Asif Iqbal
All countries in the world have inequalities of various kinds. India, however, has a unique cocktail of lethal divisions and disparities.
Few countries have to contend with such extreme inequalities in so many dimensions, including large economic inequalities as well as major disparities of caste, class and gender.” ~ An Uncertain Glory: India and Its Contradictions by Jean Drèze & Amartya Sen
Notwithstanding the inequalities and social injustices highlighted by the above quoted authors, Indian politics have further created divide in the society, not only socially but religion wise, by pursuing ultra-extremist policies.
Indian policies are tainted by Hindutva mindset and rising intolerance towards other religions; where it highlights the rude awakening of Indian mindset vis-á-vis BJP cum RSS ‘stupas’, it also sets to show the fault lines which divide this nation and may eventually lead to the demise of Chanakya’s philosophies.
Actions of BJP government are nothing but apocryphal, when it tries to portray that it represents a secular India and the largest practicing ‘democracy’.
Really, who are they trying to dodge and would the world continue to fall for the credulity of ‘Incredible India’? How long would this farce continue? And how long would this unstable ‘stability’ last? Mulk Raj Anand attacked religious bigotry and exposed social injustice through his novels, Ranabir Samaddar has spoken out for social injustices, Jaya Kamlani has identified India’s cardinal sins – toxic environment, poor sanitation, farmer suicides, caste apartheid, extreme poverty, injustice to women and child exploitation – and the list goes on.
And then there are progressive critics to the likes of Arundhati Roy and Ashok Swain, who face wrath of the Indian government and media – the champions of democracy – for speaking out against social injustices, bigotry and continued human rights violations in India.
The Hindutva policies of BJP-led Indian government – seemingly incoherent, yet consistent – resulting into social injustices, religious intolerance and caste apartheid among other evils, has created a void which is being filled with raising of voices by the underprivileged and unfortunates to ask for social justice through arms.
The inhumane treatment is not limited to Muslim majority Jammu and Kashmir, and upticks to other social fabrics and areas.
The Naxalite-Maoist insurgency is the longest ongoing conflict which has resulted in killing of roughly 15000 people.
Social insecurity of Sikh community triggered Khalistan movement and ongoing farmers protests is also being led by none other than Sikh community, despite the fact there are voices of dissent from Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal.
Separatist movement in Assam was triggered due to social, political and economic neglect and has claimed nothing less than 30,000 lives.
Similarly, decades’ long neglect of Mizo people resulted in calls for independent Mizoram and Tani groups in Arunachal Pradesh demand an independent Taniland.
NGOs like the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) – proclaimed Indian public policy think-tank – are linked to the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS.
As highlighted by Srijan Shukla and Neelam Panday, “Among the think-tanks spearheading the right-wing’s attempts to establish its ideology of “New India” are the Vivekananda International Foundation, the India Foundation, the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, the India Policy Foundation and the Public Policy Research Centre.”
Founder of VIF is none other than the great Indian ‘spymaster’ Ajit Doval, Indian National Security Advisor (NSA); longest serving, 7 years and still clinching to the title, compliments to his RSS cum BJP affiliates.
These foundations dubbed as “right intelligentsia”, often also provide personnel for key positions in BJP-led government bodies across the country thus providing the ‘intellectual ammunition’ for Hindu fascism – ‘the most unkindest cut of all’ for the secular, ‘democratic’ and ‘Incredible India’! India’s trails under Modi leads to nothing but never ending apathy towards non-Hindus.
The recent spate of incidents like theft of nuclear material and hush-hush by the Indian ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ media and ‘the pursuit of happiness’ by international media is beyond the understanding of any sane mind.
But sanity does prevail; would it prevail in the UNGA moot or would it be overpowered by the Quad and shards of embarrassment of the so-called ISAF cum NATO alliance in Afghanistan! Question remains, would a Dalit be able to survive in India, let alone people from other religions.
