Author: Gail Omvedt
Publication:
Date:
[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra:
Omvedt is of American origin, married to a Maharashtrian who is considered
to be an important figure in the socialst movement in the state.
Would it not have been nice if this article had come out before the elections?
Secondly, does it not show her complete alienation from what is happening
in the country, given the fact that she did not expect the results in Rajasthan
and Chattisgarh]
I am devastated by the election
results. I was expecting a loss in MP because the BJP/RSS has been
growing there for some time and clearly targeting Digvijay Singh (see Sudarshan's
speech on Vijayadashmi) but I did not expect the losses in Rajasthan and
Chattisgarh.
Three good CMs lost. Digvijay
Singh, tho a Thakur, has stood for Dalits and the protection of religious
minorities; people in government service have been banned from being members
of RSS in MP. He is the most hated politician of the RSS. His so-called
"soft Hindutva" was at the level of rhetoric -- itself not desirable, but
he has never said a word against Muslims (as for instance Antony did in
Kerala). Gehlot, a Mali, is new in politics and has made some mistakes
(for instance reservations for the economically backward among the threadwalas
is a travesty of the whole idea of affirmative action) but many friends
consider him a leader with potential. Jogi, a Christian "tribal"
has also been a target of very dirty attacks. Though Hindutva forces
have claimed he got a false certificate, I am told he comes from a Satnami
family and while most Satnamis were Dalit (SC) some adivasis also joined
it; such was Jogi's family.
Why did the Congress lose?
Anti-incumbncy and general disillusionment with politicians, along with
the failure of Congress to present a clear political vision are important.
However, I do not think the socalled
"developmental" issues (roads, electricity etc) are as significant as most
commentators are saying now. Both parties are at present more or
less alike on these. These have perhaps been made a talking point
but if they were so important why did Gehlot lose? He was the one
being praised for having done a good job on development. True, the
Congress should learn to speak in a clear voice with a vision on these
issues, but that is a different matter.
Three additional factors have to
be noted.
One is the continual dominance of
upper castes, mainly brahmans, in the bureaucracy. There was a report
about bureaucrats "guiding" villagers in using the new voting machines
in Rajasthan. this may have happened in many places. In MP
we found that after Lyndoh had said that Digvijay Singh could not forgive
electricity bills for farmers, almost immediately people got bills, large
bills. Was this accidental?
Second is a simple technical factor,
that of election mobilization. What is called in the US "getting
out the vote.: RSS is good at that sort of thing and they undoubtedly
worked during this election. I don't think Congress has the cadre
now to do this.
And third, as for the left and progressive
forces who have had such cadre, they have been worse than useless in these
elections. Here I am most disappointed. The CPI/CPM have little
real base and cadre left in these states. The nonparliamentary, anti-parliamentary
left has had a negative effect by reducing Congress votes in the adivasi
areas where it has some strength. (If I am wrong about this please inform
me). Even more, the "ultrarevolutionary" idea that nothing can be gained
from parliamentary politics has spread far and wide and has affected so
many activists of NGOs and other organizations (NBA, Ekalavya, NAPM connected
groups and all the Adivasi Kisan Sanghathans floating around in MP) that
most have simply remained silent, bemoaning the growth of RSS and sitting
at home, or in some cases trying to float third parties which objectively
aid the BJP by cutting Congress votes. People like Medha Patkar and
Arundhati Roy might have had some influence in these states,but they have
been silent, silent silent. Their politics has becoe one of fighting
globalization and the market economy and "neoliberalism" etc. while ignoring
brahmanism/fascism in their own land. I don't think fighting dams
and development (this isanyway not a Marxist position) and helping Hindutva
should be acceptable to us any longer.
with metta and salutes,
Gail Omvedt
"Time will submit to slavery from
illusion's bonds we'll be free everyone will be powerful and prosperous
-- Brahman, Ksatriya, Vaishya, Shudra and Chandala all have rights women,
children, male and female and even prostitutes"
--Tuka (Tukaram), 17th cent. Marathi
Sant of India
Gail Omvedt
Kasegaon
District Sangli
India 415404
phone: 02342-239241
