India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

August 11, 2020

India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

Part 1 – Identity Politics

Padmini Arhant

Dissertation on religion, sainthood and anachronism.

Religion – The interpretation in Indian language Dharm meaning principle is the foundation to inner peace and resolve to deal with any challenges in life.

Unfortunately, religion misused as the axis of power. It is convenient for those in politics to assert  fundamentalism and sectarianism subverting religion to remain in power despite colossal failure in meeting basic expectations in governance beginning with economy, health crisis and national security allowing enemy incursions viz. China in the Himalayan and north eastern Indian territory violating sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi focus to establish Hindu state touted Hindu Rashtra stoke unnecessary sentiments anchored on polarization though Hindus’ economic and social status are not better or different from non-Hindus such as muslims and various religious social denominations in secular India.

The wanton endeavor  is nothing more than a distraction to shift public frustration and dissatisfaction on status quo. The economic struggles among the middle class, lower income and the poor regardless of social and religious category have reached crescendo in the absence of effective economic plan.

In fact the economic status nationwide has significantly declined with soaring unemployment in formal and informal sectors well before the pandemic onset. The lack of prudent economic policy plummeted economic growth, drowned business opportunities leading to economic descend in the middle class representing the large consumer base and raised poverty among the lower income segments and the poor bereft of any income only worsened in the ravenous corona virus consuming lives at a rapid rate.

Socially, the caste orientation predominantly for political advantage by all parties in Indian politics desperately rely on divisive strategy. Nonetheless, the Hindutva ideologue RSS run BJP government heavily invested in identity politics targeting muslims in religion besides christians and other faiths on the brink of isolation. RSS radicalism does not spare Hindus either.

Among Hindus the so-called Dalits and overwhelming population grouped on caste basis i.e. the untouchables in modern era relegated to scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) while the rest deemed backward caste (BC) and other backward castes (OBC) in the proud caste system ironically existing since the dawn of independence now buttressed under PM Narendra Modi’s rule.

There is no doubt BJP’s heightened nationalism missing in action in defending Indian frontiers against China resulting in at least 32 Indian defense personnel martyrdom in the past months on treacherous terrain above 14,000 feet with ongoing standoff is off political radar directing national attention on fundamentalist doctrine via temple construction on embattled site in Ayodhya and controversial national education policy enforcing mandatory learning of Hindi and Sanskrit, the latter until lately exalted as God’s language and declared exclusive in communication between the self-proclaimed upper caste brahmin priests and deities in Hindu temples.  

The caste hierarchy have long oppressed and suppressed the natives and indigenous people along side colonial brutality in pre and post independence India. The resistance to any improvement let alone abolition of abhorrent casteism brimming more than ever even during the former UPA government under non-Hindu and non-Indian leadership of Sonia Gandhi, whose next of kin and political heir Rahul Gandhi never shied away from bragging about the family background in self-reference to presumptuous upper caste brahmin wearing Janeu, the supposedly sacred thread adorned by brahmin males which in turn is an identity theft gotten away in misrepresentation over centuries semblance to contemporary event and conduct among egocentric power fame and fortune mongers in society.

As for Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to garner the so-called upper caste Hindu votes, the family tree comprising muslim ancestry grandfather Feroz with adopted surname Gandhi, the spouse of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is never acknowledged as such in any domain for political expediency in the shadow of Congress party pseudo secularism.

The other national political party – RSS controlled BJP under PM Narendra Modi’s stewardship has made quantum leap grinding the caste and religion based politics to 5G level inversely squashing the SC,ST, OC and OBC caste structure to outcasts demonstrated in mob lynching and marginalization in voting rights, decreasing reservation or quotas through introduction of parallel concession to so-called upper castes in middle and lower economic strata. PM Narendra Modi’s political campaign in national election was falsely launched as OBC (other backward caste) candidate yet backed by hardline extremists RSS pledged to pedigree adapted from colonial patronage.

The circumvention and maneuvering on religion and caste politics, the long held tradition among national and state / provincial political factions in India cashing in on vote banks for political mileage is the main reason behind casteism and faith related stigma hindering India’s unity and progress.

The deceptive narrative through government and politics operated media and news organizations muzzling the voice of democracy claiming majoritarian rule favored promoting Hindutva statehood especially amid dismal economic, social and national security environment affecting citizens across the spectrum is analogous to belief on camel through a needle’s eye. 

The trading and bargaining on political opposition luring opponents and judiciary authorities with political memberships in parliament and government positions typically aimed at democracy and constitution demolition, BJP’s preferred act in exemplifying the will their way i.e. aggression and violence could be classified RSS heritage.

Indian incumbent PM Narendra Modi government activities resemblance to Israel’s democratic version firmly proclaimed as the Jewish state setting precedence and opposition compromised with political incentives in the long serving contentious PM Benjamin Netanyahu administration with alternate  Prime Minister Benny Giantz strange combo leaderships could not be mere coincidence. The current political trend under the guise of democracy inhibiting religious distinction in the separation of church and state endanger republic status anywhere. 

The same would apply to Islamic republics as well in the definition of democracy confused with religious fundamentalism exerting authority transforming the choice to rudimentary theocracy.

The topic will continue on sainthood and anachronism linked to latest developments on Lord Ram temple and civilization degradation.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant 

Author & Presenter

PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com 

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Featured, Indian Sub-Continent, International Politics | Leave a Comment 

India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

August 8, 2020

India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

Padmini Arhant

Synopsis

In the height of ravaging corona virus largely known among the rich, famous and powerful, economic depression with gloom and doom overcast and national security threatened by China’s brazen incursion in the Himalayan higher altitude down to the lakes, river and valley along eastern Ladakh and north eastern territory not barring southern end in the Indian Ocean, religious platform serve as the ideal distraction deflecting public focus and concerns on burgeoning health, economic and national security issues.

The Hindu temple foundation ceremony in the long embattled site in Ayodhya arousing religious fervor and sentiment widely telecast nationwide is classic event management – RSS directed political activity is BJP’s specialty and party head PM  Narendra Modi’s signature act.

Now on the subject of religion and the much debated, used and abused Lord Sri Ram, the main character in the epic Ramayana besides being the incarnate of Lord Vishnu, the protector of the Universe.

While BJP’s religious zealots representing political ideology and Hindutva doctrine that has done more harm than any good in polarizing society based on mandir (temple) masjid (mosque) cacophony creating rancor in the media circus on such topics, Gau rakshak, the self-declared cow vigilantes’ heinous violent crimes against muslims and the so-called Dalits despite being Hindus worshipping Hindu Gods subject to constant raid of their homes in search of beef and hide, the occupation relegated to the so-called Sudras designated the lowest caste in caste oriented system.

Among them many sects segregated as the untouchables. The inhumane discriminatory hierarchy fraudulently claimed by the self-proclaimed upper caste as Vedic and Holy scriptures ordained structure.

In recent memory, the mob lynching of muslims and the so-called Dalits in the name of Lord Ram is fanaticism ad nauseam committing sacrilege and blasphemy against Lord Ram and the idea of religion.

BJP’s subversion of religion, God and godliness justifying violence, fundamentalism and denigration of Hindu Gods like Lord Hanuman, the incarnation of none other Almighty God Shiva mocked as servant of Lord Ram is discarded emphasizing historic achievement.

Furthermore, Lord Hanuman was not spared from the spell of casteism either. The deity was called Dalit noting the deity for not being in human form. Never mind ignorance discounting human ancestry (Monkey) in human evolution. In religion wise Lord Hanuman proselytized as Muslim during national election campaign in 2019 in Uttar Pradesh hosting the much touted Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. 

The reference Sant (Sainthood) frivolously used to describe anyone whose profile and legacy is paradoxical to idealism and the concept of spiritualism. 

The contradictory ascriptions merit detailed analyses for appropriate perspective on religion, sainthood and anachronism. 

The topic will resume shortly to discuss religion, the convenient pawn to evade accountability on all matter in contemporary politics. The topic will also touch base on political opposition surrender due to excess baggage associated with corruption and criminality leading to democracy demise. 

Please refer to the sequel.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant 

Author & Presenter 

PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com

 

 

 

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Featured, Religious | Leave a Comment