On 17 January 2011 21:39, Nikhil Mehra <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 1:24 PM, Kiran K Karthikeyan < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> On 15 January 2011 12:36, Nikhil Mehra <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>> I think that this kind of identity-based politics is imperative for >>> India's survival. Whether identity came first or identity politics is not a >>> chicken-and-egg kind of question. Identity definitely came first, and it is >>> practical for our politics to reflect it. >>> >> >> Are we the only country with multiple identities? Your statement almost >> makes it sound as if the other who do have got it all wrong. >> >> I think there is something wrong if pandering to these identities is the >> only way to make this country tick. >> > > Kiran, I'm out of town till late tonight. I'll post a more detailed > response either later tonight when I get in or tomorrow. Suffice to say for > now I completely disagree with your usage of the word "pandering". I think > you've confused my conception with a system which doles out benefits based > on identities. Like reservations in India or affirmative action in the > United States. Both of which I am in favor of, but other similar freebies > might bother me. Anyway, till later. > My usage of the word is exactly in keeping with the definition of the word in the context of politics [1] which is <quote> *Pandering* is the act of expressing one's views in accordance with the likes of a group to which one is attempting to appeal. The term is most notably associated with politics <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics>. In pandering, the views one is verbally expressing are merely for the purpose of drawing support up to and including votes and do not necessarily reflect one's personal values. </quote> Reservations obviously play a part, but when you state identity politics as the defining/main characteristic of Indian politics, I'm assuming you meant much more and my reply was in that context. Look forward to your reply. Kiran [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandering_(politics)
