Demand for Backwardness

05.29.08 | 10 Comments | Filed Under Commentary, Indian Politics, Media Watch

Let me make this a little dramatic.

Historically, the Gurjaras were one of the most prominent dynasties (yes, I hate the word “tribe” or “clan” because it reminds me of all the obnoxious colonial connotations that accompany it) that sacrificed thousands of warriors to ward off Islamic invasions. That is also because Rajasthan was one state that sustained some of the most devastating attacks. We can trace the antecedents of an entire state–Gujarat to this dynasty. This crude paraphrase of Milton, “from what height to what fall” only describes the dismal abyss this once-glorious dynasty is forcing to foster upon itself.

I am talking about the today’s Gujjars.

There’s really nothing much to comment on the Gujjar “agitation.” It is an extension of the script existing for about 60 years. The original idea of reservations was to bring the disadvantaged to the mainstream as quickly as possible. The original plan of 10 years was as ambitious as it was sensible. Today, not many remember that reservations was envisaged as one of the significant tasks to hasten the larger goal of nation-building. However, in less than two decades, it metamorphosed itself as a tool to foster a retrograde form of politics after quickly dispensing with the unwanted business of nation-building. The Gujjar “agitation” is just the latest boil to erupt out of that retrograde malady, which exceeds itself each year. From a race to becoming a nation of the brightest, and the best, we have stooped to fighting with each other to prove just the opposite.

It helps to keep this perspective handy before examining the Gujjar issue.

Vasundhara Raje is a good example of the fact that even a hint to look at the Reservations issue in an alternative light will cost an election today. Actually, I should alter that. Raje had to resort to force after Bainsala gained prominence. However, the more fundamental point is that the Gujjar issue had blotted all previous achievements of her government. It may well cost the BJP this election. Only the most naive will believe that the Congress is not egging Bainsala on –if it has not, in the first place, anointed him to unleash his thuggery. In a stroke, Bainsala has managed to create a new vote bank for the Congress. Come campaign time, the Congress party will promise to deliver the “social justice” that the BJP had failed to. And this will be one promise the party will deliver overnight if they come to power. And then they will extend this justice to the Meenas and…well, whoever suddenly feels they have been victimized for thousands of years. The BJP’s campaign on the development platform, the Gujarat model, etc will hold no water against the H-bomb that the Congress now has in its hands.

Public discourse on this issue is not encouraging. Barring a few strongly-worded pieces, nobody has condemned the havoc that Bainsala and his band of goons have let loose. The focus, sadly, has never moved beyond caste oppression, or “social justice.” Which pushes even intelligent commentators to refrain from condemning Bainsala’s hooliganism. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, normally a sensible commentator takes refuge in regrettable vagueness. His article condemns Raje’s “use of force” instead of criticizing Bainsala’s bluff.

The chief minister’s instinctive response to political problems is to respond with excessive force, as if the expression of any social discontent is simply a form of impunity.

The “expression of social discontent” does not settle the argument. Bainsala’s vandalism is anything but an expression of discontent. Offstumped is both blunt and accurate.

This makes it all the more necessary for Vasundhara Raje to take a tough and uncompromising stand on this issue. While her government deals with the Law and Order with an iron fist, Ms. Raje must take the Gujjar Leadership head on politically.

Amid all these incidents of mass insanity, minor but crucial factors escape public notice: count the number of times the army has been called to quell civilian disturbances ever since the UPA has assumed office. Is that an indicator of something?

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