Over the past decade, India’s political landscape has undergone a profound shift, with accusations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s government has placed religious polarization at the center of its political strategy. A writer from Kerala, reflecting on historical realities, recalls a time when caste-based discrimination was deeply entrenched but religious coexistence remained largely intact.

Kerala’s cultural history offers several examples of pluralism, including shared religious spaces and mutual respect among communities. However, observers note that in recent years, deliberate communal polarization has been used as a political tool, with the Muslim community being singled out and socially segregated to form a targeted vote bank.

Analysts warn that this trend is affecting not only electoral politics but also India’s long-standing social harmony and constitutional values. The tension between pluralist traditions and religion-based polarization raises pressing questions about the future of Indian democracy.