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

[anupam chakravartty]

Dear Venu, Rakesh,

I think for any identitarian movement to be successful, it has to start with
an inward journey keeping things in retrospect. Blowing one's trumpet
because we are a nation of 1 billion people with so much of fire power is
not strenghtening our identity but only shows how vulnerable we have become
under this project called sovereignity. similarly, movements in religion, in
empowering exploited section of people, there has to be mutual consensus
that there is no competition with another set of people who are more well
off or getting more benefits from the state. it is about trying restore
dignity as an individual not because you belong to a collective whole. so
that this individual who would define the roles that he/she performs in the
movement can realise his/her own potential or limits and perform under
these restraints. i dont think with rampant nationalism or with ultra
belongingness one would not realise their potentials. this one human
identity must be exposed to living conditions of many to assert a simple
truth -- to live -- that would subsume all identities, all castes and other
such things. it is only possible if this individual looks inside instead of
falling prey for a charming leader's words -- whoever it may be.

-thanks anupam


On 6/20/09, Venugopalan K M <kmvenuannur at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> .
> 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
> >
>
>
>
> --
> http://venukm.blogspot.com
>
> http://www.shelfari.com/kmvenuannur
>
> http://kmvenuannur.livejournal.com
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