Pluralism Under Strain

As communal tensions intensify and global scrutiny grows, India must defend the principles that made it a democracy admired worldwide—equality, dignity and justice

- 

A truly “Viksit Bharat” is not only wealthier—it is fairer, kinder, and more just

India stands as one of the world’s most significant democratic experiments, a nation where nearly one in five citizens belongs to a notified religious minority—including Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis).

These communities are not merely demographic segments; they constitute the bedrock of Indian civilisation. While the spectre of communal violence surfaced tragically on the eve of independence, the nature and intensity of such friction has evolved significantly in the digital age.

On the eve of Christmas this year, a palpable sense of fear and tension gripped congregations across several states, including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala. Reports of attacks, intimidation, and the disruption of services cast a shadow over the celebrations. These incidents have been linked to right-wing Hindu groups and affiliates of the RSS, highlighting a troubling escalation in targeted hostility against minority faith practices.

Over the last decade, the nature of communal violence has been reshaped by technology. Data analysis by the digital platform India Spend revealed a 28 per cent increase in incidents of communal violence between 2014 and 2017, frequently fueled by fake news and social media rumours. This trend has garnered international scrutiny.