After
close observation of the happenings in Indian society, and the way matters pan
out as mainstream concerns, I have gathered that common people never really mattered
in scheme of things. The elitizens have firm hold on narrations, the hold is very
much a control, though it has framework of modern pointers but remains very
much feudal. It is not as ruthless as it was few centuries back, maybe because we
now live in civilized society, transgressions will be obvious. So the elitizens
have managed to give themselves semblance of modernity, the structure that perpetuates
these heinous behavior is intact, in lawless section these turn violent, with patriarchal
ways barbaric Badaun is the result.
I was reading Guardian Newspaper “…Dalits, formerly known as
"untouchables", still face systematic discrimination across India.
Though in urban areas "caste" identities are weakening, they are
still strong in rural areas and particularly in northern parts of the country…”
This is precisely what I was mentioning, the twist in the narration “though in urban areas "caste"
identities are weakening”, now where did the writer get this perceptions
from? Our man seems to be tutored by few drawing room talks over wine and
chicken tikkas. A cursory study –which he may not have inclination nor intend, it’s
a general apathy that elitizens are able to induce, will show him that everyone
carries their identities on their sleeves literally, that includes Pankaj Mishra, who contributes in the same newspaper.
If the rape victims father carried Mishra identity things would have moved much
faster, and maybe the poor kids would been saved, indeed in most likelihood would
not have even happened (statistically 4.3 dalit women are raped every day, this from what is reported, these are most marginalized section so one can safely say the reality should be much bleaker. Further, rape doesn't include other forms of abuse or even neglect). These incidents will never happen in elite circle of cities,
indeed it is inconceivable, nor is there any concern, things in here works with
contacts, deals are done with sleaze, nepotism the prime mover. Since Indians pride
their extended families, concurrently the misery also has more reach. Baba Ramdev
was quoted as saying “picnic and honeymoon at dalit’s house”, clearly he didn’t
intend it but what he said is part of common culture that finds it way in
collective expression. Ditto when Sashi Tharoor mentions “cattle class”, the
semantics have deep import that interlocutors may not realize.
Badaun
is a mindset that is spread across India, in smaller towns were the mobility is
limited these take heinous forms, Dalits and tribes face atrocities on regular
basis. While in big cities –where mobility is high, it morphs into amazingly
crude behavior towards others, particularly marginalized, and disregard for
rules and fairness. This also includes arrogance of elitizens who fancy
themselves as enlightened guardians. I don’t give damn about Kasturi&Sons
and quote them to bring out a general value base of this section. They could
easily change the name, and be gender sensitive, but will not. They will quite
cleverly promote regressive values and make money but want the poor people to change.
This gives them the necessary control over others, as guides, the ‘trustees’
(Gandhi wasn’t naive).
What
we see across the country as heinous crime against marginalized and weak, emanates
from the framework that temple squatters left. This cannibalizing society is their
contribution. That they still dwell in temples across the land is perpetuating
the framework. As people prosper and are socially mobile, they don’t have an egalitarian
world to enter. So they end up miming the elite, who, meanwhile have moved a
step further away by emulating west.
The fellow at Guardian should do a crash course on idea of India, particularly from his brethrens in Kasthuri&Sons, who seem to be the trustees. They are much vicious than the rapists, they
are the ones who are preparing the ground work for these to take place, they are
the ones who give credibility to these systems, it is a tradition that has given
them the power, the con act is smooth. Things are dealt with such subtlety and
deftness that Western media will never ever be able to decipher nor will ever get
the hint, add to it the camouflaged cultural undertones and values derived. Western
media, incidentally, happens to be an important pointer for Indian elite to
sequester their egalitarian acts and gain credence as spokesperson for Indians.
The grip is such that hapless victims are reduced to mute spectators, as they
are numbed from the concoction of fate, fear and absolute hopelessness. There isn’t any empathy, even expectations of justice
is fruitless, as it is biased and primitive (the reason why police or judicial
reforms are delayed, has this deep bias).
Badaun
rape case is systemic reactions of heinous Hindu culture and tradition that has
permeated into all religions; therefore it should be classified as crime on humanity.
This blogger reiterates that India should be declared a racist country and Indians
with casteist references in their identity should be denied visa. So far the
elitizens have very cleverly masqueraded these as cultural diversity, and were able
to twist the narration. International community will have to take this seriously,
it is a systemic atrocity sanctioned by tradition (and in mainstream version of
Hinduism) and practiced for thousands of years. This primitive society doesn’t have
a place in civilized world.
Post script:
It is not surprising that Nehruvian gentries, never really thought much about
land reforms, without which freedom and democracy doesn’t make any sense. Nor the
laws were reformed. When it comes to common people there wasn’t much concern. As
is the tradition of Indian casteist culture they on delved big ideas (that was
very much hinged in western thoughts and pretensions, though egalitarian but
never sought to be practiced, ofcourse West had these standing on racism and
slavery). Nehru despite all his achievement stands condemned for not initiating
land reforms as also for not banning caste, his thoughts therefore fail in
scrutiny on these counts. B grade Nehruvians since then have become a bane, it is
reduced to their self serving worldviews and accented english indulgence.
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