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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

SESSION 2020-21

CLASS-X

POLITICAL SCIENCE- Ch-4-Gender, Religion and Caste

Lesson Notes

SUB-TOPIC-4

SUB TOPIC NOTES
(Pg- 47, 48, 49)
Religion,
communalism Communalism can take many forms in politics.
and politics  Religious prejudices, stereotypes of religious communities
and belief in the superiority of one’s religion over other
religions are commonly experienced.
 Communalism demands dominance of one’s own religious
community. For those belonging to majority community, this
takes the form of majoritarian dominance. For those
belonging to the minority community, it can take the form of a
desire to form a separate political unit.
 Political mobilization on religious lines that involves special
appeal to the interests or emotions of voters of one religion in
preference to others.
 Communalism can take the form of communal violence, riots
and massacre.
Secular State
India is a secular state because:
 There is no official religion of the Indian State
 The Constitution provides to all individuals and communities
freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion, or
not to follow any
 The Constitution prohibits discrimination on grounds of
religion
 The Constitution allows the state to intervene in the matters of
religion in order to ensure equality within religious
communities. For example, it bans untouchability
Communalism needs to be combated.
 A secular Constitution like ours is necessary but not sufficient
to combat communalism.
 Communal prejudices and propaganda need to be