Introduction

During the Mughal rule, cultural similarities between Hindus and Muslims allowed them to maintain the status quo regarding their uneven relationship with one another; while the Mughals were the ruling class, the Hindus formed the dominant cultural group. After the mutiny of 1857, the British recognised the distinctiveness of the Muslims and empowered them as a counterbalancing force to the Hindus, which posed a threat to Hindu dominance. The current situation in Kurundwad bears similarities to the events that occurred in the early 20th century. Historically, in Kurundwad, the cultural similarities between Hindus and Muslims underpinned Hindu dominance. Yet, during our fieldwork, we observed that the two communities have begun asserting their cultural distinctiveness. One of the factors affecting Hindu–Muslim relations in Kurundwad is the rise of Hindu militancy, which emerged in response to the attitude of the British towards the Muslims. Additionally, the Sunni revivalism of the Tablighi Jamaat has been instrumental in encouraging Muslims to maintain their distinctiveness. We argue that the existence of common cultural practices plays a vital role in preserving uneven social relationships. As the various cultural groups become more dissimilar, the diminishing overlaps strain the fabric of commonness and increase the likelihood of violent communal clashes.