[Reader-list] Is Indian democracy turning into a farce now?

[Venugopalan K M]

.
There can be no doubt about the dangers of certain variants of identity
politics which directly poisons people's brains  and selectively blinds them
to major aspects of social reality.
Still, identities continue to negotiate the bumpy fields of power play.
Dr. Ambedkar, Periyar and many great  leaders of a previous era have used
identity politics in ways promoting  understanding, rather than hatred
toward their adversaries in identities.
So, we encounter a problem like which models actually fit into the discourse
of identity politics?
Or rather, which is the  demarcating element , between  a genuine movement
for self respect and human rights on the one hand, and expression of
bellicose nationalism ,regionalism or rabid casteism on the other?

Regards,
Venu.

On Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 5:59 PM, Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear all
>
> The only point I wish to make through the above mail is one of duty or
> dharma, which is what I as a Hindu believe in and I think all Hindus should
> believe in it (This is my perception, and every Hindu is free to accept it
> or reject it).
>
> India is a democracy, and in a democracy people are free to express their
> views. Therefore, people are also free to decide upon issues which they
> consider as important, and those which they consider as not so important. In
> other words, people have the right to decide what they value and what they
> don't.
>
> However, with every right, is associated a duty. In this case, people have
> the duty to realize what issues are important for them and what not. And
> hence, if they do express their right to think of an issue as important,
> they must have a credible claim to back it up. The problem with
> organizations like the Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena or even the SIMI is that they
> are mixing up too many issues or making them appear too simplistic to
> achieve their own ends, which is not what is required.
>
> Therefore, they are not doing their duty, and since the Bajrang Dal
> believes it should serve the nation, it is doing a disservice to the own
> claim of what it is supposed to follow.
>
> Identity is not the lone major issue before us, and so my only request is
> that please let us not focus only on this. We have health, education and
> other issues to focus upon. Having myself put up some issues, I would be
> very happy if others can equally put forth other articles on other such
> issues as well, and infact increase the no. of such articles. That would be
> of great help.
>
> Regards
>
> Rakesh
>



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