The Hindu : Social scientists flay communal politics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Social scientists flay communal politics

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE JAN. 14. Social scientists from all over the country, who participated in the 23rd national conference of the Indian Social Sciences Association, regretted that social degeneration had been taking place in India owing to religion-based politics and regrouping of people for political ends.

The papers presented on various subjects, particularly those on communal harmony, minority relations, and cultural freedom, criticised communal politics.

Delivering the D.P. Mukherjee Memorial Lecture, H.M. Maralusiddiah, senior social scientist and former Professor of Social Work, Bangalore University, said the modern politico-religious churning in India had similarities with the old Bhakti movement.

But the latter was anti-caste, non-hierarchical, and spiritualistic. The present churning was pro-caste, ritualistic, and mundane.

India, particularly Hindu India, was characterised by caste system. Hinduism with its caste system had been influencing indigenous and alien religions, and vice versa.

Though the caste system was believed to be static by certain social scientists, it has shown its dynamic nature by undergoing changes. These changes had shown different trends during pre-British, British, and post-Independence periods.

The caste system had been undergoing changes through Sanskritisation and people were organising themselves into independent religious groups.

He said social scientists and social workers should use such changes to build an egalitarian and welfare society, and not allow India to remain a backward and feudal society.

Three papers from social scientists from Goa on communal harmony gave diverse views about communal sentiments in modern India.

The paper, "Goa, a land of communal harmony", by Varsha V. Kamat and J.G.R. Monteiro of R.S. Naik College of Arts and Science, Farmagudi, Ponda, stated that communal antagonism was not a legacy of the past.

It was not an inevitable product of Indian history. It was a modern phenomenon that became a cog in the politics of the British.

Its roots could also be traced to the social, political, and economic situations of colonial India.

A paper on communal harmony, "Socio-cultural harmony of the Khwaja Banda Nawaz Dargah and Sri Sharanabasaveshwar Temple of Gulbarga", by Zakia Khanum K. Ansari of the Department of Studies in History of Gulbarga University said the growth of these two saints, the evolution of their institutions, and an analysis of their multifarious activities spoke about universal brotherhood and uplift of the downtrodden.

C. Hilda Devi, senior researcher in the Research and Extension Centre of Mother Teresa Women's University, Madurai, said in her paper, "Inter-caste relations and communal harmony", that the rigid system of caste had undergone several changes. The rigid distinctions were being watered down.

The earlier movements contributed much to usher in casteless culture and individual liberty.

Thanks to reformist movements, creative and innovative ideas, progressive thoughts, and equality and fraternity were encouraged.

The enthusiasm created by reforms in education would transcend the artificial barriers of the caste system and religious jingoism.

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