Home
Publications
Search
Register
Log inEminent journalist Kumar Ketkar: NaMo's projection as 'son of Gujarat' threatens India's unity
Page 1 of 1
Eminent journalist Kumar Ketkar: NaMo's projection as 'son of Gujarat' threatens India's unity
by Guest Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:50 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is fond of describing himself as the leader of 125 crore Indians, has suddenly started emphasising his Gujarati identity and urging the voters to respect ‘Gujarati Asmita’.
Is he conceding that the so-called development model was yet another ‘jumla’?
Indeed, it is distinctly possible that a large number of voters may choose identity over the frustrations and disillusionment of the last three years. But if the BJP wins its own majority (whatever be the margin), Modi will say it was a victory of the Gujarat Model.
Identity politics, at once, gives unity and strength to the community, caste, religion, or language group, but it also divides the society, sometimes leading to violence. National leaders generally do not (or at least should not) narrow their Indian identity. Jawaharlal Nehru did not present himself as a Kashmiri Pandit. Neither did Narasimha Rao flaunt his Telugu character. Nor did Manmohan Singh project his Sikh identity....
If the PM chooses to highlight being a Gujarati, then he cannot ask Yogi Adityanath to tone down his language of aggressive Hindutva, and will not be able to rein in Bengali nationalism....
Nationalism can unite people and the nation. Hyper-nationalism and aggressive identity politics can disintegrate the nation and the idea of India itself.
https://theprint.in/2017/12/04/modis-gujarat-identity-spell-doom-india-unity/
Is he conceding that the so-called development model was yet another ‘jumla’?
Indeed, it is distinctly possible that a large number of voters may choose identity over the frustrations and disillusionment of the last three years. But if the BJP wins its own majority (whatever be the margin), Modi will say it was a victory of the Gujarat Model.
Identity politics, at once, gives unity and strength to the community, caste, religion, or language group, but it also divides the society, sometimes leading to violence. National leaders generally do not (or at least should not) narrow their Indian identity. Jawaharlal Nehru did not present himself as a Kashmiri Pandit. Neither did Narasimha Rao flaunt his Telugu character. Nor did Manmohan Singh project his Sikh identity....
If the PM chooses to highlight being a Gujarati, then he cannot ask Yogi Adityanath to tone down his language of aggressive Hindutva, and will not be able to rein in Bengali nationalism....
Nationalism can unite people and the nation. Hyper-nationalism and aggressive identity politics can disintegrate the nation and the idea of India itself.
https://theprint.in/2017/12/04/modis-gujarat-identity-spell-doom-india-unity/
Guest- Guest
Similar topics» Eminent Journalist Kumar Ketkar: "Narendra Modi is a transient phenomenon. He is not BJP's future."
» Senior Journalist Kumar Ketkar: "Will not let Narendra Modi Govt. destroy Nehru-Gandhi legacy"
» Kumar Ketkar: BJP-Sena alliance collapsed because Modi consistently ignored Uddhav Thackeray
» Eminent Hindu Saint Swami Sivananda: On the Unity that underlies all religions
» Eminent 7th century Tamil intellectual strikes a blow on behalf of cultural unity of India
» Senior Journalist Kumar Ketkar: "Will not let Narendra Modi Govt. destroy Nehru-Gandhi legacy"
» Kumar Ketkar: BJP-Sena alliance collapsed because Modi consistently ignored Uddhav Thackeray
» Eminent Hindu Saint Swami Sivananda: On the Unity that underlies all religions
» Eminent 7th century Tamil intellectual strikes a blow on behalf of cultural unity of India
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum