The idea of social justice in Bihar has overshadowed politics of hate and people’s social sensitivity and political maturity is at its best, gathers MOHAMMAD NAUSHAD KHAN
India is at the crossroads, socially and politically. Socio-religious intolerance gaining deep roots across the country vertically and horizontally over the decades has now become more prompt and brazenly aggressive. The response to such vitiated atmosphere born out of manufactured bigotry has been symbolic in the form of return of awards and the political response sealed in the ballot box of Bihar. The idea of social justice in Bihar has overshadowed politics of hate and people’s social sensitivity and political maturity is at its best.
The nature of intolerance evident today is not the outcome of overnight kneejerk reaction rather it has been an ill-conceived diabolic plan for over a century to impose a particular ideology on the plural nation. The prejudices of their religion and social strata have been exploited to the hilt to provoke hatred from time to time against minorities and Dalits to achieve a definite agenda. The more the hatred and sharp division between communities the greater will be the satisfaction to have worked on the cherished agenda.
Professor Imtiaz Ahmad, a renowned social scientist, while speaking to Radiance, said, “This growing intolerance should be seen in a wider context. It is the context of developments over the past decade in terms of the spread of the RSS in small towns and villages. The RSS has been able to spread its ideology widely and prepare the ground for intolerance to breed.”
Imtiaz said that another factor is the decline of the erstwhile dominant and upper castes and the rise of the lower castes, mainly Dalits and minority groups. The dominant groups have been losing out because of loss of land as well as status. Their sons have been educated to low levels and have been finding it difficult to get jobs. They are a band of unemployed persons and are ready material for recruitment into right-wing organisations and political parties. This gives them a sense of power. They are ready material to be deployed for terror and intimidation.
“The Dalits have benefitted from reservation and have got education and jobs and are an eyesore for the dominant groups. So also are minorities, especially Muslims, who have benefitted from Market processes and done well. This is also an eyesore. It is for this reason that the riots are now directed towards destroying the economic assets. The central government being BJP-led has allowed them to operate freely. This has worsened the situation. Opposition to this has grown, but the Liberal Hindu middle class is yet to speak out against it,” said Ahmad.
The manner and the spirit by which the awards have been returned by writers, poets, filmmakers, scientists and historians representing people from different faiths reminds us that the plural ethos of our country cannot be taken hostage by a few. They have made a beeline to return their pride and recognition which is symbolic and historic in the sense because the number of awards returned and the gesture shown is rare and believed to be the first time in the history of India. The majority of India wants to preserve the idea of India and restore communal harmony which is the only way forward and requisite for the growth, peace and prosperity of the country.
Earlier the methodology applied for fuelling communal sentiments was of clandestine nature but now it is shamelessly aggressive and blatantly open. And the government willingly or unwillingly is a mute spectator. Under such circumstances the people and the country are the worst sufferers. Now our President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed concern over the atmosphere of intolerance for the fourth time in less than a month but even then the Government has maintained silence on the growing intolerance.
On the question as to what would be the impact of growing intolerance on the outcome of Bihar election, Ram Puniyani, a renowned social and human rights activist, told Radiance: As far as the impact on Bihar elections is concerned, the growing intolerance will affect Bihar only marginally as the major issues focused there are caste and partly development. The beef ban was also turned around by BJP to raise emotional pitch. The Dadri incident did not get much highlighted. So overall this growing intolerance and what it represents may have only marginal impact.
On the same question, Dr. Hilal Ahmed, Assistant Professor CSDS and Rajya Sabha Fellow 2015-16, told Radiance that because the Government has completely failed they are leaning toward the RSS because the RSS is only way out for them. Even Industry is very apprehensive. Because they have failed they have created a discourse of intolerance. Bihar election is historic because it has always redefined Indian politics. Be it in 1974 when JP Movement started from Patna College or in 1991 when Advani was arrested and again the same thing is going to happen in Bihar. Even when Urdu-Hindi and cow issue was at the top in most parts it was not at all an issue in Bihar. Social justice politics is intrinsic to the state of Bihar and one cannot play out communal politics in the state.
“When Bhagwat made a statement on reservation, and we all know that RSS has been against reservation, now that has given some advantage to Nitish and Lalu. What Modi said about the shifting of 5 per cent of reservation gave the impression that they are playing extreme Hindutva politics to even more communalise the debate on reservation. They are making all such noises because they have now realised that they are going to lose the elections,” said Hilal.