UPSC Mains 2018 GS1 Q20 — Communalism

• The conceptual link between competition for political/economic resources and communal mobilization.
• How perceived or real socio-economic backwardness (relative deprivation) triggers group identity politics.
• The role of elite-driven manipulation of grievances to gain political power.
• Counter-arguments or alternative factors (e.g., historical baggage, religious fundamentalism) that also fuel communalism.

• Spending too much time defining communalism instead of jumping into the 'power vs deprivation' argument.
• Listing communal riots chronologically without linking them specifically to the theories of power or deprivation.
• Ignoring the 'power struggle' aspect among elites and focusing only on the poor/deprived masses.
• Failing to use specific case studies like the Sachar Committee findings or the colonial 'Divide and Rule' as illustrations.

Devote approximately 100 words to the 'Power Struggle' dimension using examples like the Aligarh Movement or pre-partition politics. Spend another 100 words on 'Relative Deprivation' using modern examples of developmental gaps. Use the remaining 50 words for a balanced conclusion that acknowledges the intersection of these two factors.