COMMUNALISM AND CASTEISM

BOON TO INDIAN POLITICS

BANE FOR INDIANS

In my 1st article for this blog I would like to raise one of the most important issues concerning the national politics in India and that issue is about how communalism and casteism have now become a part & partial of the Indian political scene. Before writing anything further I would first like to tell you why have I chosen this topic as my first topic. I personally feel that this issue is one of the biggest hindrances in the way of India’s development and if not taken care of will only lead to degradation of the nation in the near future. I would also like to quote something on this issue before beginning.

“ the way communalism and casteism are played in Indian politics will ultimately lead to bloodshed and nothing else”

Politics in contemporary India is marked by the resurgence of caste and communal politics. The past two decades have witnessed a dramatic collapse of the political formations and parties which had dominated the ‘Nehruvian era’. The politics of that era were mainly driven by issues such as corruption, black marketing, hoarding and food shortages or economic issues. India boasts of running the largest democracy for the last 63 years and as our constitution mentions that no discrimination will be made between people on the basis of caste, creed, sex or religion,but in 1990’s with the emergence of political parties such as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), and the Janata Dal started claiming that they are representing the so called backward castes and it was this glorious period that marked the beginning of the unseen and never thought caste politics in India. In today’s time we cannot claim a single political party of India to be secular in its true sense. Each one of them is as much responsible as anyone else in bringing India to this situation which she is forced to accept. If I am to say, I would say that it is good that our freedom fighters and the great leaders of 60’s & 70’s are no more to see this ridiculous situation pertaining now or they would have died of shame. They were definitely not fighting for the India of 21st century. It is a matter of shame and pity when our so called secular government arranges Haj yatra for muslims on subsidy and does not even bother to arrange for some concessions for Amarnath Yatra in case of Hindus, when a candidate belonging to upper caste gets a fair chance with genuine merit while the same post or chance is offered to the so called lower caste with lower criteria and on quota. I would like to draw the attention of the authorities towards the fact that many youngsters are committing suicides because of not getting a fair chance. We are losing the ones who are appropriate for the task. This is also one of the reasons why candidates belonging to upper caste are opting for private jobs instead of government ones. The reservation policy is one of the main reasons behind the fact that government posts are facing a shortage of intellectuals who have the responsibility of transforming India into a developed country, to take India to heights never achieved, to make India globally competitive. But despite of all these facts it seems that our government has got nothing to do with it as its main aim is to remain in power, which does not seem to be possible without playing the very deadly caste politics.

There are many events that have proved the interest of political parties towards caste and communal politics such as the Amarnath issue, godhra riots, gujjar agitation etc. BJP after losing the 1984 elections began to create a hysteria among the Hindu masses (specially the OBC’ S & dalits) on the issue of Ram Temple. The slogan “ mandir wahin banaenge” ( we will construct Ram Temple there only i.e. at the site of Babri Masjid) successfully created a mass hysteria among the Hindus and a sense of great insecurity among the Muslims.

The above discussion raises a big question: whether our political leaders are adhering to the basic features of the Indian constitution or taking the nation further to a chaotic condition ?

The laws framed in the constitution are only for the purpose of putting it into black & white and keeping it safe for future reference or in a museum to be displayed and there is no practical implementation done with it.

If the current situation remains to be the same, I am afraid that India will witness another partition among Hindus and Muslims and that according to me will be the most shameful day for us to die for. The problems relating to caste and religion have become so acute and it has so deeply rooted itself in Indian political arena that there can be no solution to it unless and until our mentality towards each religion changes. There is an urgent need to drastically change the mental mindset of people towards each other, rather other religions.

But then at last it has to be us, the people of India who will bring change to the society, the state and ultimately the nation. And now I would like to put an end to this discussion with the following poetic lines:

“What is there in caste,

What is there in name.

What is there in creed,

What is there in fame.

Feel the heat of humanity,

Spread love in all.

India is a secular country,

Where all religions are same”

Thank you

Shantanu Mishra

B.A in Media Studies 2^nd Year

University of Allahabad