-Gujarat: Towards Vibrancy or Abolition of Democracy? Ram Puniyani Recently while visiting one of the cities close to Ahmadabad, one was struck by the semi clothed, starving groups carrying saffron flags and making their beeline for the trip to Ambaji. Ganesh, Navaratri and Vsant panchami occupy most of the time in the yearly calendar of the state. Either one is busy preparing for them or recuperating having celebrated the same. Life revolves around Ambaji and festivals. To en-cash on Ambaji phenomenon for the electoral account, Modi is already visible beaming from hoardings, hands folded in prayer, saying Jay Ambe. There is no dearth of issues around which violence can be instigated, cow protection by now is major ploy in the hands of these elements and the current one's (September 2007) have been around Ganesh visarjan and cow slaughter. Setu Samudram is also being floated as the bridge on which Modi may try to ride to the victory.
Currently the violence can be triggered off, even on the smallest of pretexts mainly because the social thinking has been heavily communalized. The voices of sanity have been suppressed, be it the issue of the arts student Chandra Mohan from the Vadodara or the 'banning' of films like Perzania, the suppression of democratic norms has been stepped up over a period of time. It is at this time that the voices of the likes of Aditi Mangaldas and Astad Deboo refusing the Gaurav Puruskar from this repressive state, should act as a barometer reflecting the state of democracy in Gujarat. There is a widespread impression amongst different sections of society and media that Narendra Modi is leading Gujarat towards the path of development. Also a section of patidras are happy with his policies which are giving them a fertile ground for social and economic enhancement. Another section of Hindus eulogize him for being the emperor of Hindu hearts, Hindu Hridaya Samrat, in the aftermath Gujarat anti Muslim pogrom, which took place when he was the Chief Minster. He had called this shameful carnage as the Gaurav (honor) of Hindus. Where do matters stand today? Gujarat has been under the uninterrupted rule of BJP Government from over a decade. It was certified as an ideal Hindu state by the patriarch of Hindutva organizations, the RSS. Now it is a common sight in different places in the state to see the boards declaring a different type of nationalism bypassing Indian nationalism. The hoardings at the entrance of villages/cities read, welcome to the so and so place of Hindu Rastra. The other characteristics of this Rashtra are easily visible once one spends a couple of days in any of the places. The most striking observation is the relegation of minorities to the second class status in the state. The post carnage victims have been suffering due to the lack of rehabilitation measures by the state, and boycott by the local people. The ghettoisation of the minorities is increasing by the day. Many partitions, separate Muslim localities in the aftermath of the insecure atmosphere created by the state apparatus and communal forces cannot be missed even by the observer with average investigation skills. Those displaced due to carnage are rotting in the refugee camps with no civic facilities reaching them. The banks and telephone companies are shunning these areas and children's education is one of the major problems for the victims. Divisive politics is ruling the roost under the supervision of Modi. The state of affairs has been described as mini emergency by members of dissidents of his party. The state of justice has degenerated to the extent that one can hardly expect justice if one belongs to the 'wrong religion' in the language of social common sense prevalent in Gujarat. The social festivals and religiosity is increasing exponentially. Recently while visiting one of the cities close to Ahmadabad, one was struck by the semi clothed, starving groups carrying saffron flags and making their beeline for the trip to Ambaji. Ganesh, Navaratri and Vsant panchami occupy most of the time in the yearly calendar of the state. Either one is busy preparing for them or recuperating having celebrated the same. Life revolves around Ambaji and festivals. To en-cash on Ambaji phenomenon for the electoral account, Modi is already visible beaming from hoardings, hands folded in prayer, saying Jay Ambe. At the same time the team sent by Modi to find the tenability of floating 'Vibrant Gujarat' as the election plank, found that there is a deep dissatisfaction amongst people about the state of economic development. The team of leaders send by the CM was to assess the projects undertaken during the period. This visit was called as Vanthumbi Yatra and the team comprised mostly of his loyal ministers. In what will appear to be a paradox, in this supposedly 'super rich' state of India, Dangs has been declared as the poorest district in India. It is the same Dangs where the Government spent crores of rupees to promote Shabri as the Adivasi deity through supporting the organization of Shabri Kumbh. In parts of Saurashtra the team of ministers was met by the angry crowd asking the questions related to incomplete roads, and other social amenities. In most of the villages visited by them they could not see much development. The people are not impressed by the so called development and ministers team reported back to their boss that the 'Vibrant Gujarat' slogan may flounder as the one of Shining India at all India level during the parliament elections. Probably to offset this, a combined package of Rs 38000, crores has been announced 15000 crores for Adivisis, 13000 crores from urban slums and 10000 for fisherman. It is a clear electoral ploy as there is no such provision in the state budget of 43000 crores, and this whole promise is to be rolled out over next five years. While the indices of development and investment may show the high figures, the chunk of population comprising of Adivasis, dalits and minorities can see the increase in their all round suffering. There is a feeling amongst these sections that the crime rate is rising, the atrocities on women are increasing and the economic plight is worsening rapidly. What works best for consolidating the communal forces is the violence in the name of religion and that's what seems to have been unleashed lately. There were reports of communal violence in villages near Surat and Vadodara. There is no dearth of issues around which violence can be instigated, cow protection by now is major ploy in the hands of these elements and the current one's (September 2007) have been around Ganesh visarjan and cow slaughter. Setu Samudram is also being floated as the bridge on which Modi may try to ride to the victory. Currently the violence can be triggered off, even on the smallest of pretexts mainly because the social thinking has been heavily communalized. The voices of sanity have been suppressed, be it the issue of the arts student Chandra Mohan from the Vadodara or the 'banning' of films like Perzania, the suppression of democratic norms has been stepped up over a period of time. It is at this time that the voices of the likes of Aditi Mangaldas and Astad Deboo refusing the Gaurav Puruskar from this repressive state, should act as a barometer reflecting the state of democracy in Gujarat. And of course the poorest district being in the same state tells the whole story of what Hindu Rashtra will mean to the democratic norms on one side and the condition of the poor and marginalized on the other. The question is can we stop the erosion-abolition of democracy in this state? ~----~------~--~--- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
