Social Engineering
To The Fore -
BJP Sweeps the Assembly Elections
By Ram Puniyani
Issues In Secular
Politics
23 December, 2003
The
Assembly election results of MP, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh (Dec.2003)
have upset the calculations of pollsters, has surpassed BJP's own expectations
and given it a clear majority. Many factors have been at
play in the defeat of Congress. To name a few its lack of coordination
with the fellow opposition, its not being so professional in conducting
the poll campaign, its and overconfidence. Similarly BJP has been helped
to such a majority by combination of motley factors, starting from anti-incumbency
factor, to its highly coordinated effort and the success of social
engineering by Sangh Parivar in Adivasi areas. The last mentioned seems
to be one of the major reasons for its sweep of the magnitude this time
around. In all the assembly constituencies where Adivasis are in majority
BJP has an overwhelming dominance. The results of its social engineering
in the backward, underdeveloped areas is giving it the dividends, it
had aimed for.
BJP being the electoral
wing of Sangh Parivar(SP) is just one of the constituents which is working
for the Hindutvisation of society. It is not just the electoral victory
for SP but also is the success of its Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram(VKA) and
Vishwa Hindu parishad in particular that such a phenomenon is going
on right under our eyes.
One recalls that
from nearly two decades VKA has been put in the top gear. It has been
working in the Adivasi areas for Hinduising and Hindutvsing the Adivasis.
With the broadening of trade and industrialization these remote areas
came further in contact with the villages and urban populace. The interaction
has had diverse results on this section. While some Adivasi sections,
a miniscule, could take the advantage of reservations and urbanize themselves,
the vast number has been left to the mercy of Gods. The encroachment,
displacement, the states putting a tab on their interaction with their
forests has resulted in the pauperization of this segment of our
society.
The major section
of social workers who could reach this segment was the Christian missionaries
whose work in the area of education and health care did influence a
small section of Adivasis in becoming Christians. Also the whole section
of communities can not be empowered and uplifted by charity work alone,
this type of work which has its own limitations. But all the same it
had a small effect on Adivasis. Despite the assertions that Christian
missionaries are luring and converting them to Christianity, it is clear
that the Adiviasis coming under their field of work is fairly small
and today Christian stand 2.18% as per the 2001 census.
It is here that
the different type of cultural intervention began from the SP associates.
VKA in particular focused on Hinduising the adiviasis as the
major project. This was necessary from various points of view. The rich
peasants and traders who were in those areas were uncomfortable with
the
educated Adivisis, asking for their rights etc, and thereby disturbing
the status quo. The Hindutva project saw them as the indigenous Hindus
who have
fled to forests to escape conversions by Islamic rulers. Now having
escaped the attempts of Islamic rulers they are victims of Christian
missionaries. It
is here that VKA started its multi-pronged activities. To begin with
they were called Vanvasis, to give the impression that they are an inherent
part of Hindu
fold. Than hordes of swayamsevaks swooped in these areas preaching that
they are Hindus and should be proud of that fact. Simultaneously the
promotion of Hindu Gods and Goddesses was undertaken at hectic pace.
Adiviasis as such can not be called as Hindus by the parameters of the
identity of Hindu religion revolving around Ram, Gita, Acharya, and
the belief in cow as mother. But by using the Savarkar thesis of Puyabhumi,
Pitrabhui (All those who regard this land as Father land and Holy land
are Hindus) they were called as Hindus and than made to accept the Hindu
Gods. Also a political campaign of re-conversion (Ghar Vapasi) was unleashed
akin to the Shuddhi campaign of Arya Samaj, in early twentieth century.
While consciously
sidetracking the real issues of Adiviasis, the emotional issues, issues
of identity politics, were highlighted. Hanuman and Ram are
projected as The Hindu gods, and lately the destitute Shabri is also
being promoted as the Adivasi goddess. On the other side a hate campaign
against Christian missionaries was initiated at high pitch, resulting
in the intimidation of the missionaries working in remote areas, the
most horrific act in this direction was the burning of Pastor Stains
with his two innocent sons. Interestingly, Chattisgarh BJP leader Dilipsing
Judeo that time stated that he will defend the murderer of Pastor Stains,
Dara Singh. After being reprimanded by the top BJP leader he kept quiet
on this issue and his brother took up the brief for Dara Singh's defense.
Mr. Judeo has specialized in the conversion of Adivasis into Hinduism.
The all round attack on missionaries been going on at various levels.
Meanwhile a Hindu
identity amongst Adivasis is getting rooted and most of their traditions
and nature worships are being replaced by the Hanuman temples and the
new priests. The sample of the impact of Hindutva amongst them was seen
in the Gujarat anti Muslim pogrom, where Adivasis were mobilized to
act as the foot soldiers of Hidnutva. It is no accident that they
could be accused at by the cell phone wielding BJP cadres coordinating
the pogrom. Also Dara Singh's activities cannot be seen in isolation.
Dara Singh
also could mobilize the youth of the area for the dastardly crimes he
did. In addition to Pastor Stain's murder Fr. Arul Doss and Sheikh Rahman
were
also done to death in the area on similar and different allegations.
The threat of BJP
winning the elections is manifold. One can feel the undercurrents of
creeping Hindutva in different parts of the country. The Kerala Marad
incident, the Baba Budan Giri issue, the Church in Goa all are the planks
for initial mobilization of the section of Hindus. As witnessed in these
elections Hindutva was not brought to the forefront but its subtle undercurrents
were present in different forms. It can be inferred that Hidnutva is
the initial plank followed by a clever manipulation of the issues which
appeal to the voters at the time. The solid base of Sangh Aprivar also
comes in handy in turning the tide even of issues which seem to be crystal
clear. Judeo's taking bribe is projected as a trap and how can a King
take bribe are successfully marketed to the extent that the camera proven
corrupt can also win the
election. Incidentally this also shows the double standards of RSS.
Same RSS in case of Bangaru Laxman, in similar situation (taking bribe)
stated that Mr.Laxman was a shame on RSS.
There is a serious
need for introspection amongst the democratic circles. The Sangh Parivar
is slowly utilizing the democratic spaces to strengthen its
politics of Fascism. The threat of Fascism is there for real. As one
recalls Hitler also came to power through democratic methods, winning
over the minds of sections of middle classes and then having assumed
power targeted the struggling and weaker sections of society one by
one. Tragedy is that many a socialists of yesteryears, blinded by anti-Congressism,
or using it as a pretext to further their personal political
ambitions, are either sitting in the lap of BJP or having an understanding
with BJP at electoral level. The argument proffered is that Congress
and BJP are
two sides of same coin or some of them go on to say that it is Congress
which has given birth to communal politics, in the form of Shah Bano,
opening the locks of babri Masjid, its involvement in Anti Sikh riots
and so on. Most of such critics fail to see that BJP cannot be compared
to any other political outfit in Indian politics. It is a political
handmaiden of RSS which is wedded to Hindu Rashtra agenda, which does
not believe in Indian constitution and which rejects the values of freedom
struggle, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. One will like to state that
BJP is giving democratic postures at times only because it does not
have suffienct majority in the centre. Having manipulated its way to
Delhi, at what stage it will totally adopt the agenda and goal of RSS
is a mere
matter of formality.
The point is that
all those valuing Indian Constitution, standing for democratic values,
protection of weaker sections of society irrespective of their religion,
all those believing in plural society need to wake up. This surely is
the last such
call available to us. Democratic options may be limited today but still
they are there. And BJP is no democratic option that is for sure.