it was the very foundations of
nationalism that necessitated such
a strong relationship
because Indian nationalism derived from not one but
multiple political interests and these division were almost
unanimously on account fo religious ideologies
caused suspicion and fear between religious
communities. each kept protectionism at the forefront of
their interests- prevent the other gaining more at their own
expense in the independence movement
Hindu-Muslim relations
dominated
arrival of British brought it to the forefront
Divide and Rule
KW Jones: Raj knew exactly how to
utilise them in order to ensure their own
stability as the colonising government
succesfull
afforded priviliges disproportionately amongst
religious communities, mostly the islamic groups.
fuelling Hindu insecurities about the aims of the
Muslims in India. Hindered any efforts to secure a
self autonomous India - required unity between
religious communities
Individuals identified their social, economic or
political position in comparison to their peers
on the basis of religion
Masslos: narrative of increasing Muslim
impoverishment under British colonialism, in
favour of Hindu communities due to a
variety of social and economic factors
religion= driving factor
behind circumstances
that people operate
under and entrance into
political arena
Hindu and Muslim rivalry= cyclical
nature= political actions of one
stimulated the other
local level politics: developed so extensively it became a major issue-
one which cannot be ignored when considering Indian Nationalism-
communalism
multitude of new political organisations
in the latter half of the 19th Century, that
were established largely on the
foundation of an insecurity based on
rival religious commuities
Hindu communal movements:
arrival of colonists and their subsequent
introduction of modernised institutions instilled
a sense of backwardness and decline amongst
the indigenous
too overcome this and challenge the Westernisers, the
intellectual classes responded by adapting thei hindu
customs 'with ideological reinterpretation of the past.'
Dayanandas Arya Samaj:
attempted to reform Hinduism so
that it could balance both
traditional hindu principles and
customs with western modernisation
which would allow it to rival the
british colonists
intoduction of Shuddhi to mirror conversion
practices of Christianity which were being
deployed by colonial missionaries to reduce hindu
pop. numbers,
particularly receptive in
provinces where hindus
were predominantly a
minority
Jones: as a minority group the hindu communities were
on the defence, felt threatened by muslim dominance,
and resulted in increased political activity to overcome
this
ethnic pride had a key impact on the hindu politics
hindu communities no longer felt lesser than the colonialists-
why should they submit to their rule
not just movements, hindu practices were utilised
in different ways.
sati in some communities. clear defiance of
british laws, refusal of witnesses to cooperate,
withdrawak of tacit consent of British rule
customs used to reject british rule
movements did not just increase
tensions with colonial
government, but also with other
religious communites
Muslims:
reacted. e.g. set up of INC in 1885,
Muslim League created in 1906 to
counterwight the movement
Masselos: contrary to popular perceptions,
Muslim community was similarly fragmented as
Hindu was, predominantly on account of
Sunni-Shi'a split. Issue of participation in the
Indian Nationalist movement is rather less
simple. further way in which religion was key to
nationalism
some muslims rejected nationalism
completely feared Hindu dominance
more than British
Sunnis: loyalty to the caliphate,
britains heavy involvement in
the dismantling of the Ottoman
Empire following the firs world
war. mobolised a large number
of mulsims= kaliphat
movement- sought protection of
the caliph
only unifying power?
duration of the
Indian natioanlist
movement saw
religion retain its
prominence amongst
committed groups
Peter van de veer: Indian dreams of the
nation always take religion on as one of
the main aspects of national identity.