Politics of Identity and the Anatomy of bans

Cartoonist’s impression of the snail’s pace
 with which the constitution was made. 

The metaphor is pretty straightforward; too naked to decipher for even a retard. B.R. Ambedkar is perched atop a snail with a whip in hand. Nehru, also with a whip in hand, stands behind him. A caption below reads “Cartoonist’s impression of the snail’s pace with which the constitution was made. Making the constitution took almost three years....”. Self styled lunatics –both within and outside the parliament- find the cartoon to be “insulting” Ambedkar; an insult, it seems, has befallen Ambedkar sixty years after the cartoon was originally made! It would be preposterous now to blame the loonies for behaving like loonies, wouldn’t it? One the other hand, it wouldn’t be naïve to expect an elected government to respond to this episode with some measure of balance and equanimity. Alas, the government has responded by banning the cartoon and is even contemplating a withdrawal of the textbook (‘Indian constitution at work’). There is also near unanimity – among the political class, cutting across party lines, in banning the cartoon.

Even a cursory reading of the textbook would suggest that there is nothing in the textbook that even remotely insults Ambedkar. The textbook, rather, is an excellent guide to the uninitiated on the history of Indian constitution, its influence in shaping our institutions and the “politics of power surrounding them”.  It is a shame to find the politics of identity encroaching academic space, and being hell bent on bestowing intolerance and bigotry upon the future social and political scientists of this country. The political class, as we watch, is outperforming itself, everyday, by plummeting to new depths of absurdity.

Politics of Identity

The state is unashamed to destroy our fundamental freedoms to satiate the demands of lunatic elements. To understand how the political class threatens to destroy our fundamental rights, it is necessary to view these events of bans in the context of how politics in India mobilizes people and how such a mobilization grants legitimacy to acts of transgressions by the state.

It is no secret that the political class in India has, over the years, mobilized support by constructing identities, built on foundations of various entities like caste, religion, language, region, historical figures, etc. Identities do provide a sense of social purpose- in mitigating crisis and creating opportunities for individuals to progress as a collective. It is this nature of identity-to foreswear self at the altar of the collective- that has provided the requisite fodder for the politics of identity to grow fat, mobilize support and bully the society to act as directed. If the politics of identity has enabled the social mobility of several marginalized groups, it has equally been responsible for sharpening the fault lines between different groups. This has led to the creation of islands of allegiances, each with its own claims, in a sea of bitter hostility and mutual suspicion. The unspoken convention, therefore, is to render these identities sacred, so as to maintain a semblance of peaceful coexistence. This facilitates the political class, to whip up frenzy at will and manufacture controversy even out of frivolous issues, and thus muzzle even ‘impartial spectators’ who question their dubious claims.

Anatomy of bans       

As recent events suggest, the political class is more than willing to stifle free expression under the dubious garb of protecting communal harmony and respecting popular sentiment. It is time someone called this bluff and exposed it for what it is-a sham. The anatomy of banning certain expressions of art by the state is simple. The ingredients necessary for the outcome – a sense of identity around a large social base and political accreditation of the same- are accumulated over a period of time. The actual production of the ban happens in three stages. First, the custodians of a particular identity constantly pry to look for corners to be insulted. ‘Insult’ to their identity is invoked over an array of things like differing opinions, alternate standpoints, works of fiction, etc. Second, the perceived insult mutates into offense- “How dare that bloody cartoonist exaggerate the facial features of my leader based on his whims?”. 'Offense', as we have come to know, is a powerful tool in the semantic armory of agents espousing politics of identity. Third, the perceived offense is used as an excuse to mobilize outrage and vandalize public property. The final step to muzzle free expression is then set in motion under the pretext of protecting law and order, and maintaining communal harmony. The state, thus, successfully evades from its primary responsibility of protecting individual rights by ceding space to vandals, first by enabling them to destroy public property and then using that as a pretext to curtail free expression.

 Sanctifying individuals             

A part of this entire problem lies in our tendency to consecrate abstract entities, our obsessive affinity towards symbols, and deification of individuals- forever elevating them to a stature inaccessible for its adherents to reach. This misplaced agenda of viewing individuals and ideas as mere symbols and material objects to protect, without understanding what they or their ideas stood for, has stagnated our public discourse, perennially, on issues that really matter. Another aspect of deification of historical figures (or any individual for that matter) is that it reduces the individual to a single constituent. This would entail that the adherents- who sanctified the individual in the first place- have to justify every single claim of the individual they purport to worship, and thereby showing complete disregard for honest intellectual probing into the validity of his claims over a plurality of issues.  Understood in this context, it is imperative for public opinion to be mobilized on individual issues, each with their sound bearings to reason and critical scrutiny.

To paraphrase Pratap Bhanu Mehta- “The problem in India seems to be that everybody wants to do someone else’s job”. Police wants to be moral police; Vandal's want to be artists; Judge's policy maker's; Cricketer’s legislator's; Legislator's academician's. Nobody wants to mind their own fucking business. Therein lays our problem.  

Political dishonesty and Social silence

 This is a very “generic” piece which I wrote on the topic- “Crisis of confidence over politicians and the system as it works today”- for a magazine, only to find my submission past the due date.

Making a mockery of Indian Identity & Politics.
Cartoon  Courtesy- "THE OUTLOOK".

            Invoking the term ‘Politics’ or ‘Politicians’ from the cerebral cortex of an Indian brain, across the social or economic continuum of the Indian society, would evoke an unsurprising impulsive response characterized by a certain smugness, condescension and a sense of ignominy- the sense that entails when a self-appointed elite meets the subaltern. Politics in India, inter alia, is the abode of the corrupt, the dishonest, the incompetent and the morally bankrupt. There are indeed honest, capable and self-effacing politicians, albeit the breed is few and far between in contemporary Indian politics.

             
           Any profession necessitates the need to be successful and our moral obligations demand the success to culminate through fair means. Success in politics, however, can be accomplished only at the expense of being expedient or blindfolded - the latter being the case for a right man in the wrong place; political success mandates the need to mortgage political honesty.

 Politics is essentially a business. The sooner we come to terms with that reality the better can be our response to obliterate the malaise plaguing Indian politics. As Mr.M.J.Akbar has brilliantly put forth in a recent piece in India Today magazine -“The existentialist dilemma before Indian democracy is stark: it cannot co-exist with financial honesty. It does not matter if you are personally incorruptible; you have to be institutionally corrupt in order to engage in the business of democracy. The moral code of elections is uncomplicated: Don't ask. Don't tell. And for God's sake don't get caught.”  

A nation resting on the foundation of scams.
Cartoon Courtesy- "THE OUTLOOK"

            Panic alarms have been triggered and public discourse on Indian politics escalated- without necessarily an increase in the quality of the discourse, to hitherto unseen levels over the last few months in the light of a string of scams that shocked the nation. That begs the question of the reason for our deliberate indifference and inaction over the years on critical issues of corruption and public accountability. Where not politicians flagrantly flouting norms and relentlessly engaging in acts of corruption before? Or is it that they had a saintly glow over their heads a year back? Our reactions to scams and issues of corruption and accountability have always been knee-jerk in the immediate aftermath of an expose, deriving voyeuristic pleasures out of fruitless CBI raids on fraudsters, followed by a complete ‘social silence’.

            The ingrained idea of believing in acceptable levels of corruption and moral fudging, and societal complacency has wrecked havoc to the very system that we have toiled hard for years to build. Our public institutions are tottering under excessive bureaucracy, with bottlenecks masquerading as rules, cronyism working under the guise of public policy and excessive procedures that drives the common man as far away from the system as possible.  

Social ineptitude and Silence.
Cartoon Courtesy- "THE OUTLOOK"

            We have largely been ineffective in tapping the huge potential of our democratic system. Our unabated and blind faith in putting back to office un-delivering and incapable politicians, every five years by means of elections, has inspired confidence on those kleptocrats to continue to fill their coffers unashamed at the cost of ignoring development and public welfare- the very reason for which they were elected in their first place. Our reluctance and intransigence as a society to exercise our fundamental right of free speech, and peaceful dissent, except in times of imminent and explicit transgressions, has rendered our institutions largely ineffective and weak to bring about any meaningful development. A legislature working (non-functioning would be rather apt in the current context) without much goal or purpose, acting as a mere ceremonial pillar of our democracy, isn’t helping our cause either.

            It is time for us to move beyond our self contentment and complacency over the achievements and success stories of the last fifty three years of our democracy. A totally cynical and pessimistic approach wouldn’t help either, for it only breeds more distrust and contempt on our system. Only a critical and awakened civil society continuously striving for and demanding excellence can fast-track change and development. 

India's Independence: A long forgotten story

At the stroke of midnight, on the 15th of August 2010, India would have completed 63 years of independence. And this 63 year long run, though not a complete success, is a success of sorts nevertheless considering the turmoil it has gone through.

Members of India's first Cabinet

The world recognizes India as a democratic country, being 7th largest in terms of geographical area and the second most populous in the world with a population of around 1.15 billion. While these are solid facts that can be picked up from any website, the true picture of India, however is far from it.

Quoting the words of Sir John Strachey, a member of the Governor Generals Council in India during the British Raj, “Scotland is more like Spain than Bengal is like the Punjab”. You could perhaps travel to two different European nations, and would not find as many differences and contrasting features as you will between two states in India! Thanks to its diversity, not only in terms of geography, but also languages, castes, dialects, religions, race and economic divisions. To tag this nation as being simply “diverse” is an understatement. And to stereotype or generalize the citizens of this country is nothing but a gross error in judgement.

To us, this nation India is not a country, but a world unto itself. I am not speaking figuratively here. And neither is the above statement a result of Indian propaganda. Travelling down history’s dusty and bumpy road would perhaps give a better picture why.

Islamic States and the repercussions of their denial

The Middle East, technologically behind the rest of the world and ridden with poverty and Islamic fundamentalism, is perhaps the bloodiest and most volatile region in the entire map of this planet. The situation is further complicated by the Israel-Palestine conflict. USA has been a close ally of Israel ever since it proved its worth during the 6 day war and has been using it ever since as a strategic asset to monitor the Middle East. The US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan has further worsened the scenario and hence denied peace to a region that has not known anything but war for centuries!

“Thanks to the infidels!” That’s what the Jihadists and Islamic fundamentalists would say. Or “Thanks to the Americans!” That’s what the rest of the Islamic population would claim. Little does the Islamic world realize that “it” has been one of the major reasons for the ensuing bloodbath and violence in the region.

State of Affairs in Palestine (Photo: Gnuckx )

While to most Muslims, this previous statement might sound outrageous, the truth behind it is rather simple and reaches back as far as 632 AD to the death of Prophet Mohammed.With the death of the Prophet in 632 AD, the entire Muslim community was divided into two as to who must lead the Muslim world from there on.One of them, the Shia’s, were of the opinion that only a descendant of the Prophet will be knowledgeable and fit enough to interpret the Holy Quran and hence lead the Muslim world. The other group, the Sunni’s, however felt that the Quran can be read and interpreted by any trained scholar with a thorough knowledge of Arabic, the history of Islam and the Arabic world. Hence, they believed that the next leader or Caliph can be decided by a popular vote and need not be a direct descendent of the Prophet. This difference of opinion led to a civil war and to this day is the reason of a huge rift in the Islamic Community. For instance, the big players today in the Middle East affairs are Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Iran. Saudi Arabia and Jordan are a majority Sunni community. Iraq and Iran on the other hand, are a majority Shia community (Saddam Hussein however was a Sunni Muslim). The difference of religious opinions between these communities, in their respective nations has prevented them from uniting under a common banner to fight the injustice happening in Palestine.

Khap Panchayats: Of Honor, Retributive Justice and Murder

How do we percieve a society that endorses and perpetuates killing of young men and women for choosing a partner of their choice or to put it in the other way, refusing to conform to the medieval and retrograde beliefs-upheld in the name of tradition? This medieval brand of killing, practiced by Khap Panchayats in India, reeks of danger and catastrophe to the freedom of the society as a whole. The light of the recent events of killings in the name of “Honour” necessitates the need to find ways to obliterate this horror out of our social edifice.

In India, the term “Khap” essentially means, in the geographical sense, a group of villages. The Khap Panchayats are supposedly the justice delivery systems comprising of village elders and grouped on the basis of their caste and community. These Khap Panchayats behold the power to pass judgments or diktats that are capable of ostracizing individuals and families, if they decide to transgress the norms and traditions of the Khap. Khap Panchayats are common in Rajasthan, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, parts of Punjab and Bihar. The particular practice of the Khaps in contention here is the prohibition of same gotra (clan) marriages between young men and women, living within a same Khap. This practice, dating back to 14th century, is based on the belief that men and women of the same gotra are considered as “siblings”, since they are believed to be the offspring’s of the same parental ancestor. Men and women, in the same village are barred from marrying each other and the rule extends to even the sub castes within a Khap. This rule, not to mention, falls outside the ambit of the Indian constitution or the Hindu Marriage act of 1956, wherein marriages are prohibited only between sapinda’s. Based on the act – “Two persons are said to be sapinda’s to each other if one is a lineal ascendant of the other within the limits of sapinda relationship, or if they have a common lineal ascendant who is within the limits of sapinda relationship with reference to each of them.”

Hey ram !

"Hey Ram...!!" Perhaps the last words of Gandhi, is now being recited by almost every Indian, hoping to be saved by God against bombs, bloodshed and religious violence. Little do we know that we ourselves are the reason for all this chaos!!!

It was evening and the sun was low on the sky, its last rays desperately trying to ward of the ensuing darkness. Finally overpowered, the sun set, plunging the streets in darkness and along with it, a handful of youngsters sitting in the streets, having a heated discussion after a hectic match of cricket. The topic this time was the recent bomb blast in Agartala which killed 2 and injured over a hundred.

This one was amongst the many discussions which today's youngsters have which has a lot of meaning and patriotism in it, but unfortunately no effect on the society or on the nation due to their inability to inspire people on a large scale.

Perhaps one of the boys did realize this, for he said "What effect is this argument going to have? Its not like this nation is going to listen us speak and turn on a new leaf." The others looked at the boy with a mixture of approval and resentment. Approval at the fact that what the boy said was right, resentment that their country was going no where, thanks to the religious fundamentalists, foolish citizens who could be manipulated as easily as a bunch of 6 year olds and most of all, irresponsible politicians who hold the position of power but do nothing to change the fate of the nation.
Finally, as an end note, one of the boys cursed loudly and said"Had it not been for those Britishers, our country wouldn't be in this plight!! Damn them!!"

Most of them, no, not most of them, almost everyone puts the blame for Hindu-Muslim enmity in India on the Britishers and their accursed East India Company. However, Britishers and their Divide and Rule Policy are far from the main reason for the ongoing crisis.

So how did it all begin?

While all the history books use Divide and Rule policy by the Brits as a scapegoat for Hindu-Muslim enmity, that alone is not the reason. While the Brits did employ it to weaken us and thereby rule us efficiently for almost 3 centuries, the very foundation for our disunity was laid long before the Brits had arrived on Indian waters.

The reason for the enmity, quite ironically is we ourselves and our superstitious beliefs. How so?
It all begins with the concept of untouchability in Hinduism and the venture of the Mughals into India.

According to Hinduism, Lord Brahma created Brahmins from his head, Kshatriyas from his biceps, Vaishyas from his stomach and Shudras from his feet. While the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas enjoyed a decent civil life, the Shudras were doomed for a life of slavery and misery just because they were of a lower caste. While this injustice was going on for almost eons, the entry of Mughals into India changed the scenario to a great extent.

Along with the Mughals came Islam into India. While many embraced Islam wholeheartedly, there were others who converted to save themselves of the tax levied on non-Muslims by the Mughals. Apart from these two, , there was another category of people who converted to save themselves of the injustice that came along for being a low caste Hindu. I am, obviously speaking about the so called Shudras. Islam with its philosophy of equality and justice for all caught the eyes of many Shudras. The Mughal period in India saw the conversion of a lot of Shudras and many others even of the upper caste to Islam.

While the Shudras saw the Mughal as their saviors, the Hindus saw them as thieves for STEALING people from their religion, sowing perhaps one of the first seeds of disunity.

The Mughals did help a lot to save the cause of the Shudras. They were the saviors of the Shudras.

Or, were they ?

The Mughals desire to convert the Shudras did not stem from their sense of justice or pity. It was just their zeal for Islam, to convert more and more non-Muslims. While their hidden agenda can be forgiven by taking into account the fact that they did help a lot of Shudras, they were however very biased against the non-Muslims. This is evident from their unforgivable act of destroying and demolishing a lot of Hindu temples only to push forward their own religion. They levied a series of arduous taxes on non-Muslims, indirectly forcing many to convert to Islam, and worsening the lives of those who refused to. Quite ironically these policies of theirs are against the principles of Islam. Their zeal for religion however did well to blind them.

All these incidents and many others slowly started poisoning the relationship between Hindus and Muslims.

They say that the best way for a Muslim to anger a Hindu is to force a cow past his house to a slaughter house. And the best way for a Hindu to anger a Muslim is by chanting bajans during the Muslims call for prayer.


These seeds of disunity were growing in the hearts of Muslims and Hindus alike for centuries. All the Brits had to do was SEE these seeds, and provoke them to unprecedented growth. They just had to tickle a mountain filled with lava to explosion.

The sad part of this is that we somehow dug our own graves centuries ago to doom without even realizing we did by letting all these feelings of disunity and anger linger within us.

We still fail to see who the real perpetrators are. Even if we do, we won't acknowledge our part in all this and the saddest part is that, until and unless we do, things will not turn around.

The worst part is, all this was and is being done for the sake of a God none of us has seen, or even knows exists; all this for the sake of a God we claim is all powerful and almighty.

How so stupid of us?! And how so ironical ?

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