Possible Fallouts Of Recent Caste Violence

The recent caste violence of Gujjar community in Rajasthan is quite unsettling. This situation can be analyzed in two ways and unfortunately for India, both of them are harbinger of dark times ahead. The infuriating thing is that this particular ‘caste’ is not fighting for social justice but rather to prove its ‘backwardness’.
The suspicious pattern that emerges from controversy of Dera Sacha in Punjab and then Gujjar violence in Rajasthan is that, both of these states are ruled by non-Congress governments. Congress party since the days of Indira Gandhi can’t stomach non-Congress political parties ruling at state level. In her draconian quest of power, Indira Gandhi fermented trouble in North-Eastern states, Kashmir, Punjab and in Tamilnadu. Fortunately, Tamilnadu remained peaceful (and Sri Lanka bore the brunt) but Punjab paid dear price. While North Eastern states and Kashmir are still burning.

It was not only unthinkable but all most blasphemous to imagine India being ruled by a non-Gandhi person. Luckily, P.V. Narsimharao, the first non-Gandhi prime-minister to complete five years of tenure, didn’t continued this old tactics of destabilizing non-congress state government. But the old ‘gang’ of Indira Gandhi is back in the power. First we have central governments faltering in Naxal hit areas only because these states are ruled by non-Congress government. Then as this ‘gang’ is feeling more cozy in the power, they started trouble in Punjab and now in Rajasthan. I suspect either Madhya Pradesh or Gujrat will be the next target. We will either see communal violence flaring in these two states or perhaps, continuation of caste violence.

The second conclusion is more dark and of course, is fall out of policies implemented by current government only. This caste violence is tight slap in the face of anyone who supports limitless affirmative policy. It is surely sowing seeds of deep distrust between various Hindu communities. The worst thing is that the government which is inciting violence for few extra votes, will judge who qualifies for ‘backward’ status. Of course, this backward status has nothing to do with being backward. And, in any case what is the definition of ‘backwardness’? If economical status is the criteria then half of India regardless of caste lines can be labeled as backward. If not, then Hindu caste system is way to complex to draw clear demarcation lines various communities.

With rapidly increasing education and host of social movements in last seventy years, Hindu society was realigning itself internally. Obviously, such progressive social movements are quite complex to describe but our ‘secular’ government deeply distrust anything that is genuinely Hindu. With rise of vote bank politics it was quite obvious that government will do its best to destabilize Hindu society. The tiny minority of so called ‘Dalit’ activists and communist dominated media have literally made it impossible to have any sensible dialogue over social justice. The strategy is just to muddle the water rather than to debate honestly. Thus, instead of caste lines getting blurred, they are vigorously getting drawn again. Though, the current motive of distinguishing ones’ caste is political, the differences will soon be stark enough for us to see recurring caste violence.

In nutshell, even if the recent rampage over castes is politically incited or perhaps, new trend in the society to reap the profits of affirmative policy, the ultimate looser is Indian society.

On the lighter side if everyone tried to become ‘backward’ then no one will really be ‘backward’ !