Greetings @Indrani ,
Thank you for the article that you provided and from my analysis of the source, it seems that the author of that article definitely aims to identify the relationship dynamic of Islam in the Subcontinent, specifically focusing on the unfortunate instances of brutality that was committed in the name of Islam.
That said, let me give my analysis. In my view, relations between Hindus and Muslims in India have been characterized by continuous tensions and inter-communal violence. Muslims constitute India’s largest religious minority of about 12 percent of the total population, about 82 percent of which is Hindu. They have suffered from economic disadvantage since India’s partition and are now among the poorest and least educated communities in the country.
Previous analyses of this conflict have focused in particular on the conditions that facilitate conflict and violence between Hindus and Muslims. In fact these have past studies highlighted the role of economic inequalities and competition and identified psychological predictors of prejudice (eg, perceived relative deprivation).
I want to bring to mind the Contact Hypothesis, which posits that prejudice between opposing groups can be reduced by bringing them together under optimal conditions. There are a number of factors constituting the ‘nature of contact’, including the indicators of the quantity of contact (such as contact frequency) and more specific measures of its quality (the social atmosphere surrounding contact), which have been conceptualized as separate dimensions in subsequent works.
There have been recent work that focused on the psychological mechanisms that mediate the well established effect of contact and prejudice. One mediating variable that has received substantial attention is that of ‘intergroup anxiety’, a negative affective state which is experienced when anticipating future or expecting actual contact with out-group members, and which stems from the expectations of embarrassment or rejection during interaction. Increasing inter-group contact, and cultivating a culture of inclusion, understanding, is what can effectively reduce inter-group anxiety, prejudice, hostility.
While there is definite history of violence in India, most of which are catalyzed by political upheavals and religious imposition, one has to understand the fact that history provides lessons for the current epoch. The Union of India is NOT the the Tipu Sultanate, is not the Mauryan Empire, is not the Mughal Empire or the Maratha Empire. India is a a Republican Democracy, centered on the rule of law. India; its states and its union territories is composed of a hodgepodge of ethnicities, races, languages, religions ranging from Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Budhism, Bahai’I, etc.
India as a heterogenous, and multicultural society has to go beyond the lines of communal identities, religious identities and ethnic identities. For India to become a prosperous and dynamic nation, it must put away with rhetoric that foment inter-communal discord, and foster inter-group cooperation.
Best,
@Nihonjin1051
Reference:
Tausch, N., Hewstone, M., & Roy, R. (2009). The relationships between contact, status and prejudice: An integrated threat theory analysis of Hindu–Muslim relations in India. Journal Of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 19(2), 83-94. doi:10.1002/casp.984
Thank you for the article that you provided and from my analysis of the source, it seems that the author of that article definitely aims to identify the relationship dynamic of Islam in the Subcontinent, specifically focusing on the unfortunate instances of brutality that was committed in the name of Islam.
That said, let me give my analysis. In my view, relations between Hindus and Muslims in India have been characterized by continuous tensions and inter-communal violence. Muslims constitute India’s largest religious minority of about 12 percent of the total population, about 82 percent of which is Hindu. They have suffered from economic disadvantage since India’s partition and are now among the poorest and least educated communities in the country.
Previous analyses of this conflict have focused in particular on the conditions that facilitate conflict and violence between Hindus and Muslims. In fact these have past studies highlighted the role of economic inequalities and competition and identified psychological predictors of prejudice (eg, perceived relative deprivation).
I want to bring to mind the Contact Hypothesis, which posits that prejudice between opposing groups can be reduced by bringing them together under optimal conditions. There are a number of factors constituting the ‘nature of contact’, including the indicators of the quantity of contact (such as contact frequency) and more specific measures of its quality (the social atmosphere surrounding contact), which have been conceptualized as separate dimensions in subsequent works.
There have been recent work that focused on the psychological mechanisms that mediate the well established effect of contact and prejudice. One mediating variable that has received substantial attention is that of ‘intergroup anxiety’, a negative affective state which is experienced when anticipating future or expecting actual contact with out-group members, and which stems from the expectations of embarrassment or rejection during interaction. Increasing inter-group contact, and cultivating a culture of inclusion, understanding, is what can effectively reduce inter-group anxiety, prejudice, hostility.
While there is definite history of violence in India, most of which are catalyzed by political upheavals and religious imposition, one has to understand the fact that history provides lessons for the current epoch. The Union of India is NOT the the Tipu Sultanate, is not the Mauryan Empire, is not the Mughal Empire or the Maratha Empire. India is a a Republican Democracy, centered on the rule of law. India; its states and its union territories is composed of a hodgepodge of ethnicities, races, languages, religions ranging from Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Budhism, Bahai’I, etc.
India as a heterogenous, and multicultural society has to go beyond the lines of communal identities, religious identities and ethnic identities. For India to become a prosperous and dynamic nation, it must put away with rhetoric that foment inter-communal discord, and foster inter-group cooperation.
Best,
@Nihonjin1051
Reference:
Tausch, N., Hewstone, M., & Roy, R. (2009). The relationships between contact, status and prejudice: An integrated threat theory analysis of Hindu–Muslim relations in India. Journal Of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 19(2), 83-94. doi:10.1002/casp.984
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