Impact Of Communal Disharmony On The Nation And Its Security

Introduction:

Communal harmony is a very crucial aspect which helps a nation to grow and is the key component of a multi cultural nation. India is a beautiful nation which after gaining its independence from the britishers, established its fundamentals on being a secular nation, which means that India became neutral in matters related to religion and recognized every citizen’s religious rights. India is one of such nations where every citizen has a right to profess their religion openly, which has been vested upon us by the Constitution of India. India is known for its diverse culture worldwide. But on the other hand India has seen its black days where several Indian communities became a victim of communal violence.  Communal violence can be defined as tension, conflict between different religious, cultural or ethnic groups within a nation. These conflicts come at high risk which poses imminent threat to the nation and its security; it disrupts and hampers the economic stability as well as the growth of the nation. There can be many reasons which lead to the rise of communal violence, which are historical tensions between different religious or ethnic groups, economic disparities, political instability, the spread of misinformation and hate speech or the vote bank politics. Communal harmony generated a form of unity amongst the communities of the nation which co-exist peacefully. When these communities coexist together, different perspective, ideologies as well as the traditions can lead to the growth of the nation’s cultural richness. Simultaneously, this unity amongst the communities, contributes in the growth of the nation and builds a foundation on which a nation can build progress and development. To the contrary, when there is disharmony amongst the communities, it divides the nation, ruining the bond which holds the nation together. By tearing apart the social fabric, a country becomes less resilient overall and more open to outside influences that may take advantage of internal conflicts. 

India has been a victim of many incidents of communal disharmony which has lead to violence, be it the ongoing Manipur conflict or the 1990s Kashmiri Pandit exodus or be it the 2020 New Delhi riots, all these incidents demonstrate the enormous affect it had on the communities involved, the number of lives lost because of the violence, how it posed as a threat the security of the nation. The recent violence in Manipur serves as a stark reminder of the devastation that can result from racial tensions. Conflicts between different ethnic groups in Manipur grew worse, leading to violence, eviction, and fatalities. This episode serves as an example of how social unrest can impair governance, paralyse regions, and fuel outside forces looking to profit from divisions. India which is known for its unity gets adversely affected during the times of communal violence where different groups turn against each other because of conflict of interest. It can also be stated that various political parties turn the religious communities against each other because of their vote banks. It is not a hidden fact that the political parties are driven by a huge back support from a particular community. So to get support from those groups the parties try to turn against each other, but this is not the only reason why there is a disharmony between the various communities of India. The recent communal violence breakout hasn’t been hidden from anyone, the violence had an adverse effect on the state’s economy, and it led to shutting down of shops, schools, other business institutions. One of the side effects of the communal violence has resulted in total shut down of modes transport. In his recent interview, Shanta Nahakpam, the secretary of the Economic and Resource Department Organisation in Imphal stated, “Manipur’s economy is majorly driven by the agricultural sector and because of the recent turn of events, the transportation industry has been affected largely due to which the produce is not being able to be transported anywhere and it being a perishable item is being destroyed”. A country that struggles with social unrest runs greater security risks. Communities that are split apart are more vulnerable to outside forces trying to use them against the integrity of the country. In such settings, radicalization and the recruitment of people by extremist groups are more common. Law enforcement organisations are also overburdened and find it difficult to effectively handle both internal conflicts and external threats. If we talk about communal disharmony’s affect on the economic growth of the state or the nation, it plays a major role. Communal disharmony and the tension derange the economic status as well. Or we can say it can turn it upside down, it can scare off the investors, and hamper with the smooth functioning of ongoing businesses as stated earlier, etc. communal disharmony negatively impacts the economic growth of a nation as it disrupts the ability to attract investments which plays an important role in the economic growth which makes it hard to maintain a stable economic trajectory. 

Once there is a conflict between the communities, it becomes very easy for many terrorist institutions (organizations) to influence the involved groups, i.e, these organization often exploit the marginalized groups or who are disempowered because of the conflict. During the time of breakout of communal disharmony, there is a huge rise in the violation of human rights, where innocent and ordinary people get caught up in the violence, even if they are not directly connected or involved in the rising conflict. The harmony and stability of a country have a big impact on its reputation. Conflicts between communities foster an atmosphere of unease that discourages both tourists and investors. When potential visitors think that a place is unsafe, the tourism industry, which contributes significantly to economic growth, can suffer greatly. The issue is made worse by the country's unfavourable portrayal in international media, which reinforces misconceptions that are challenging to dispel.

In conclusion, disharmony within a community has a significant and complex impact on the security and stability of a country. The effects are wide-ranging, ranging from political instability and security vulnerabilities to economic setbacks and cultural deterioration. Stakeholders from all sectors of society must put unity, communication, and inclusivity as a top priority because they understand how important communal harmony is in creating a prosperous and secure nation. Societies can lessen the negative effects and foster an atmosphere of peace, progress, and security for all by addressing the underlying causes of intergroup conflict and investing in initiatives to foster understanding. In a nation as diverse as India, upholding intercommunal harmony and respecting pluralism can be difficult. To uphold constitutional values like fraternity and secularism, it is crucial to speak to the nation's collective conscience. On the one hand, this can take into account the fears of the populace, but on the other, it can greatly advance the process of nation-building. A powerful country that is built on the contributions of communities cooperating for its prosperity can also support the upkeep of world peace and harmony.