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COMMUNALISM
WATCH
Politics of
Identity and Intolerance
By RAM
PUNIYANI
ON FIFTH of June
(2008) a group of followers of Shiv Sangram Sanghtan (SSS), led by a
former MLC of Nationalist Congress party, attacked the house of editor
of Loksatta, a prominent Marathi daily, Kumar Ketkar and tried to
break open the house. They broke the glass panes, did other possible
damage and smeared the house with coal tar, before leaving. They, as
per their leader, were expressing their spontaneous anger against
Ketkar, who according to them had insulted Shivaji in his editorial.
This editorial was a sarcastic criticism of the Maharashtra
Government's move to build a statue of Shivaji, which will be taller
than the Statue of Liberty, and it will be located in the Arabian sea,
on an island, which will have to be built and an approach to the
island will have to be made. This will involve expenses, which will be
in astronomical figures. Ketkar, one of the leading journalists and
conscience raiser of society, questioned the wisdom of the Government
in planning for such a monument when the State is riddled with so many
problems, like farmers suicide, children's malnutrition, unemployment
and the like. Ketkar had not once questioned the respect for Shivaji.
 What
was surprising was that apart from the attack, some of those posing to
be respecting Shivaji claimed that such an ‘inspiring’ monument will
solve the problems of the state! What is surprising is that in a State
known for its liberal, progressive traditions, the tactics adopted by
the likes of SSS have not been the only ones of this type. Earlier we
witnessed an attack on Bhandarkar Institute, Pune by similar
characters when James Laine's book subtly hinted at the real parentage
of Shivaji. Since Laine did his research at this institute. Similarly
earlier Shiv Sena had created ruckus when Secular activist Teesta
Setalvad had prepared a handbook for a school which mentioned that
Shivaji was a Shudra. While this is true, currently the word Shudra is
perceived in a derogatory sense so Shiv Sena' ire!
As such Shivaji has
been invoked to build a particular type of identity. In current times
Bal Thackeray in his anti non Mahrashtrian stance built it up for
political gains.
 The
same identity was used to give anti Muslim message, contrary to the
fact Shivaji was not
against Muslims, he had innumerable Muslims in his administration,
army, Navy and what
have you. He also had immense respect for Hazarat Baba Bahutthorwale a
Sufi saint. Contrary to the truth and facts Shiv Sena succeeded in
undertaking anti Muslim pogrom and anti
Muslim politics to
polarize the Hindus, in the name of Shivaji. By and by Mahrashtraian
identity has come to be fixed around Shivaji alone, bypassing the
glorious heritage of Saints like Tukaram and Chokha Mela, bypassing
the doyens of social change like Jotiba Phule and Ambedkar. Bypassing
innumerable freedom fighters from Maharashtra and bypassing the large
groups of rational thinkers from this part of the country.
Shivaji’s identity
was deliberately picked up by communal forces as there are few
instances which if seen selectively, may sound against Muslims and
others. This selective projection has been employed for motivated and
crooked political calculations. They have most of the times reaped
political harvest by abusing the identity of Shivaji for their
political
goals.
 For
the last
few years, with the growing neglect of social issues, the identity
politics
is being given exalted importance and so other political formations
have also been resorting to the use of this identity politics around
Shivaji. With the growth of this also comes the intolerance where any
criticism, real or perceived against the icons is met with attacks
aimed to muzzle the voice of those protesting against some
or the other policy. The degree of intolerance is so intense that the
attackers are not bothered even about the real issues, they many times
even don’t read what has been written and merely on the ground of make
believe, take the law in their hands to pursue their politics. In
Mahrashtra Bal Thackeray did it to a great effect and now other
political elements are also doing the same. This type of politics
essentially wants to preserve the status quo and distract the
attention from basic social
issues. Ketkar essentially was urging the government to take the basic
issues and not to resort to the politics of tokenism.
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