[GreenYouth] Fwd: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice Article for circulation
-- Forwarded message -- From: ram puniyani ram.puniy...@gmail.com Date: Sat, May 23, 2009 at 9:37 AM Subject: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice Article for circulation To: ram puniyani ram.puniy...@gmail.com Looking Forward to Peace and Progress Ram Puniyani The defeat of divisive forces in the recent elections (May 2009) is a matter of great relief. The rule of BJP led NDA (1999-2004) had created a situation whereby the norms of Constitution were given a go by and two set of norms, one for majority community and other for minorities started becoming visible. The worst of this is seen today in Gujarat where the minorities have been reduced to the status of second class citizens, bereft of the citizen’s rights which are their due. During the same regime the communalization of text books and infiltration of practitioners of religion based nationalism in different walks of life took place in a big way. The result has been the plethora of organizations which are part of RSS, called Sangh Parivar became very assertive and aggressive. The manifestations of this are visible not only in the justice deliverance system but also in the sporadic attacks on minorities scattered here and there. The manifestation of their rising assertion becomes painfully obvious in the attacks on Women, (Mangalore), Minorities, (Kandhamal) and total insensitivity to the victims of Gujarat violence. The base of many of this negative phenomenon in society does lie in the social common sense which has been propagated against the minorities and weaker sections of society, in a consistent and dangerous manner. It is in this background that the Indian electorate rose up to give a mandate for positive goal for an inclusive nation. This verdict also shows that communal politics may succeed once a while, but in a plural country like ours, inclusive agenda based on the values of freedom movement should hold on for long time. It is heartening to note that the National vote share of BJP has declined by around 2%, and even in Gujarat, where the leaders of carnage of 2002 are ruling; their vote share has gone down. Again in the background of 2004 verdict there is overwhelming verdict for a coalition which should stand for democratic-secular values. One hopes this mandate will give them an encouragement to uphold these values in a more sincere and honest way. The problems of people prevail in all arena of life; farmer’s suicides suggest agricultural situation needs more than just the farmer’s loan waivers. The levels of poverty and unemployment do tell us that time has come to take the next logical step of employment guarantee scheme to look at the pattern of growth and development where we can do away with the rampant poverty and illiteracy at a deeper level. A lot needs to be done to ensure the upholding of human rights of weaker sections of society, against atrocities against dalits and women. The state of health of a democracy has to be judged by the equity and security of minorities. What is the condition of minorities today? It is facing the problems of equity and security, the problems of identity are becoming more dominant in such situations. One compliments the UPA Govt for instituting Sachar Committee. The point is that now it requires topmost priority in its implementation. It be the education amongst poor, poor Muslims, we need to go miles to ensure that education and employment of minorities is looked from the angle of affirmative action, the pseudo criticism of appeasement notwithstanding. The question of security is deeply related to the question of justice. The recent shoe throwing episode demonstrated that the scars of injustice remain; they don’t heal unless justice is done. So many state Governments have failed in their duty as far as punishing the guilty of violence is concerned. In Mumbai, Shrikrishna Commission report has remained on the shelf despite the repeated promise to implement it. In Gujarat one hopes the work of Special Investigation Teams (SIT) brings out the truth and the Central Government musters all the courage at its command, to punish the guilty of the Gujarat carnage, whatever be their threatening and aggressive postures. In Kandhmal also the guilty are roaming with bloated chests while the victims have been feeling scared to return to their villages. An immediate effort to rehabilitate them, by bringing in the rule of law is of paramount importance. In Gujarat also the Modi Government has not bothered to distribute the relief to the riot victims. These riots victims are living painful life bereft of facilities and are ignored by state administration. The central govt has to remind the state government of its constitutional obligations failing which strict action must be taken. Overall a lot needs to be done to ensure that SIT (Special Investigation Team) work goes on smoothly and unlike in previous cases where BJP workers got Zahira Sheikhs testimony changed
[GreenYouth] Re: Fwd: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice Article for circulation
It is a fucking joke ! at the face of the recent muslim massacre in Cheriyathura. Feel to laugh and scream when seeing these kind of forwards in the midst of the silence of our secular neighborhoods on what happened in Cheriyathura. Those who compete to attach the term Muslim with terror, I mean the media, talks of the 6 dead as 'belonging to a particular community'. Can't it be named, when it is killing? Or are we fools, though we live in a fascist society to think that the killings were so naive. There are other strategies to support the silence, (which is actually justifying of the killing) by talking of communal tension. Who gets shot behind? I mean, repeatedly from Jamia nagar to Cheriyathura. Are we that naive to talk of secularism in our communal state? Aryan On 5/23/09, Venugopalan K M kmvenuan...@gmail.com wrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: ram puniyani ram.puniy...@gmail.com Date: Sat, May 23, 2009 at 9:37 AM Subject: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice Article for circulation To: ram puniyani ram.puniy...@gmail.com Looking Forward to Peace and Progress --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] International Conference On Understanding Fourth World Literatures
ACHARYA NAGARJUNA UNIVERSITY Nagarjuna Nagar Guntur Andhra Pradesh India - 522 510 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON UNDERSTANDING INTERROGATING FOURTH WORLD LITERATURES http://indigenousis suestoday. blogspot. com/2009/ 05/international -conference- on.html 7-9 SEPTEMBER 2009 Deadline for Abstracts: 10. 08. 2009 The Conference will cover the following areas: Native American Studies, Native Canadian Studies,Aboriginal Australian, Dalit, African South African Studies. The term 'Fourth World' was coined by George Manuel and M. Posluns in The Fourth World: an Indian Reality (1974). This was further analysed in political terms by Noel Dyck in Indigenous Peoples and the Nation State: 'Fourth World' Politics in Canada, Australia and Norway (1992). The emergence of Native literatures such as Native American, Native Canadian, Aboriginal Australian, Maori New Zealandian and Dalit literature of India demands a scholarly probe into the evolution and consolidation of Fourth World people in socio, economic, political, literary and cultural aspects of life. The objective of the conference is to introduce and espouse Fourth World Identity that would interrogate the discourse of conventional epistemology. Abstracts of Papers for presentation focusing on the above areas with inter disciplinary approach exploring diversity, multi culturalism, Inter Culturalism, History, Anthropology, Sociology Economy of Natives/Aboriginals /Dalits/Africans /South Africans are welcome from colleagues all over the world. Abstracts should meet the approximate word account of 250-300. Abstracts may be submitted by email to the following address: derr...@rediffmail.. com or derrida.derrida@ gmail.com. Registration Fee Local Delegates: Rs. 600. Non Local Delegates: Rs.800 Foreign Delegates: Rs. 5000 The Registration fee covers accommodation, Break fast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, Tea/Coffee for three days and the Conference Kit. The registration fee has to be paid through Demand Draft drawn infavour of Dr. Raja Sekhar, director International Conference payable at SBI (Nagarjuna University Campus Branch No:4793), Nagarjuna Nagar. Guntur. *** Acharya Nagarjuna University is located in between Vijayawada Guntur, the two popular cities in coastal Andhra Pradesh. The University is 17 K..M. from Vijayawada and 15 K.M. from Guntur. The nearest local airport is in Vijayawada and the International airport is in Hyderabad. The University is surrounded by world famous tourist places like Undavalli caves, Bhavani Island, Durga temple, Krishna barrage in Vijayawada. The world famous Buddhist site Amaravathi is 30 K.M. from Guntur. For mailing abstracts and inquiries: Dr. P. Raja Sekhar, Director, International Conference Dept. of English Acharya Nagarjuna University Guntur. India. 522510 Mobile : + 91 9704464829 Email : derrida.derrida@ gmail.com, derr...@rediffmail. com Website: www.fourthworldlitt .in http://www.fourthwo rldlitt.in/ http://www.nagarjun auniversity. ac.in/engseminar .asp ___ Peter N. Jones, Ph.D. Director: Bauu Institute and Press http://www.bauuinst itute.com Publisher: Great New Books Reviewed http://newgreatbook s.blogspot. com Editor: Indigenous Issues Today http://indigenousis suestoday. blogspot.. com Editor: Indigenous People's Issues Resources http://indigenouspe oplesissues. com __._,_.___ p . __,_._,___ Explore and discover exciting holidays and getaways with Yahoo! India Travel http://in.travel.yahoo.com/ --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Re: Fwd: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice Article for circulation
I like to add that Kerala has 1/4th of its entire population Muslim, and yet communal profiling often takes place here thanks to the apolitical / parochial nature of the discourses media often produce and leaderships of various political parties sell. Just see the huge debates centered on LDF taking the support of Maudany and hid PDP,even while there was no questions on LDF taking the support of the still pro-RSS Raman Pillai and his Janapaksham. Maudany despite his confessions about some aspects of his past style of organizing (mainly, floating ISS-type Muslim Senas to militantly challenge the RSS) and despite the fact that he had been acquitted by the court of all the charges related to terrorism, the media wanted to cling on the pet theme of alliance with terrorism! On 23 May, 14:26, venukm kmvenuan...@gmail.com wrote: Certainly you have a point here. But I wish Cheriyatura does not end up a topic for tangential reference; it could have been provoked even otherwise sort of thoughts you expressed - I mean, without prejudice to the content of the forward you'd dismiss as joke!. It took not just many Jamia type of incidents repeatedly happen before people seemingly succeed in seeing through the evil designs of hate politics, communal profiling and so on. Viewing each incident in isolation with others will perhaps helps the perpetrators. The complicity of Kerala Police in the Cheriyathura firing is evident and acknowledging this at least in part, the Govt has already suspended four police personnel.It has also ordered a judicial enquiry ,apart from announcing a lump sum of Rs 10 lakhs to the dependents of the victims. Why do we often put the blame squarely on the secularists and spare the professional 'hate parties'? I wish people could be bit more open minded toward the track record of people like Ram Puniyani and other 'bad' secularists, before being judgmental about what they actually try to assert. I do agree that the even the higher echelons of the Kerala Police possibly along with many political leaders cutting across parties are already biased against our Muslim compatriots and they are interested in talking about terrorism in a language shrouded in communal profiling. But this is precisely why one should look beyond the parochial limits. If Kerala has become communally biased against Muslims, it is to be fundamentally seen in the light of Muslims globally being demonized by the US-Israel axis plus the Hindutwa allies here. Therefore, I wish to suggest that talking and thinking in truly in ways strengthening secularism is no joke at all! Regards, Venu On 23 May, 11:51, aryakrishnan ramakrishnan aryakr...@gmail.com wrote: It is a fucking joke ! at the face of the recent muslim massacre in Cheriyathura. Feel to laugh and scream when seeing these kind of forwards in the midst of the silence of our secular neighborhoods on what happened in Cheriyathura. Those who compete to attach the term Muslim with terror, I mean the media, talks of the 6 dead as 'belonging to a particular community'. Can't it be named, when it is killing? Or are we fools, though we live in a fascist society to think that the killings were so naive. There are other strategies to support the silence, (which is actually justifying of the killing) by talking of communal tension. Who gets shot behind? I mean, repeatedly from Jamia nagar to Cheriyathura. Are we that naive to talk of secularism in our communal state? Aryan On 5/23/09, Venugopalan K M kmvenuan...@gmail.com wrote: -- Forwarded message -- From: ram puniyani ram.puniy...@gmail.com Date: Sat, May 23, 2009 at 9:37 AM Subject: [Secular Perspective] Looking forward to Peace and Justice Article for circulation To: ram puniyani ram.puniy...@gmail.com Looking Forward to Peace and Progress --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
[GreenYouth] Fwd: [Reader-list] Shock awe on Hindutva Web sites - B Raman
-- Forwarded message -- From: Kshmendra Kaul kshmendra2...@yahoo.com Date: Sat, May 23, 2009 at 6:39 PM Subject: [Reader-list] Shock awe on Hindutva Web sites - B Raman To: sarai list reader-l...@sarai.net The article being reproduced is by B Raman. What is equally interesting and quite factual is a comment posted against the article: QUOTE Huge effort by Mr. Raman.. by Devadatta Bhaumik on May 20, 2009 03:36 PM With due respect to Mr. Raman, he must have scrounged and scoured to produce these gems from the Hindutva websites. Normally these sites are full of crude material denouncing: Hindus who do not agree with their sectarian outlook, Christians, Muslims, Westerners, and anyone arguing for religious harmony. They are full of crudely written chauvinist comments which in civilized societies would be classified as hate speech bordering on racist/ extremist ideas. These websites advocate religious fundamentalism, hatred, violence. They are utterly humorless, full of a sneering attitude, inferiority complex, and are characterized by violence of language and advocacy of cruelty against dissenters. It is frightening to read the stuff written in these sites and these sites represent the terrible dumping down of human intellect. It is estimated there are about 600 of these poison-spreaders on the net, there are even some specializing in vilifying particular religions, culture, class of people. It is a hate-hell out there. It must have taken Mr. Raman a huge effort to sift those sensible remarks from the mount of filth available.. UNQUOTE Kshmendra Shock awe on Hindutva Web sites - B Raman There has been a lot of discussion going on for the last 12 hours or more on pro-Hindutva Web sites in India and abroad about the Bharatiya Janata Party's stunning failure to do well in the election to the Lok Sabha, and the Congress party's dramatic success. The pro-Hindutva elements, which regularly visit and post on these Web sites, are in an astonishing state of shock. There is more introspection already going on on these web sites than in New Delhi and state capitals, and there is more loud thinking than in the endless debates on our television channels. It is more interesting and educative to read these postings than to listen to the blah-blah of the spokesmen of different parties and the so-called analysts who have congregated in New Delhi. As one goes through these Web sites, one is struck by the admiration of many pro-Hindutva elements over the way the Congress has given a youthful image to the party and over the quality of the intellect and powers of articulation of the Congress's youth brigade. There is a grudging admiration even for Rahul Gandhi. Some admit that he has made an impact on the nation as a whole. Others insist that his impact is confined to Uttar Pradesh. Many have compared the Congress's youthful image to the tired and ageing image of the Hindutva leaders. Where are the young people in the BJP, the post-ers ask. The majority agree that L K Advani was a bad choice to lead the election campaign. They allege that instead of surrounding himself with youthful faces and intellect, he surrounded himself with old pensioners from different government services and the armed forces who were unable to read the mind of the Indian youth. A perusal of many of these postings shows that the angry pro-Hindutva elements do not look upon younger BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Shourie etc as representing the newly rising Indian youth. They dismiss them as middle-aged backroom manipulators and not genuine representatives of young India. Many of the postings say Advani made the election campaign a personality-based one and not an issue-based one, which was a serious mistake. Interestingly and significantly, many admit that the election has shown that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has no national stature. The fact that he has been able to galvanise Gujaratis in Gujarat and outside does not mean that he will be able to galvanise the rest of India. They feel one of the BJP's biggest problems is that it has not been able to produce a leader of national stature after Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It has produced a number of good regional leaders, but they are not in a position to expand their appeal beyond their region and beyond their respective communities. I am reproducing below some examples of the kind of comments I picked up from my browsing: 1. 'I think BJP should dismantle, and regroup under a new name, new leadership, with a bit more conviction (I mean the mental kind, not legal) and spine. Bottom line: The BJP does not impress Hindus any more, and it manages to frighten non-Hindus. Not a combination to win India.' 2. 'How do old people like Advani answer to the aspirations of the youth and also how can they 'connect' to a grandfatherly figure when a much older figure like me sees him as an anachronism? Are you going to inspire the youth so that they will
[GreenYouth] (fwded) India Polls: What A Difference A Day Made! By Raju Rajagopal
..I came to India to offer my solidarity to independent candidate Mallika Sarabhai, who had dared to challenge the politics of BJP and its leader L.K. Advani, in the Gandhinagar constituency of Gujarat. The past four weeks on the ground have given me a unique opportunity to observe at close hand the world’s largest democracy at work, with all of its imperfections. The role of big money, despite the supposed campaign spending limitations; the inability to stop criminals from entering elected offices; and the appeal to the voters’ baser instincts on caste and religious grounds, are particularly shameful. And the spectacle of winning parties haggling for ‘lucrative’ ministerial berths, to say the least, is disheartening. Yet, I leave with deep respect and admiration for the electoral system as a whole, particularly the role of the Election Commission, which has ensured in recent years that the world’s largest electorate can cast their ballots in a reasonably free and fair manner. Mallika lost her personal battle with Advani, but her point had been made: The Indian voters had stepped up to the plate to decisively defeat the Prime Ministerial ambitions of a man who had spear-headed the BJP’s politics of hate and division. India Polls: What A Difference A Day Made! By Raju Rajagopal 22 May, 2009 Countercurrents.org “Is the sun setting over the Rising Sun?” I had wondered in the days leading up to the elections in Tamilnadu. Pollsters were certain that the ruling DMK party (the Rising Sun sign) would be swept out of most parliamentary constituencies. The Congress party’s Jai Ho slogan had momentarily turned into Jaya Ho, as the media anointed AIDMK’s Jayalalitha as the most likely king-maker in Delhi, in anticipation of a fractured national verdict. As the nation anxiously awaited the final vote count, hubris was in the air, as pre-conditions for supporting the new government came fast and furious from potential coalition partners. The President had summoned a panel of constitutional experts to guide her in the anticipated complexity of government formation. The market was palpably nervous – “It’s rooting for the NDA,” an entrepreneur friend opined. But it took a mere three hours on the morning of May 16th, the day of reckoning, to prove all the poll pundits wrong! By the end of the day, the Left had been ‘left behind’ in Kerala and West Bengal. The Fourth Front was ‘all out’ for a mere 28. Mayawati’s mystique seemed to have evaporated into thin U.P. air. The DMK’s muscle and money power, and some say Jayalalitha’s last minute bluster on Sri Lanka, had left the AIDMK and its new allies in the dust. Congress had made a clean sweep of Andhra Pradesh. And Advani’s “UPA is soft on terror” mantra appeared to have failed miserably with the voters of Maharashtra. In short, the Indian electorate had completely rewritten the rules of the game by resoundingly endorsing the UPA government and voting for stability. It had rudely snatched the ‘PM crown’ away from would-be king-makers. “Congress, Left, Right and Center,” “Singh is King,” screamed the headlines on the following day. The ‘pound of flesh’ that some of the potential allies were hoping to extract suddenly turned into meek statements of ‘unconditional support.’ And on Monday morning the stock market went berserk (+ 17%) at the prospect of a ‘second inning’ for the UPA, sans the Left. Trading was halted twice as Sensex set record gains, proving once again that India, Inc. is always on the winning side…especially after the fact! Those left behind tried to put on a brave face at first and talked of collective responsibility for their unexpected debacle. But the bravado melted away quickly as the knives were out and the blame game began. Somnath Chatterjee fired the first salvo at Prakash Karat of the CPI (M) and criticized the Left’s immaturity. “Red Card for Karat” cried one headline. Sandhya Jain of the Pioneer newspaper, a pro-RSS columnist, put the blame squarely on Advani for the BJP’s rout, accusing him of lacking vision and presence, and of not firmly distancing himself from Varun Gandhi. A visibly agitated Tarun Vijay of the Organizer (the RSS mouthpiece), on the other hand, was clear that BJP had lost because it had strayed away from its Hindutva roots. Mayawati smelled a Congress-SP conspiracy to do her in. And Jayalalitha alone held the Election Commission responsible for her poor showing -- the same commission, incidentally, whose work AIDMK cadres had tried to hinder some years back during T.N. Seshan’s leadership. Turmoil in the NDA camp soon spilled over into the public arena, as Advani announced that he wasn’t inclined to lead the opposition (a stance he subsequently changed under pressure). Murli Manohar Joshi, an open challenger for the job, uncharacteristically blamed the BJP for forsaking Muslim votes in U.P. by not allocating more seats to Muslim candidates. NDA ally Sharad Yadav was blunter: He blamed BJP’s support for Varun Gandhi
[GreenYouth] Why Dalits Have Slammed Mayawati’s Sa rvjan Formula?(fwded from Countercurrents- article By S.R. Darapuri)
Why Dalits Have Slammed Mayawati’s Sarvjan Formula? By S.R.Darapuri 21 May, 2009 Countercurrents.org Kanshi Ram and Mayawati started their politics with “Tilak, Traju aur Talwar- inko maro jute char” (beat the Brahmins, Banias and Thakurs with shoes) and “Vote hamara raj tumhara nahin chalega” (we won’t allow you to rule us with our vote). Besides this, in order to attract Dalits (Scheduled Castes.) they gave the slogans like “Baba tera mission adhura, Kanshi Ram karenge pura” (Kanshi Ram will fulfill the mission left incomplete by Dr. Ambedkar) and “Political power is the key to the entire problem.” Through these slogans they aimed at attracting and agitating the dalits against the ‘Savarans’( higher castes) and they succeeded also to a good extent. This polarization of dalits was further facilitated by the political vacuum created by the division and downfall of Republican Party of India which was established by Dr. Ambedkar himself in 1956. Since 1995 Mayawati made various experiments to broaden the base of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In the beginning it was known as the party of the dalits only. Later on Muslims and Other Backward Castes were also co-opted. It fought the 1993 Assembly election jointly with Samajwadi Party (S.P.), a party of Other Backward Classes and made good gains. It resulted in the formation of first coalition government of BSP and SP in Uttar Pradesh state of India. This coalition of natural allies became a subject of discussion all over India but soon a clash of personal ambitions resulted in its fall in June, 1995. Kanshi Ram and Mayawati grabbed the post of Chief Minister by making an unethical and opportunist alliance with Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP.), a party of orthodox Hindus and the bitterest enemy of dalits. This put the dalit movement and dalit politics on the path of opportunism bereft of principles. It not only confused the direction of dalit politics but also fogged the difference between friends and foes of dalits. This alliance not only gave a lease of life to the dying BJP but also broke the natural alliance of dalits and Backward Castes for ever. This unprincipled and opportunistic alliance was justified as being essential for getting into power and party workers were mislead by this briefing. This alliance with BJP not only confused the dalits but Muslims also moved away from BSP as they consider BJP as their bitterest enemy. During the first tenure of BSP rule in 1995 some land was distributed to empower the dalits because till then the party workers had some presssure on the party leadership. But later on in order to please the Upperr Caste people dalit interests were given a go bye and getting power became the sole motive of the party leadership. After first tenure of Chief Ministership of Mayawati, this process became faster and BSP raced towards ‘Sarvjan’ throwing aside the Bahujan. In every election moneyed, musclemen and mafias were given preference being winning candidates and dalits were restricted to reserved seats only. Party mission was overtaken by money power and muscle power. Old missionary party workers and those who were close to Kanshi Ram were made to exit the party unceremoniously. As such dalits were put on the margin in the party but they continued to be with the party with the hope that one day they may also get some benefit of government but their hopes were belied. From 1995 to 2003 Mayawati thrice became the Chief Minster of Uttar Pardesh (U.P) but she always took the help of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). During this period neither any dalit agenda was chalked out nor any effort was made in that direction. During 1993 this author during many discussions with Kanshi Ram suggested chalking out a dalit agenda but my suggestions were ignored. I think it was done purposely because declaration of an agenda brings upon a duty to implement it and if failed it brings upon the responsibility and accountability for the failure. It is a matter of regret and sorrow that a party seeking political power in the name of dalits has not framed any agenda till to date as a result of which the dalits have been deprived of any gain coming from a government being run in their name. The result is that the dalits of U.P. are the most backward dalits in whole of India barring those of Bihar and Orissa. During this period moneyed and musclemen of Upper Castes have been managing to get Assembly and Parliament tickets and getting elected they been enjoying the fruits of power whereas dalits with a meager representation have been deprived of all such benefits. BSP, which is doing politics in the name of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, in its effort to secure power has totally ignored his warning in which he had said that “dalits have two enemies. One is Brahmanism and the other is Capitalism and dalits should never compromise with them.” But Mayawati has compromised with both by co-opting Brahmans and Corporate sector. At present dalit politics has become a tool for power
[GreenYouth] Economies of change by Chandrabhan Prasad
*Economies of change* *Chandrabhan Prasad* It was May 2008 when was I travelling by a Bihar-bound train from Delhi to Lucknow. Disobeying the law, I was smoking and hence stood at the gate. A Bihar-born immigrant family was trying to catch the train. The train had begun moving, and the second class coach had passed. The family — proletariat by all standards, was trying to board the AC II coach in which I was traveling. The family — husband, wife, and three kids could some how manage to catch the train. I along with my co-smoker helped them enter the coach. We consoled the proletariat family, and assured that we will help them transfer to the second class coach. I was going to the Uttar Pradesh countryside for a study — “Food habits, occupation and lifestyle changes amongst Dalits.” I found a ready subject in that family. I asked them questions relating to the goods the family was carrying. Among many things, the family was carrying a pressure cooker, a cheap cell phone set, and clothing for other family members back home. As the family revealed, the pressure cooker was for their family, and the cell phone was a gift meant for a relative whose daughter was getting married the next week. This April, I visited few Kolam villages in the district of Yavatmal, Maharashtra. Kolam is a primitive Tribe, and many Kolam boys and girls are using shampoo to wash their hair. Shampoo pouches are available for 50 paisa. In the apartment I live in Delhi, almost all desert coolers have been replaced by air-conditioners. The family that had window ACs are now switching over to split AC sets. Many families in the apartment I live in are replacing their old TV sets by LCD TVs. A couple of weeks back, a relative of mine got married. I could not attend his marriage because of General Election. The groom side was upset because the bride side didn’t serve cold drinks to the wedding party guests. There are funnier sides to things happening in this country. I am told of an interesting story. An ex-landlord’s family has turned poor. The family sold off most of the land they once had to maintain the lifestyle they were used to. That ex-landlord’s family couldn’t afford to buy a TV set, but have a large house built decades back. The household head bought an antenna and installed on his roof top. In public perception, the family has a TV set. The thinking India has missed some thing strange happening inside the society. All of a sudden, material markers are gaining grounds over social markers. Economics has come to lead the politics and that’s what seems to have caused Congress’ stunning victory. If the rich in the urban India are replacing small cars with bigger ones, the poor in the countryside are aspiring for bicycles. Rich or the poor, most Indians are now swayed by material goods. Not that all poor have come to possess bicycles or TV sets, not that all the rich families have bought luxury cars, but they at least aspiring for these worldly goods. Contrary to the new mood of the society, losing political players sold something else in these elections. Expected to do well this time BJP sold the slogan of “Strong Leader, Decisive Government”. Voters seem to have shot back- “What is this”? The Left came with the politically correct slogan — “A non-BJP, non-Congress Secular Government?” The voters seem to have responded by saying “Get Lost”? The BSP sold the slogan of “Dalit ki beti as PM.” Voters seem to have asked — “Why not a Bharat ki Beti as PM”? With few notable exceptions, regional warlords too have been denied their ‘State’ nationalism. The Congress on the other hand, invariably talked of nuclear deal, economic growth and the youth power. Of the billion plus Indians, 75 per cent are aged below 45 years. In other words, Congress could connect to the majority of Indians who in search of shampoo pouches, pressure cookers, cell phones, bicycles, large cars and split AC sets. The Congress triumphed and brutalised both the opponents and poll pundits. What the thinking India seems to be missing is that howsoever socially diverse India may be, with diverse and multiple identities, at one point of time there can only be one particular identity presiding over the of rest the sub-identities. In this election, economics led the politics. -- Ranjit --~--~-~--~~~---~--~~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Green Youth Movement group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to greenyouth+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~--~~~~--~~--~--~---
