the political construction of religious or ethnic identity as an antagonistic collective interest. Power competition and perceived deprivation are major drivers, though colonial legacies, institutional failures and elite mobilisation also matter.

Power struggle

• Political actors may convert religious identities into vote banks, portraying rivals as threats and rewarding polarisation.
• Partition demonstrated how competing claims to representation, territory and state power hardened community boundaries.
• Local conflicts over offices, land, routes or symbolic sites can be communalised by organised mobilisation and inflammatory propaganda.

Relative deprivation

• A group that perceives unequal access to jobs, education, security or public resources may interpret hardship through communal narratives.
• Economic competition between communities can be reframed as collective injustice, as seen in urban riot settings where livelihood and property disputes acquire religious colour.
• Perceived discrimination, not only absolute poverty, creates resentment when expectations rise faster than opportunities.

Illustrations and response

Communal mobilisation around Partition, post-independence riots and periodic election-time polarisation shows the interaction of power and deprivation. In contrast, inclusive welfare, fair policing, impartial institutions, inter-community dialogue, responsible media and equal opportunity reduce the supply of grievance.

Communalism is not an inevitable expression of diversity. Constitutional fraternity and distributive justice can prevent political competition from becoming social hostility.

Keywords: identity mobilisation; relative deprivation; vote-bank politics; fraternity; inclusive citizenship.