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Synopsis Communalism in today's world is considered as a political threat to the existence of the polity, economy and culture of a nation. Wider political, economic and social ideas have brought bigger societies in to existence over a long period of history. World history is full of such examples when ethnic considerations were relegated to the back ground, the societies marched towards progress, but when ethnic considerations held away conflicts became inevitable and progress of the society halted. In India, which is and has been a predominantly Hindu Society, the birth of communalism came into being when Islamic invasions started in the 8th Century B.C. The Hindu Muslim conflict continued well over a period of one thousand years. The freedom struggle had been able to unite Hindus and Muslims to some extent. But the British policy of divide and rule ultimately led to the partition of the country and millions of people had to lose their lives. The economy also was shattered. It is a very vital issue for India to survive as a democratic country. All these issues have been discussed in these six volumes in a historical perspective. This encyclopaedia on communalism is the first of its kind in India.