Communal Threat to Secular Democracy

This compilation of articles and essays captures the debates around politics in the name of religion which have been dominating the political and social arena. The range of topics varies from Religion, Pluralism, Process of Secularization, Gandhi and freedom movement, Partition tragedy and debates around that, Role of Hindutva organizations in freedom movement, Social common sense, assessing political parities on the scale of secularism, Gujarat carnage, anti Christian violence, the issues related to terrorism, Clash of Civilization, The relationship of caste and Gender with Communal politics etc.The major thrust of the book is to highlight the nature of identity related politics to give a picture that globally and in India both, politics of vested interests is using the languages of religion. Its impact on the weaker sections of society, Women, dalits, Adivasis and minorities also comes up through these essays. The historical debates of role of different political streams in the freedom movement are covered from various angles as it impacts the present debates of and on. What communal politics is doing to the minorities, Muslim and Christians comes out very well through several of essays in the book. Some contemporary issues like proposed statue of Shivaji, Ram Sethu and Valentine day violence is taken up. Finally the book endeavors to outline the path to peace through dialogues and concern for the weaker sections of society, how to encourage resolution of communal conflicts and overcome the sectarian politics.