2S) PEOE-3rd A Term Paper (11-05-2017) Bharghava Shyam (B)

 Name: A.N. Bharghava Shyam
Admission Number: MAE15007 (11-May-2017)
Topic Selected: Identity Politics on Religion

Introduction

Identity Politics: Identity politics is the Struggles between the groups for power

Identity Politics is a tendency of Humans for social stratifications which are particularly based on religion, region, race, social background, etc., to form an exclusive political alliance.

Identity politics refers to political positions based on the specific interests and perspective of the society with which people wants identity.

Identity politics is good in organizing, making solidarity, having vision & bad in discriminating, destroying, etc.  Identity is a powerful resource to society and it gives goals to politics.

Identity Politics can be done by social environment, Identity politics will happen when Identity is loosely corresponds to problems (Real or Perceived)

Religion:

Religion is a strong belief on a supernatural power and that power controls human’s life. It is a traditionally accepted story from the history. And it explains the view of world (People).

There are only some religions in the world (Nearly 20 Religions), but it is influencing 7 Billion people in world. By this we can understand power of religion.

Hindutva:

Hinduism is one of the ancient religion in the world. In which who adheres to Hinduism. Hindutva is a predominant form of Hindu nationalism, Bharatiya Janata Party adopted this Hindutva ideology in 1989. But later supreme court declared that Hindutva is not a predominant form of nationalism, it the way of life.

Literature Review

In Dr. Marie Lall “Education to Hate (The use of education in the creation of antagonistic national identities in India and Pakistan.)” Paper I understand-(ing) that Education plays a vital role in making national identity and he explained how India and Pakistan developed their curriculum to develop their religious Identity in that countries to make their countries as .(Hinduism in India & Islam in Pakistan). In 1977 Zia- Ul- Haq developed curriculum in the model of Islamization in Pakistan and in India in 1998 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into power with Ideology of Hindutva to make India as a Hindu Nation. (With the influence of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang)

In Apoorvanand’s “A critique on Rajasthan New textbooks” He explained how Rajasthan state government changed the curriculum (textbooks) within 2 years without focusing the quality of textbook, materials, curriculum, etc. when Bharatiya Janata Party came into power.

Identity Politics- In India and Pakistan

(Hindutva and Islamization)

Identity politics is the Struggles between the groups, Here groups are religions here there is struggles between religions mainly between Hindus and Muslims. In India there is clashes between Hindus and Muslims; and in Pakistan there is clashes between Hindus and Muslims. This struggles between the religions are running the societies. Those who are in power the people are criticizing the other religious system.

Identity politics is mostly focus on Fascism Ideology. Fascism is a politics of emotions and symbols. In Pakistan and India the ruling political leaders are changing the curriculum how they want. In this the ruling political leaders are became god in their tenure. Like this they implementing their ideology with fascism political ideology, (This is Identity based political Ideology). In Pakistan when Zia- ul- haq came into power and made curriculum in the form of Islamization. In Pakistan Majority is Muslims only and he controlled Hindus- He made that as Anti-Hindu and Anti-India. In India Majority is Hindus only BJP and RSS made curriculum to make India as Hindu Nation.

In India Rastriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS) is acting like a pressure group on the government in implementing Hindutva Ideology. The RSS is an organized group which is putting pressure on BJP government to develop Hindutva ideology in India. (RSS is the Political Arm of BJP Government) The RSS & BJP government strategy is to develop the Hindutva ideology by developing the Hindu mythological stories in the curriculum.

In India and Pakistan is the ruling government using Normative Power with moral involvement on the people.

The Government of Pakistan and India are following the optimization model (Marginal Benefits and Marginal costs). Marginal benefits are to keep the country safe from other religions and marginal cost are implementing ruling parties ideas on people, Majority of people will accept this ideologies (who belongs to same identity). In Pakistan, majority is Muslims and in India majority is Hindus, both will accepts this identity. Pakistan (More Muslims) wants to make their country in Islamization Model and in India (More Hindus) wants to make their country in Hindutva Model.

The Government will decide their ideologies based on Market model

1) What need to produced what majority people wants

2)  How It should be produced (Through Curriculum and Education- because it (Education) plays a major role in forming national Identity)

3)      For whom: for the majority of the people who lives in nation, likes most Indians are Hindus & most of the Pakistanis are Muslims. 

Advantages of these Identity Politics:

Identity politics help in organizing, categorizing, gives resource (Identity resource) to humans.

Disadvantages of these Identity Politics:

Identity politics may create discrimination among humans, suppressing the minorities

Here we can’t decide and judge which Identity politics is good and bad.

 

 

How to Handle these Identity Politics:

We need to realize that these Identities are not in Water tight categories, these will overlap with each other at so many times

Example: Even you are Muslim or Hindu both are humans only, both have common physical feelings and Biological needs.

Whenever we feel Diversity in Unity it always create problems like discriminating, suppressing, etc. it will not give mental peace because of unstableness. Whenever we feel Unity in Diversity it creates mental peace, we need diversity to know value of that Identity.

My Conclusion: The Process

We Need Identity politics, but in that we need to feel Unity in that Diversified identity politics. (These all identities are not in water tight by knowing this we can stay in Unity with that diversity). Unity in diversity likes freedom with responsible actions towards us and as well as others. (Freedom with Responsibility)

Feedback

The basic idea of identity politics has been understood and some things have been read around it. I am marking this a B. It would have been better if you had discussed the notion of boundary maintenance more along with some other concepts discussed in the class. The basic argument made by Marie Lal is missing. It should have also been included in your note. That would have easily made this an A minus or more.