Communalism in modern india

This volume analyses the essential
features of communalism and the
reasons for its growth in modern
India. The author seeks to
understand and interpret, and
expose, communalism for what
it is. He further seeks to determine
its roots and social functions during
the phase of its birth and growth in
the colonial period and why it
resulted in the partition of the
country. In this process, against
the backdrop of the freedom
movement, the volume brings to
light those aspects of India's social,
economic, political and cultural
life which were responsible for the
growth of communalism. Based on
wide-ranging scholarship, the study
also examines the role of British
imperial policy in fostering
communalism, which ultimately
attained uncontrollable, monstrous
proportions.
The author firmly rejects the
prevalent notion that communalism
was the logical and inevitable
product of Indian historical
development. On the other hand, he
emphasises that communalism was
not a remnant of the past nor was
it a historical accident. He contends
that it was a modern social and
political phenomenon that could
have been controlled and even
eradicated if certain social, political
and ideological conditions had
been met.
This volume should prove to be of
great value to those involved in
understanding and combating
communalism, as well as the related
phenomena of casteism, regionalism
and linguism.