Ethnicity, Religion and Politics | Maharashtra State PSC (MPSC): Preparation - MPSC (Maharastra) PDF Download

 Page 1


65
4
ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND POLITICS
Unit Structure
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Ethnicity and Ethnocentrism
4.3 Politics of Nativism
4.4 Politics of Communalism
4.5 Majority and Minority Communalism
4.6 Traditional Hindu Communalism
4.7 Summary
4.8 Unit End Exercise
4.1 OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
There is an intimate and cohesive relationship
between Society and Politics. No doubt, it is regarded as a
significant dimension in the analysis of political process. No study
of political conditions would be complete with but an adequate
reference to its social context. Political sociologists have adequately
explained the close relationship between Society and Politics.
They have also elaborated the dynamic interaction constantly taking
place between the political system and the social structure.
while analysing the relationship between Society and Politics, it
is important to understand some of the important terms like 'Society',
'Social System' etc. Often 'these terms have been loosely used by
the social scientists. In the words of Talcot Parson, 'social system
is a very inclusive kind of association ...and ... a political system
or an economic system would be the parts of a social system.'
Page 2


65
4
ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND POLITICS
Unit Structure
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Ethnicity and Ethnocentrism
4.3 Politics of Nativism
4.4 Politics of Communalism
4.5 Majority and Minority Communalism
4.6 Traditional Hindu Communalism
4.7 Summary
4.8 Unit End Exercise
4.1 OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
There is an intimate and cohesive relationship
between Society and Politics. No doubt, it is regarded as a
significant dimension in the analysis of political process. No study
of political conditions would be complete with but an adequate
reference to its social context. Political sociologists have adequately
explained the close relationship between Society and Politics.
They have also elaborated the dynamic interaction constantly taking
place between the political system and the social structure.
while analysing the relationship between Society and Politics, it
is important to understand some of the important terms like 'Society',
'Social System' etc. Often 'these terms have been loosely used by
the social scientists. In the words of Talcot Parson, 'social system
is a very inclusive kind of association ...and ... a political system
or an economic system would be the parts of a social system.'
According to Eric Rowe, 'the political system and political activity
is a special category of social category, and that, political activity
at any particular time and place represents the values, beliefs
and attitudes which are currently held in that society.' Thus 'political' is
embedded in 'social' and influenced substantially by its social
context. Similarly, 'ingredients of social system' are influenced by
'political values, beliefs and practices. Almond viewed 'political
system as one that attempts to unify the society, either by
transforming it into another or by maintaining the existing way of life’.
In the 20
1h
century, the inter-relationship between society
and politics has been increasingly emphasised. This development
is of more relevance to the 'Third World' countries wherein modem
political process is being experimented and practiced in a society
which has been generally regarded as traditional. Morris Jones'
perhaps has rightly observed in this regard, 'without attention to social
forces the study of politics is partial and even misleading.'
The process of identifying and emphasising the relationship is
of profound relevance to the study of Indian political system which is
known for its extreme diversities in form of caste, religion,
cultural pattern and racial composition. These ,social
diversities exist in a society .which is suffering from mass poverty,
mass literacy and multitudes of traditions, religious beliefs and
practices.
ETHNICITY P.ND ETHNOCENTRISM
The word ethnicity is generally used to describe the plural
character of the Indian political system. The expression
'ethnicity' is derived from the word 'ethnic' which means 'a racial
group', i.e. people having similar physical characteristics, social
customs and traditions, language and history. However, in Indian
context the reference of the word 'ethnicity' would indicate the
aspirations of the people havinga common history, cultural
traditions, language and literature. Ethnicity can be linked to the
emergence of regionalism and regional aspirations which was
clearly reflected on issues such as demand for unilingual states
in India. The aspirations of the people have found expressions in
the emergence of regional political parties like the Dravida Munnetra
Kazagham (DMK), Telugu Desam, Shiv Sena and more recently
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). These political formations
amplify particular group's aspirations. The idea of ethnicity and the
'urge to preserve ethnic identity is manifested in the opposition of
the regional groups as well as to the imposition of Hindi as the
national language. Such parochial aspirations are expressed through'
advocacy of the 'sons of soil' policy and preferential treatment to the
Page 3


65
4
ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND POLITICS
Unit Structure
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Ethnicity and Ethnocentrism
4.3 Politics of Nativism
4.4 Politics of Communalism
4.5 Majority and Minority Communalism
4.6 Traditional Hindu Communalism
4.7 Summary
4.8 Unit End Exercise
4.1 OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
There is an intimate and cohesive relationship
between Society and Politics. No doubt, it is regarded as a
significant dimension in the analysis of political process. No study
of political conditions would be complete with but an adequate
reference to its social context. Political sociologists have adequately
explained the close relationship between Society and Politics.
They have also elaborated the dynamic interaction constantly taking
place between the political system and the social structure.
while analysing the relationship between Society and Politics, it
is important to understand some of the important terms like 'Society',
'Social System' etc. Often 'these terms have been loosely used by
the social scientists. In the words of Talcot Parson, 'social system
is a very inclusive kind of association ...and ... a political system
or an economic system would be the parts of a social system.'
According to Eric Rowe, 'the political system and political activity
is a special category of social category, and that, political activity
at any particular time and place represents the values, beliefs
and attitudes which are currently held in that society.' Thus 'political' is
embedded in 'social' and influenced substantially by its social
context. Similarly, 'ingredients of social system' are influenced by
'political values, beliefs and practices. Almond viewed 'political
system as one that attempts to unify the society, either by
transforming it into another or by maintaining the existing way of life’.
In the 20
1h
century, the inter-relationship between society
and politics has been increasingly emphasised. This development
is of more relevance to the 'Third World' countries wherein modem
political process is being experimented and practiced in a society
which has been generally regarded as traditional. Morris Jones'
perhaps has rightly observed in this regard, 'without attention to social
forces the study of politics is partial and even misleading.'
The process of identifying and emphasising the relationship is
of profound relevance to the study of Indian political system which is
known for its extreme diversities in form of caste, religion,
cultural pattern and racial composition. These ,social
diversities exist in a society .which is suffering from mass poverty,
mass literacy and multitudes of traditions, religious beliefs and
practices.
ETHNICITY P.ND ETHNOCENTRISM
The word ethnicity is generally used to describe the plural
character of the Indian political system. The expression
'ethnicity' is derived from the word 'ethnic' which means 'a racial
group', i.e. people having similar physical characteristics, social
customs and traditions, language and history. However, in Indian
context the reference of the word 'ethnicity' would indicate the
aspirations of the people havinga common history, cultural
traditions, language and literature. Ethnicity can be linked to the
emergence of regionalism and regional aspirations which was
clearly reflected on issues such as demand for unilingual states
in India. The aspirations of the people have found expressions in
the emergence of regional political parties like the Dravida Munnetra
Kazagham (DMK), Telugu Desam, Shiv Sena and more recently
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). These political formations
amplify particular group's aspirations. The idea of ethnicity and the
'urge to preserve ethnic identity is manifested in the opposition of
the regional groups as well as to the imposition of Hindi as the
national language. Such parochial aspirations are expressed through'
advocacy of the 'sons of soil' policy and preferential treatment to the
'local people' by the State Governments especially in the
recruitment to the State services.
Ethnocentrism has attracted the attention of scholars all
over the world. The word ethnocentrism was first used by the
famous American Sociologist, William Graham Sumner in
1906. He made an attempt to define ethnocentrism as 'the
tendency to view one's own group as the centre of everything
,
and
all others are scaled and rated with reference to it.' . The parochial
culture often makes people view their society's ways as most
normal and legitimate. Scholars are of the view that in a plural
society like India, ethnocentrism cannot be avoided. It gives people
of a region a sense of belonging and pride, and even
willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of their region. However,
ethnocentrism may prove to be harmful to the nation building
process if carried to the extremes. In an. enhanced form it may
cause prejudices, rejection of the ideas and values of other
groups. In an extreme situation it may lead to ethnic violence and
sufferings of other groups. This militant form of ethnocentrism has
been described as 'Nativism' by the political scientists like Myron
Weiner and W.H.S. Morris Jones.
POLITICS OF NATIVISM
In the post independence India, Jawaharlal Nehru had
described the Indian Polity as 'a geographical and an economic
entity, a cultural unity amidst diversity, a bundle ofcontradictions, held
together by strong invisible threads'. These diversities are often not
reconcilable. In specific sociopolitical situation they tend to give rise to
conflicts among different groups. As long as such conflicts are within
limits, they do not pose threat to the system. However, when
disagreements assume violent forms and go beyond the
constitutional parameters, they certainly endanger the system
and threaten the unity and integrity of the nation.
In a multi-lingual country like India, the language has often
been used as launching pad for regional assertions. The
agitations on the issue of language forced the Union government in
the past to yield to the pressures. It has, no doubt, undermined the
authority of the State. Unfortunately, this has led to an impression
that the violent agitation is an effective weapon which makes the
government yield to the demands. Planned agitations, therefore,
have become the tested formula for the expression of dissent.
Defiance of authority has become the social norm. It has led to the
weakening of the authority of the Government and that of the State.
The demand for the formation of unilingual states,. therefore, was
the first sign of regional assertions. However, the national
perspective at that time was
.
different.. In the: words of V.K. Krishna
Page 4


65
4
ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND POLITICS
Unit Structure
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Ethnicity and Ethnocentrism
4.3 Politics of Nativism
4.4 Politics of Communalism
4.5 Majority and Minority Communalism
4.6 Traditional Hindu Communalism
4.7 Summary
4.8 Unit End Exercise
4.1 OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
There is an intimate and cohesive relationship
between Society and Politics. No doubt, it is regarded as a
significant dimension in the analysis of political process. No study
of political conditions would be complete with but an adequate
reference to its social context. Political sociologists have adequately
explained the close relationship between Society and Politics.
They have also elaborated the dynamic interaction constantly taking
place between the political system and the social structure.
while analysing the relationship between Society and Politics, it
is important to understand some of the important terms like 'Society',
'Social System' etc. Often 'these terms have been loosely used by
the social scientists. In the words of Talcot Parson, 'social system
is a very inclusive kind of association ...and ... a political system
or an economic system would be the parts of a social system.'
According to Eric Rowe, 'the political system and political activity
is a special category of social category, and that, political activity
at any particular time and place represents the values, beliefs
and attitudes which are currently held in that society.' Thus 'political' is
embedded in 'social' and influenced substantially by its social
context. Similarly, 'ingredients of social system' are influenced by
'political values, beliefs and practices. Almond viewed 'political
system as one that attempts to unify the society, either by
transforming it into another or by maintaining the existing way of life’.
In the 20
1h
century, the inter-relationship between society
and politics has been increasingly emphasised. This development
is of more relevance to the 'Third World' countries wherein modem
political process is being experimented and practiced in a society
which has been generally regarded as traditional. Morris Jones'
perhaps has rightly observed in this regard, 'without attention to social
forces the study of politics is partial and even misleading.'
The process of identifying and emphasising the relationship is
of profound relevance to the study of Indian political system which is
known for its extreme diversities in form of caste, religion,
cultural pattern and racial composition. These ,social
diversities exist in a society .which is suffering from mass poverty,
mass literacy and multitudes of traditions, religious beliefs and
practices.
ETHNICITY P.ND ETHNOCENTRISM
The word ethnicity is generally used to describe the plural
character of the Indian political system. The expression
'ethnicity' is derived from the word 'ethnic' which means 'a racial
group', i.e. people having similar physical characteristics, social
customs and traditions, language and history. However, in Indian
context the reference of the word 'ethnicity' would indicate the
aspirations of the people havinga common history, cultural
traditions, language and literature. Ethnicity can be linked to the
emergence of regionalism and regional aspirations which was
clearly reflected on issues such as demand for unilingual states
in India. The aspirations of the people have found expressions in
the emergence of regional political parties like the Dravida Munnetra
Kazagham (DMK), Telugu Desam, Shiv Sena and more recently
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). These political formations
amplify particular group's aspirations. The idea of ethnicity and the
'urge to preserve ethnic identity is manifested in the opposition of
the regional groups as well as to the imposition of Hindi as the
national language. Such parochial aspirations are expressed through'
advocacy of the 'sons of soil' policy and preferential treatment to the
'local people' by the State Governments especially in the
recruitment to the State services.
Ethnocentrism has attracted the attention of scholars all
over the world. The word ethnocentrism was first used by the
famous American Sociologist, William Graham Sumner in
1906. He made an attempt to define ethnocentrism as 'the
tendency to view one's own group as the centre of everything
,
and
all others are scaled and rated with reference to it.' . The parochial
culture often makes people view their society's ways as most
normal and legitimate. Scholars are of the view that in a plural
society like India, ethnocentrism cannot be avoided. It gives people
of a region a sense of belonging and pride, and even
willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of their region. However,
ethnocentrism may prove to be harmful to the nation building
process if carried to the extremes. In an. enhanced form it may
cause prejudices, rejection of the ideas and values of other
groups. In an extreme situation it may lead to ethnic violence and
sufferings of other groups. This militant form of ethnocentrism has
been described as 'Nativism' by the political scientists like Myron
Weiner and W.H.S. Morris Jones.
POLITICS OF NATIVISM
In the post independence India, Jawaharlal Nehru had
described the Indian Polity as 'a geographical and an economic
entity, a cultural unity amidst diversity, a bundle ofcontradictions, held
together by strong invisible threads'. These diversities are often not
reconcilable. In specific sociopolitical situation they tend to give rise to
conflicts among different groups. As long as such conflicts are within
limits, they do not pose threat to the system. However, when
disagreements assume violent forms and go beyond the
constitutional parameters, they certainly endanger the system
and threaten the unity and integrity of the nation.
In a multi-lingual country like India, the language has often
been used as launching pad for regional assertions. The
agitations on the issue of language forced the Union government in
the past to yield to the pressures. It has, no doubt, undermined the
authority of the State. Unfortunately, this has led to an impression
that the violent agitation is an effective weapon which makes the
government yield to the demands. Planned agitations, therefore,
have become the tested formula for the expression of dissent.
Defiance of authority has become the social norm. It has led to the
weakening of the authority of the Government and that of the State.
The demand for the formation of unilingual states,. therefore, was
the first sign of regional assertions. However, the national
perspective at that time was
.
different.. In the: words of V.K. Krishna
Menon, formation of the unilingual states would spell 'disintegration
and the inevitable 'prospect of loss of national. sovereignty?'
The scepticism and extra-cautious approach, over the
lingual politics has been viewed differently
,
by, Mary. Katsenstein
who regards the emergence
,
of nativism as an expression of new
ethnicity. In, her view 'both in respect of national community and in
furthering the representatiye institutions, , language politics.... have .
provided a crucial support Language politics has proved to be. An,
important political channel of pursuing political integration as well as
political development.' According to this perspective, the
,
linguistic
politics need not cause panic. Instead the spirit of accommodation
and mutual. Understanding by the national and regional elite can
make regionalism in general and linguistic politics in particular, pave
the way towards more meaningful national unity.
Historically, regionaldistinctness, was firmly maintained In.
India mainly due to failure of the earlier empires to establish lasting
control over the whole country. However, the regional distinctness
was obscured during the British period. With independence in 1947,
regionalism reasserted itself. The political unity of India, according
to scholars, is as fragile today as it was yesterday. Social
diversities which often get reinforced by regional and linguistic
differences continue to be the bane of Indian politics.
Regions of India were not particularly recognised during
the British rule. The provinces were created more as administrative
units. Provincial organisation was devised to uphold the authority of
the British power in the areas of economic and strategic importance,
In spite of this, however, regions did always exist. Each region even
claims its own golden age. The people have not been able to
forgive their past. The regional political parties like Shiv Sena
make political use of the glory of "Shivshahi symbolised by the
reverence to Chhatrpati Shivaji Maharaj. To evoke the memory
of this, regional festivals are celebrated and regional politicians
are especially honoured. 'Shiv-Jayanti' started by Lokmanya Tilak for
national mobilisation gradually became manifestation of regional
consciousness.
The- regional .consciousness.-was. first
.
expressed' in, form
of demand for Samyukta, Maharashtra' in the 1950s. The
movement led by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti led to the'
formation 'the Unilingual State of Maharashtra on 1
st
May 1960.
Marathi was deólared as the official language of the State in
1964. Shiv Sena was formed in 1966 by Balasaheb
Thatkeray initially as a pressure group to espouse the cause of the
Sons of soil' with its area of Operation mostly in and around Mumbai
city. This regional pressure group was a clear manifestation of
emerging nativism. Morkhandikar describes the emergerice of the
Page 5


65
4
ETHNICITY, RELIGION AND POLITICS
Unit Structure
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Ethnicity and Ethnocentrism
4.3 Politics of Nativism
4.4 Politics of Communalism
4.5 Majority and Minority Communalism
4.6 Traditional Hindu Communalism
4.7 Summary
4.8 Unit End Exercise
4.1 OBJECTIVES
INTRODUCTION
There is an intimate and cohesive relationship
between Society and Politics. No doubt, it is regarded as a
significant dimension in the analysis of political process. No study
of political conditions would be complete with but an adequate
reference to its social context. Political sociologists have adequately
explained the close relationship between Society and Politics.
They have also elaborated the dynamic interaction constantly taking
place between the political system and the social structure.
while analysing the relationship between Society and Politics, it
is important to understand some of the important terms like 'Society',
'Social System' etc. Often 'these terms have been loosely used by
the social scientists. In the words of Talcot Parson, 'social system
is a very inclusive kind of association ...and ... a political system
or an economic system would be the parts of a social system.'
According to Eric Rowe, 'the political system and political activity
is a special category of social category, and that, political activity
at any particular time and place represents the values, beliefs
and attitudes which are currently held in that society.' Thus 'political' is
embedded in 'social' and influenced substantially by its social
context. Similarly, 'ingredients of social system' are influenced by
'political values, beliefs and practices. Almond viewed 'political
system as one that attempts to unify the society, either by
transforming it into another or by maintaining the existing way of life’.
In the 20
1h
century, the inter-relationship between society
and politics has been increasingly emphasised. This development
is of more relevance to the 'Third World' countries wherein modem
political process is being experimented and practiced in a society
which has been generally regarded as traditional. Morris Jones'
perhaps has rightly observed in this regard, 'without attention to social
forces the study of politics is partial and even misleading.'
The process of identifying and emphasising the relationship is
of profound relevance to the study of Indian political system which is
known for its extreme diversities in form of caste, religion,
cultural pattern and racial composition. These ,social
diversities exist in a society .which is suffering from mass poverty,
mass literacy and multitudes of traditions, religious beliefs and
practices.
ETHNICITY P.ND ETHNOCENTRISM
The word ethnicity is generally used to describe the plural
character of the Indian political system. The expression
'ethnicity' is derived from the word 'ethnic' which means 'a racial
group', i.e. people having similar physical characteristics, social
customs and traditions, language and history. However, in Indian
context the reference of the word 'ethnicity' would indicate the
aspirations of the people havinga common history, cultural
traditions, language and literature. Ethnicity can be linked to the
emergence of regionalism and regional aspirations which was
clearly reflected on issues such as demand for unilingual states
in India. The aspirations of the people have found expressions in
the emergence of regional political parties like the Dravida Munnetra
Kazagham (DMK), Telugu Desam, Shiv Sena and more recently
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). These political formations
amplify particular group's aspirations. The idea of ethnicity and the
'urge to preserve ethnic identity is manifested in the opposition of
the regional groups as well as to the imposition of Hindi as the
national language. Such parochial aspirations are expressed through'
advocacy of the 'sons of soil' policy and preferential treatment to the
'local people' by the State Governments especially in the
recruitment to the State services.
Ethnocentrism has attracted the attention of scholars all
over the world. The word ethnocentrism was first used by the
famous American Sociologist, William Graham Sumner in
1906. He made an attempt to define ethnocentrism as 'the
tendency to view one's own group as the centre of everything
,
and
all others are scaled and rated with reference to it.' . The parochial
culture often makes people view their society's ways as most
normal and legitimate. Scholars are of the view that in a plural
society like India, ethnocentrism cannot be avoided. It gives people
of a region a sense of belonging and pride, and even
willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of their region. However,
ethnocentrism may prove to be harmful to the nation building
process if carried to the extremes. In an. enhanced form it may
cause prejudices, rejection of the ideas and values of other
groups. In an extreme situation it may lead to ethnic violence and
sufferings of other groups. This militant form of ethnocentrism has
been described as 'Nativism' by the political scientists like Myron
Weiner and W.H.S. Morris Jones.
POLITICS OF NATIVISM
In the post independence India, Jawaharlal Nehru had
described the Indian Polity as 'a geographical and an economic
entity, a cultural unity amidst diversity, a bundle ofcontradictions, held
together by strong invisible threads'. These diversities are often not
reconcilable. In specific sociopolitical situation they tend to give rise to
conflicts among different groups. As long as such conflicts are within
limits, they do not pose threat to the system. However, when
disagreements assume violent forms and go beyond the
constitutional parameters, they certainly endanger the system
and threaten the unity and integrity of the nation.
In a multi-lingual country like India, the language has often
been used as launching pad for regional assertions. The
agitations on the issue of language forced the Union government in
the past to yield to the pressures. It has, no doubt, undermined the
authority of the State. Unfortunately, this has led to an impression
that the violent agitation is an effective weapon which makes the
government yield to the demands. Planned agitations, therefore,
have become the tested formula for the expression of dissent.
Defiance of authority has become the social norm. It has led to the
weakening of the authority of the Government and that of the State.
The demand for the formation of unilingual states,. therefore, was
the first sign of regional assertions. However, the national
perspective at that time was
.
different.. In the: words of V.K. Krishna
Menon, formation of the unilingual states would spell 'disintegration
and the inevitable 'prospect of loss of national. sovereignty?'
The scepticism and extra-cautious approach, over the
lingual politics has been viewed differently
,
by, Mary. Katsenstein
who regards the emergence
,
of nativism as an expression of new
ethnicity. In, her view 'both in respect of national community and in
furthering the representatiye institutions, , language politics.... have .
provided a crucial support Language politics has proved to be. An,
important political channel of pursuing political integration as well as
political development.' According to this perspective, the
,
linguistic
politics need not cause panic. Instead the spirit of accommodation
and mutual. Understanding by the national and regional elite can
make regionalism in general and linguistic politics in particular, pave
the way towards more meaningful national unity.
Historically, regionaldistinctness, was firmly maintained In.
India mainly due to failure of the earlier empires to establish lasting
control over the whole country. However, the regional distinctness
was obscured during the British period. With independence in 1947,
regionalism reasserted itself. The political unity of India, according
to scholars, is as fragile today as it was yesterday. Social
diversities which often get reinforced by regional and linguistic
differences continue to be the bane of Indian politics.
Regions of India were not particularly recognised during
the British rule. The provinces were created more as administrative
units. Provincial organisation was devised to uphold the authority of
the British power in the areas of economic and strategic importance,
In spite of this, however, regions did always exist. Each region even
claims its own golden age. The people have not been able to
forgive their past. The regional political parties like Shiv Sena
make political use of the glory of "Shivshahi symbolised by the
reverence to Chhatrpati Shivaji Maharaj. To evoke the memory
of this, regional festivals are celebrated and regional politicians
are especially honoured. 'Shiv-Jayanti' started by Lokmanya Tilak for
national mobilisation gradually became manifestation of regional
consciousness.
The- regional .consciousness.-was. first
.
expressed' in, form
of demand for Samyukta, Maharashtra' in the 1950s. The
movement led by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti led to the'
formation 'the Unilingual State of Maharashtra on 1
st
May 1960.
Marathi was deólared as the official language of the State in
1964. Shiv Sena was formed in 1966 by Balasaheb
Thatkeray initially as a pressure group to espouse the cause of the
Sons of soil' with its area of Operation mostly in and around Mumbai
city. This regional pressure group was a clear manifestation of
emerging nativism. Morkhandikar describes the emergerice of the
Shiv Sena as eruption of sub-nationaliiin.' The main demand of.
Shiv Sena was '-preferential "treatment to 'Maharashtrians in matters
of' housing and employment', It was a Movement of Protest against
the dominance of non-Maharshtrians in business and governance
in the city of Mumbai.
The decision of the Shiv Sena to indulge in the politics of
nativism transformed it
-
from a pressure group to a local party in the
1970s and subsequently a regional party of substance in the 1980s.
Soon, it began to pose threat to the Congress Party and finally
managed to wrest power in 1995. The success of Shiv Sena
could be regarded as the success of politics of nativism in
Maharashtra. The vacuum created by Shiv Sena's indulgence in
the politics of Hindutva was filled by the dissident group led by Raj
Thackeray and the formation of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
(MNS) recently. The Shiv Sena while espousing the cause of the
sons of the soil' in the 1970s, had directed its agitation politics
against the South-Indians and later against the Muslims, the
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has openly opposed the migrants
from UP and Bihar. The decision of the MNS to confront the North
Indians has created lot of interest in the politicians from Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh. It has placed the MNS at the centre of politics of
nativism in Maharashtra. The issue of the 'outsiders' versus
'natives' taken up by Raj Thackeray has made him more popular in
selected constituencies and has also helped him reap the
benefits of politics of nativism.
POLITICS OF COMMUNALISM
The State of Maharashtra witnessed two sets of confrontation
in the 1980s; one between the Hindus and the Muslims; and the
other between upper caste (savarnas) and the Scheduled Castes
(Dalits). During the last decade we have witnessed growing Hindu
militancy and the changing character of Hindu identity in the State.
Clashes between the Sayarnas and the Dalits took place even at
the remote
.
places such as Satana (Dist. Nashik; 1983, 1986).
Sangli was the battle ground between the Hindus and the Jain
community (1983). The Sikhs of, Nanded complained about ill-
treatment meted out to
,
them and threatened to resort to protests in
October 1.994 This recurring caste-communal violence has
become a feature of politics in Maharashtra since 1980s. The
emergence of caste-communal organisations has played a
significant role in furtherance of communal politics in Maharashtra.
Hindu' unity initiated by Bhartiya Jan Sangh and strong arm
treatment of those who refuse to fall in line are the striking
features of the neo-Hindu organisations. They are spearheading
an ideological movement with an objective to create a