Which of the following statements about Communalism are correct?

A. Communal means something related to a community.
B. Communalism is about religion, not politics.
C. Adevout believer may or may not be communal.
D. Communalism results in constructing identity of large and diverse groups as singular and homogeneous.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is (A), (C), and (D) only.

Let us analyze each statement step-by-step to understand why this option is correct:

Statement A is correct: The term "communal" literally relates to a community. In general usage, it refers to things shared, owned, or done by members of a community for the common benefit.

Statement B is incorrect: Communalism is not just about religion; it is fundamentally about the intersection of religion and politics. It is a political ideology that exploits religious identity to mobilize people, create divisions, and seek political power or dominance for one particular group over others.

Statement C is correct: Being religious or a devout believer is a personal matter of faith and does not necessarily mean a person is communal. A devout believer can coexist harmoniously with people of other faiths. Communalism, on the other hand, is characterized by hostility, prejudice, and political assertiveness against other religious groups.

Statement D is correct: Communalism aims to unite a large and diverse group of people under a single religious banner. In doing so, it ignores internal differences such as caste, class, gender, and language, thereby constructing a singular, homogeneous identity for a complex and diverse community.

Therefore, statements A, C, and D are correct, making (A), (C), and (D) only the correct choice.