The coming islamic partition of India and what can be salvaged

[G.Subramaniam]

Rediff - Bhadrakumar



Kerala’s drift to communal politics

The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s inclusion of Kerala in the select list of troubled states where “the strained communal situation in the country… was already showing some signs of deterioration” may come as surprise to most Indians. Kerala is known to be a state with a significantly higher level of social formation than the four other Indian states with which PM has now bracketed it — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.



Moreover, the common assumption is that communal polarisation ensues from Hindutva politics, but in this case, unlike the other four states, Kerala stands apart in its studied indifference — so far, at least — toward such a political strain. The state assembly never had a single BJP elected representative in its entire history. So, there is little scope for “blame game”.

The Keralite’s ego gets pricked that he has been given an undressing by the PM so very publicly. And yet, PM’s statement will not surprise him. As a Malayali who drifted back home after some 4 decades of absence, the first thing that struck me through the past few months of life in Thiruvananthapuram has been this churning going on in the sub-soil that PM spoke about. It figures invariably in any serious conversation today with a “Malayali Hindu” (who is the aggrieved party here).

His growing opinion is that disunity among Hindus is working to his disadvantage. There is a sense of helplessness, creating fertile ground for the kind of negative tendencies to develop, which PM has warned about.

The Kerala society is rapidly transforming and as is natural in times of change, new anxieties and undefinable forms of uncertainty are taking hold. Simply put, a lot of people feel afraid of being left behind by the changes taking place around them. An explosive mix of frustration, fear and anger is forming. Kerala’s “social balance” is delicately balanced with Hindus just about claiming the status of being the “majority community”.

However, PM picked the wrong forum to speak on this issue — annual conference of the top police officials in the country. The point is, this should not be a law-and-order problem, although it will inevitably pose serious challenge to social stability and peace eventually — probably in a very near future, too. But the initiatives for course correction are to be taken at a political level.

Of course, PM’s statement comes on the eve of the controversial carnival titled “Emerging Kerala” that the state is hosting in a couple of days, which, ironically, is going to be inaugurated by the PM and is an event publicising what a wonderful spot on earth Kerala is for the discerning investor from North America or China — and especially the sheikhs in the Persian Gulf with deep pocket — to put his money.

It is doubtful if any serious Kerala politician will really bother to hold the searchlight on the root causes of the sickness that is inexorably gripping the Kerala society. Simply put, he knows all about the problem, as he also contributed to it.

The common perception of the Malayali Hindu today is that the ruling Congress Party (PM’s own party) is largely responsible for the creeping “communalisation” of the political landscape. It is simply obnoxious to characterise a Malayali as “Malayali Hindu”, given his eclectic culture, but then, such a perspective is available today. The Malayali Hindu militates against his self-perception of being marginalised (or taken for granted) in the interests of what we usually call “vote bank” politics.

The appalling political reality is the abdication by the Left. Kerala’s salvation was always to be found in the strong presence of the Left as the charioter of progressive politics (which was a trend-setter for even the Congress’ state wing). Alas, the distractions and cuts and thrusts of bourgeois politics leave little time for the Left parties to take up social issues anymore. Besides, they are no more climbing the greasy pole of electoral politics (which was the case in the 1950s or early 1960s) but are comfortably perched somewhere at the top with an assured future.

Conceivably, there could be an emergent political climate for the BJP to address, but it is doubtful whether its inept state leadership is capable (or inspiring) enough. Tragically, no political party in Kerala is willing to step forward, either, although they are aware of the stirrings — lest they are seen pandering to “Hindu” interests. So, where does it leave the Malayali Hindu?

Indeed, it will be a horrendous thing to happen if the state descends into communal violence. The PM has chosen to publicly warn about the possibility and a potentially dangerous situation could be developing. For, he spoke with the benefit of the intelligence reports.

The mainstream political parties should ponder seriously about consorting with sectarian groupings that espouse the interests of specific communities. But that is unlikely to happen in the highly competitive coalition politics prevailing in the state where interest groups — howsoever miniscule — bring in votes, and get placated.

The PM probably did the right thing by going over the head of the Kerala politician to speak directly with police officers.