Minority Wins

Communal voting of ignorant masses, they say, is the secret of BJP’s electoral success. Then was the success of Congress and Communists a child of intellectual and informed voting? Simple statistics say otherwise. Decline of Congress’ vote share and adult illiteracy has been parallel. While Congress and other parties criticized, BJP is condemned. Even the allies of BJP, some as unscrupulous as DMK, still treat it as ideologically untouchable. It is depressing that in an age that is supposed to be the pinnacle of rational thought, discussions and debates on the rights of the Majority are done not with the mind, but with hearts.

Why is secularism a responsibility of the majority while unlawful, and often violent, demonstration, a right of the minorities? A handful of cartoons have taken the world by storm. But here we have an acclaimed Muslim painter who refuses to cloth Hindu deities. Artistic freedom they say. What prevents his “artistic freedom” from painting a nude Fatima? We don’t have any Fatwas against him. Why? Minority Rights.

Our secularism has reached such heights that while Lal Kishen could be stop Lalu Prasad, no one could stop the provoking speeches by Owaisis at Hyderabad’s Jama Masjid on the eve of Bush visit. This is the same city whose Police Commissioner was pushed around in his own office by burkha-clad women for arresting person linked with LeT. And the women got away with their hooliganism. Why? Minority Rights.

Let me make it plain that I am no pracharak for the Sangh Privar. Get me an EVM now and my finger would, in all probability, would go away from BJP. I have neither forgotten their communal canards nor forgiven their political pogroms. But what appalls me is that except the members of the Sangh Parivar, we don’t find a single soul who would recognize the rights of majority.

Those 7+ million swayamsevaks, of whom 4+ million religiously attend the Shakhas everyday, are neither fools nor mindless rioters. Their discipline and commitment, which is espoused through their work in tribal, rural and disaster-affected areas are never acknowledged. Our “erudite” sociologists never talk about the contribution of RSS. Its Vanvasi Kalyan Kendras in the tribal areas and Ekla Vidyalayas or single-teacher schools in several villages are no objects of fiction like the state-run schools. Yet, their work is reviled as Sankritisation of the tribals, while the work of Christian missionaries in North-east is hailed.

The socio-culture impact of the RSS’ field work and their political motive is the favorite topic for research and desertion for students and academics alike. I appreciate the pains taken by them to reach god forsaken corners of this country and enlighten us about their hidden agenda. But wouldn’t it be great for these to equally enlighten us about the manichaean of the Madrassas in their neightbourhood. Why is that everything that the RSS does is bad, while similar acts when replicated by minorities hailed?

Why does the phrase “Majority Rights” sound as an oxymoron in this country? Does a majority community have no rights? More importantly, should a majority community not have rights? No. Every community, irrespective of its demographic proportions, has a right to preserve and promote its way of life. If numerical preponderance is a symbol of security in itself, then why do Indians have Fundamental Rights. After all, Indians are an absolute majority in India. The reason lies in the fact that despite their numerical strength, the interests of every community, be it religious, regional or national, suffers from an inherent danger of being compromised by vested interests. And this has been precisely happening in subtle forms with the Hindus. Hence there is nothing to ashamed for any majority to assert its rights. There is no need, cultural, ethnical or ethical, for it to sacrifice its rights to favour the propagation of other communities.

The Samajwadi Party rakes up Muslim passions, Congress massacred Sikhs and innumerable other parties indulge in communal politics. But unfortunately, it is conveniently forgotten that rousing the passions of any religious group is as communal as rousing the passions of Hindus. It is time that the self-appointed guardians of all communities should be accorded equal respect and be judged by same yardsticks and the same history.

Update: As I was surfing through various sites in search of pictures, I found this blog. I haven't read it fully nor do I endorse all that it says. But it does give interesting alternative views.