Dear reader,
Chapter XVIII of Volume 1 of Will Durant’s epic work, The Story of Civilization (Oriental Heritage), begins with a striking declaration on India’s relationship with religion. Titled “The Paradise of the Gods”, the chapter asserts: “In no other country is religion so powerful, or so important, as in India. If the Hindus have permitted alien governments to be set over them again and again it is partly because they did not care much who ruled or exploited them—natives or foreigners; the crucial matter was religion, not politics...”
Many parts of this statement can be contested today, in light of advanced socio-anthropological readings on India that negate colonialist and orientalist views on India and Asia. Students and observers of Indian elections, including psephologists, academics, and journalists closely covering national and State elections, often wonder at the marvellous and dangerous role religion plays in Indian polity. It influences, defines, and determines almost every segment of society, and politics is no exception.
Indian politics witnesses an interplay of religion and economics, a phenomenon visible even at the beginning of independent India. Realpolitik in India is essentially religion-politik, where political parties customise and tailor their campaigns and candidate selection processes in sync with religious equations. Politicians across the political spectrum follow this formula, and not much has really been done to divert politics from this trend, even by leaders who may identify as agnostic or atheist.
Some believe that this trend became noticeably palpable in the 1990s, particularly after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. This event was a by-product of L.K. Advani’s hyper-polarising Rath Yatra of September-October 1990 and the parallel Mandal-Kamandal movement. Experts in Indian politics argue that the rise of Hindutva, which intensified religious politics, transformed Indian elections and removed the subtle relationship religion and politics once enjoyed.
Hindutva’s high-decibel presence in Indian politics compels other political parties to catch up, leading to errors in judgment. The Congress, for example, often falls prey to a temptation to emulate the BJP’s Hindutva push, especially during elections, without learning from past mistakes. The party is both unaware and not ruthless enough to peddle the brand of political Hindutva that acts as a constant high-dose palliative against the socio-economic reality of a cancerous right-wing fundamentalism in India.
This played out in the recently concluded Assembly elections, where the Congress suffered significant losses to the BJP in battles where it was expected to have an edge. Reading the tea leaves, it becomes apparent that the Congress is falling into a trap fuelled by its troubled history, anachronistic leaders, and a legacy of ideological confusion. Victories in Karnataka or Telangana should not make the Congress complacent, as the hegemonic structures built by Hindutva are formidable. It requires dedication, discipline, a holistic understanding of Indian society, and a commitment to a truly different brand of secular politics to make any headway here.
Why is this important? As Sanjay Kumar of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies writes in his analysis for Frontline’s latest cover story, the result indicates that it was not so much an anti-Congress sentiment as a pro-BJP wave this time. This means the Congress and the now suddenly lacklustre INDIA bloc can nourish some hope but also need to undertake significant introspection before entering the fray in 2024.
We would love to know what you think.
POST-SCRIPT: Here’s a story, at times attributed to Aesop, that the Congress leaders can read these days.
Once upon a time, in a distant land, there were kites and swans blessed with a splendid gift—the ability to sing. Their harmonious tunes echoed even in the king’s court, drawing crowds from far and wide. One day, they heard the distinct neigh of a horse. Intrigued by this unfamiliar sound, and seeing how people thronged to see the horse, they became enchanted and believed the horse’s neigh surpassed their own musical talents. Filled with a desire to emulate the horse, they diligently practised mimicking its sound.
However, in their pursuit of neighing like the horse, they lost touch with their innate gift of singing. The once-admiring audiences dwindled, as no one sought to hear their beautiful songs anymore. The kites and swans, in their misguided pursuit of something they were not meant to be, had forsaken the very talent that had once made them great.
Wishing you a great week ahead,
For Team Frontline,
Jinoy Jose P.
