ALTIOR MUN

AISM

BACKGROUND GUIDE
 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Greetings Members!

It gives us immense pleasure to welcome you to this simulation of the AISM

at Altior MUN 2023. We look forward to an enriching and rewarding
experience.

This study guide is by no means the end of research, we would very much
appreciate if the leaders are able to find new realms in the agenda and bring
it forth in the committee. Such research combined with good argumentation
and a solid representation of facts is what makes much as possible, as
fluency, diction or oratory skills have very little importance as opposed to
the content you deliver. So just research and speak and you are bound to
make a lot of sense. We are certain that we will be learning from you
immensely and we also hope that you all will have an equally enriching
experience. In case of any queries feel free to contact us. We will try our best
to answer the questions to the best of our abilities.

We look forward to an exciting and interesting committee, which should

certainly be helped by the all-pervasive nature of the issue. Hopefully we, as
members of the Executive Board, do also have a chance to gain from being a
part of this committee. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any
doubts that you may have.

All the Best!

Executive Board
Valid Sources
1. Government Reports (Each ministry publishes its own reports including
External Affairs Ministry)
2. PTI , PIB
3. Government Websites
4. Government run News channels i.e. RSTV, LSTV, DD News
5. Standing Committee Reports/ Commission Reports
6. RTI Proofs
7. Parliamentary Standing Committee reports
8. Questions and Answers of the parliament
What is Secularism?

Secularism is an ideology that emphasizes the separation of religion and the state and the
neutrality of the government with respect to religious beliefs..

 It has broadly two meanings:

o Separation of religion from the state i.e. Dharm Nirpekshta.
o Equal respect to all religions by state i.e. Sarva Dharma Samabhava.
 The Indian constitution aims for a secular state where all religions are treated equally

What are the constitutional provisions pertaining to Secularism in India?

At the outset of the making of the Constitution, the concept of secularism was not expressly
mentioned in the Indian Constitution. However, the Indian Constitution has spelled out
several provisions in Part III(Fundamental Rights), Part IV(Directive Principles of State
Policy), and Part IVA(Fundamental Duties) that reflect the existence of secularism.

Article 14  It provides equality before the law and equal protection of

laws to all.

Article 16 (1)  It guarantees equality of opportunity to all citizens in matters

of public employment and reiterates that there would be no
discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex,
descent, place of birth, and residence.

Article 25  It provides ‘Freedom of Conscience’, that is, all persons are

equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to
freely profess, practice, and propagate religion.

Article 26  Every religious group or individual has the right to establish

and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes
and to manage its own affairs in matters of religion.

Article 27  It provides that the state shall not compel any citizen to pay
 any taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any particular
religion or religious institution.

Article 28  It allows educational institutions maintained by different

religious groups to impart religious instruction.

Articles 29 and 30  They provide cultural and educational rights to minorities.

Article 51A  It obliges all the citizens to promote harmony and the spirit of
Fundamental Duties common brotherhood and to value and preserve the rich
heritage of our composite culture.

42nd Constitutional  The word secular was inserted in the Preamble. It stated that
Amendment Act, 'secular' means a republic in which there is equal respect for all
1976 religions.

Apart from the Constitution, Judiciary has also helped shape Secularism in India.

 Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973): The Supreme Court held that
secularism was a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
 Bommai v Union of India (1994): The Supreme Court elaborated on the meaning of
secularism. The Court said that secularism means equal treatment of all religions.

How is Indian Secularism different from Western Secularism?

Some major differences between the Indian and Western models of Secularism are

Western Secularism Indian Secularism

The Western concept of secularism connotes a Indian Constitution embodies the
complete separation between religion and the state. positive concept of secularism, i.e.
giving equal respect to all religions.
The state cannot give financial support to The Indian Constitution permits partial
educational institutions run by religious financial support for religious schools, as
communities. Nor can it hinder the activities of well as the financing of religious
religious communities as long as they are within the buildings and infrastructure by the state.
broad limits set by the law of the land.
It has no place for the idea of state-supported Indian secularism is compatible with the
religious reform. idea of state-supported religious reform.

Example: The Constitution bans

untouchability, the government has
enacted laws abolishing child marriage,
etc.
In western secularism, individual rights are at the Indian secularism deals not only with
forefront. religious freedom of individuals but also
with the religious freedom of minority
communities.

What are the criticisms of the Indian model of Secularism?

Indian secularism has been subjected to various criticisms. Some of these are:

 Anti-religious: It has been argued by some that secularism threatens religious

identity.
o However, secularism is against institutionalized religious domination. This is
not the same as being anti-religious.
 Western import: Another criticism is that secularism is linked to Christianity, that it
is western and, therefore, unsuited to Indian conditions.
o However, the mutual exclusion of religion and state, which is supposed to be
the ideal of western secular societies, is not the defining feature of all secular
states.
 Minoritism: It is argued that Indian secularism advocates minority rights.
o However, the constitution protects the most fundamental interest of minorities
 Interventionist: It is claimed that secularism is coercive and that it interferes
excessively with the religious freedom of communities.
o However, Indian secularism follows the concept of principled
distance, which also allows for non-interference.
  Vote Bank Politics: There is the argument that secularism encourages the politics of
vote banks.

What are the factors that threaten India’s secular fabric?

 Political interference in religion: Increasing interference of religion in politics is a

major challenge facing the secular state.
o Candidates for elections are selected based on religious considerations, and
votes are cast based on religious sentiments.
 Non-separation of religion from politics: Events in the past like the demolition of
the Babri Masjid, anti-Sikh riots in 1984, Mumbai riots in 1992 and 1993, Godhra
riots in 2002, etc., have shown the well-established problem of communalism raising
its head now, and then.
 Exclusion of minorities: There are feelings of insecurity in religious minorities still
today. This makes it difficult to create a secular society.
o Sachar Committee had reported, “while Muslims constitute 14 percent of the
Indian population, they comprise only 2.5 percent of the Indian bureaucracy”.
 Growing radicalization: In recent years, there have been stray incidences of youth
being inspired and radicalized by groups like ISIS, posing a threat to the secular fabric
of the nation.
 Religious intolerance: Religious intolerance is also on the rise recently.
o Example: Delhi riots 2020.

What measures can help India become a truly secular state?

The Indian constitution aims for a secular state. To strengthen its ideas further following
steps can be taken:

 Education as a tool: Education is a means to effect change in the mindset of people.

Individual examples of sharing and mutual help could reduce prejudice and suspicion
between communities.
  Social Reforms: Movements for social reform, like Uniform Civil Code, will have to
be organized and public opinion mobilized. Also, Minorities should be encouraged to
participate in the mainstream of national life.
 Move towards secular politics: Communal politics and vote bank politics need to be
replaced by secular politics to ensure religious tolerance.
 Combating religious extremism: Strong measures need to be taken to combat
religious extremism and promote a culture of tolerance and mutual respect.
 Protecting minority rights: It includes ensuring equal access to education,
employment, and other opportunities, as well as protecting minority communities
from violence and hate crimes.

India has come a long way since independence to make a secular society. However, steps like
social reforms, religious tolerance, etc., need to be further strengthened to achieve the goal of
Constitution makers.

What is meant by Communalism?

Communalism refers to the belief in the primacy of one's own religious community over
others, often leading to conflict and violence between different religious groups. It can also
refer to the political ideology and movements that promote this belief. Communalism as an
ideology emphasizes the interests and identity of a particular religious community over those
of the larger society.

Communalism, as a political movement, seeks to mobilize members of a particular religious

community for political action. In India, Communalism has been a major source of social
conflict with political implications.

What are the different connotations of Communalism?

Communalism can manifest itself in different forms, including

 Assimilationist: According to this dimension, members of minority communities

should give up their distinct cultural and religious identities and assimilate into the
 dominant culture and society. For example, The Hindu Code Bill applies to Sikhs,
Buddhists, and Jains in addition to Hindus.
 Welfarist: This connotation refers to the belief that members of minority
communities should be provided with special welfare and affirmative action programs
to improve their socio-economic status. For instance, the Jain community associations
utilize a welfarist approach by providing resources such as hostels, scholarships, and
employment opportunities for the members of the community.
 Retreatist: By following the retreat approach, minority communities retreat into their
own separate and distinct communities, away from the dominant culture and society.
It is evident from the example of Bahaism, where members are prohibited from
participating in political processes.
 Retaliatory: In retaliation, people retaliate against the dominant culture and society in
response to perceived injustices and discrimination. For example, Assam Violence of
2012 between the Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims.
 Separatist: Separatists believe that members of minority communities should form a
separate state as an independent country. For example, there was a separatist
tendency, especially in the 1980s, among religious fundamentalists in Punjab for the
demand of Khalistan as a separate country.

How did Communalism evolve in India?

Communalism in India has evolved over a period of time and has been shaped by various
policies and incidents. Some key incidents and policies that contributed to the evolution of
communalism in India include

 Divide and rule: The British colonial policy of divide and rule was a significant
factor in the origin and evolution of communalism in India. The British created
divisions between communities by playing them against each other, leading to
communal tensions and conflicts.
 Partition of Bengal: The partition of Bengal in 1905 by the British was also a
significant factor in the origin of communalism in India. The partition led to a
Muslim-majority province in the east and a Hindu-majority province in the west.
  Communal Award: The Communal Award of 1932 was a policy implemented by the
British government that allocated seats in the legislative assembly to different
depressed communities based on their population.
 Appeasement policy of the British: The British government's appeasement policy
further increased communal tensions by favoring one community over the other. This
led to perceived alienation and the rise of communal ideologies.

What are the main causes of Communalism in India?

The main causes of communalism can be complex and multifaceted and vary depending on
the specific context. However, some of the main causes of communalism include:

 Historical factors: British colonial policies, such as the divide and rule strategy, led
to the creation of communal divisions and tensions between different religious
communities in India.
 Political factors: Political factors such as competition for power and resources, as
well as divisive political rhetoric, can contribute to the rise of communalism. Some
political leaders and parties may use communal rhetoric to mobilize support and gain
power.
 Socio-economic factors: Socio-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment,
and lack of access to resources can contribute to communal tensions as different
communities compete for scarce resources.
 Socio-cultural factors: Socio-cultural factors such as caste and class divisions, as
well as regional and linguistic differences, can contribute to communal tensions. For
example, the caste-based reservation system in India has often led to communal
tensions between castes and communities.
 Role of Media: The role of media in shaping communal ideologies and spreading
misinformation and hate speech can contribute to the rise of communal tensions.
 Religious factors: In some cases, religious factors such as religious fundamentalism
and extremist ideologies can contribute to communal tensions. For example, religious
extremist groups and fringe elements can incite communal violence against
minorities.
What are some of the major occurrences of Communalism in India?

There have been several major occurrences of communalism in India throughout history,
some examples include

 The Partition of India in 1947: One of the most significant events in India's history,
the partition led to the creation of Pakistan and resulted in widespread communal
violence and displacement of millions of people.
 Anti-Sikh Riots: In October 1984, the anti-Sikh riots broke out after the assassination
of Indira Gandhi, where more than 4000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh,
and other parts of India.
 The Babri Masjid demolition in 1992: The destruction of the Babri Masjid, a 16th-
century mosque in Ayodhya, by a mob of Hindu nationalists led to widespread
communal riots across India, resulting in the deaths of over 2,000 people.
 The Gujarat riots of 2002: A series of violent communal riots in the Indian state of
Gujarat resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 people and the displacement of over
150,000 people.
 Assam Violence 2012: Violence broke out due to ongoing tensions between the
Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims. These tensions stemmed from competition for
resources, land, and political influence.
 The Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013: A series of violent communal riots in Uttar
Pradesh resulted in the deaths of over 60 people and the displacement of over 50,000
people.
 The Delhi riots of 2020: A major communal violence broke out in New Delhi, in
February 2020. The violence resulted in the deaths of over 50 people and injuries to
hundreds more, as well as the displacement of thousands of people.

What steps are required to address the issues pertaining to communalism in India?
Addressing the issues of communalism in India is a complex and multi-faceted task that
requires a combination of short-term and long-term strategies. Some steps that could be taken
to address the issues of communalism in India include:

 Promoting social harmony and understanding: Encouraging interfaith dialogue,

cultural exchange programs, and educational initiatives that promote understanding
and respect for different communities can help to reduce communal tensions.
 Addressing socio-economic inequalities: such as poverty, unemployment, and lack
of access to resources, can help to reduce the competition between different
communities for scarce resources and thus reduce communal tensions.
 Holding political leaders accountable: Holding political leaders and parties
accountable for divisive rhetoric and communal actions can help to reduce the use of
communal ideologies for political gain.
 Media monitoring: Monitoring and regulating the media to prevent the spread of
misinformation and hate speech can help to reduce communal tensions.
 Implementing legal measures: Implementing legal measures to punish those who
incite violence and discrimination based on communal identity can help to reduce
communal tensions.
 Addressing historical issues: Addressing historical injustices and conflicts can help
to reduce communal tensions.
 Promoting secularism: Promoting secularism, where the state is neutral towards all
religions, can help reduce communal tensions

It's important to note that addressing communalism is a long-term process and requires the
involvement of various stakeholders, including the government, civil society, media, and the
public. It also requires a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of
communalism and its different dimensions, and it's not a one size fits all solution.