Religious Violence in india - Essay Example

Religious Violent in India When did this issue start in India? Based on numerous historical studies so far conducted, the year 1947 marks the start of religious conflicts in India that resulted to communal killings shortly after partition of India (Afsheen 62). This was between Hindus and Muslims, whereby from then up to date sporadic uprisings most of them being religion-based keep on recurring. 2. What is the conflicts between these two religions? Conflicts between these religions originate from each of them unwilling to accommodate “the other” both at societal and political settings (Jaffrelot 376).

This is because of their respective diverse religious ideologies whereby like Hindus perceive Muslims as a “fifth column” based on their caste structure (Jaffrelot 376). This implies they cannot tolerate each others’ dominion not even ideas, hence leading to more conflicts besides disagreements. This was the core conflict and bone of contention that led to the 1947’s communal conflicts whereby British partitioned the then unitary state into Pakistan (majority being Muslims) and India.

In the latter state, majority are Hindus whereas Muslims encompassed minority thus leading to the current insolvable “Anti-Muslim” conflict (Jaffrelot 376). Who has the hand of this issue? According to Jaffrelot (376), this issue despite religious ideologies greatly motivating its existence between the two conflicting sides, influential political icons have played a significant role. This is evident especially among Hindus who comprise the majority intend to polarize electorate while solidifying their “Vote Bank”, hence sideline minority Muslims to dominate them (Jaffrelot 376).

This implies those behind religious conflict in India are both political and religious icons due to their varying as well as irreconcilable ideologies. Ideologies include both political and religious such that having a common negotiating table is extremely hard because each side aspires to have an upper hand than the other. Work Cited Afsheen, S. Under Five Flags: Life Like a Turbulent River Flows. Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corporation, 2011. Print. Jaffrelot, Christophe. Religion, Caste, and Politics in India.

New Delhi: Primus Books, 2010. Print.