If there’s one thing that rulers across centuries have mastered in India, it’s the art of divide and rule. From the Mughals to the British to our very own elected leaders, the story remains oddly consistent—keep the people divided, and power remains within reach.
The Mughals, though often celebrated for architectural marvels and moments of religious tolerance (Akbar being the poster boy), did set the stage for religious distinctions in administration. Policies like the jizya tax on non-Muslims and preferential treatment to certain religious groups planted early seeds of division. While some emperors tried to bridge gaps, others widened them for control.
Then came the British—masters of manipulation. Unlike the Mughals, they weren’t interested in cultural synthesis. They needed control, and they knew that a fragmented India was easier to govern. So, they institutionalized religion. Census categories were created. Religious identities were reinforced. And by the time they left, they’d ensured the country was so divided that Partition became inevitable. Over a million lives were lost—not for land, but for religious identity.
You’d think that post-independence, we’d learn. That our leaders, having fought for freedom, would fight for unity. But no. What the British did with religion, Indian politicians perfected with both religion and caste. From vote-bank politics to selective appeasement, from caste-based reservations to communal speeches, the legacy continued—just in desi clothes.
Today, religion and caste aren’t just social identities; they’re political currencies. Campaigns are crafted not around education or employment, but around temples, mosques, and caste loyalties. Politicians don’t need to unite us. They just need to divide us smartly enough to win.
It’s ironic. Foreign rulers used division to conquer us. Our own use it to stay in power.
The tools haven’t changed. Only the hands that hold them have.