The flames of TELENGANA gun powder explosion had not even slowed down as yet, what to say of being fully doused, when we hear of another fire about to rage. Politicians of UPA governments are at it again. We now hear of a propsal by UPA government to establish three 'Minority Community Universities' at Ajmer, Kishanganj and Mysore. I do not understand as to what prompts these politicians to think that such measures can uplift the plight of the minority communities of India. I just do not know as to what do we mean by MINORITY COMMUNITY? I would like to know if there was a majority community, at all.
Are we talking of Hindu majority? What is it? Then, who are JATS, GUJJARS, KHATRIS, RAJPUTS, BRAHMINS, HARIJANS, VAISHYA and so on? Aren't they having their own identities? Is n't this the basis on which Jats , Gujjars, Rajputs and even Brahmins are now asking for the reservation in Government jobs and professional institutions? Then, what about the words such as Punjabis, Haryanvis, Maarwaris, Marathas, Nagas, Telgus, Kannadas, Bengalis, Assamese, Manipuris and so on? Don't you think it is these identities which militate against the very majority of the word "HINDU".
Aren't we, in India, laying too much emphasis on the word 'HINDU' to define as to what was a majority community? First of all, what do we mean by a community? Is it religion- biased or region- biased or even language specific? Then, why not communities based on food habits, dresses, profession and so on. Secondly, how do we define Majority and a Minority? Is it at the national level or region and state-wise? I am afraid the word HINDU is as much a representaive of various identities in our country as the word 'INDIA" does. In order to deepen the roots of our nationhood, we ought to amalgamate all these identities into one-----i.e Indian Community.
Strangely, what we call communities in India, are actually the cleavages in the Unity of India. While efforts must be made to subordinate all these identities to a common Identity of India, the authorities are doing just the reverse of it, ever since the days of Jawahar Lal Nehru. The reorganisation of the states based on LINGUISTIC affinities was a major mistake, which was followed up by having an OPEN-ENDED provision in our constitution, for reservation based on the caste and creed. Look at the confusion in our minds: On one hand we want to discourage the use of derrogatory words, which qualified old castes of 'Harijans' or 'Shudras', and on the other hand, we are ensuring they are kept alive by incorporating such measures as RESRVATION. These words can not be abolished from human vocabulary and lexicon by enacting laws but by removing them altogether from usage in all forms, whether direct or indirect.
While members of these castes feel outraged if addressed so, but they proudly write such qualifications while filling up forms for admissions into professional colleges/ institutions or the government jobs. Ironically, a lot of wheeling-dealing has also entered this caste categorisation and people of higher castes also resort to covert means to obtain such certificate of lower castes to get the jobs or admissions.Therefore, to end one evil , we have ushered in another equally serious problem. These are self defeating measures which go against the very spirit of ONE INDIA.
I, therefore, do not understand the purpose for which these MINORITY UNIVERSITIES are being proposed by Ministry of Minority Affairs, under Mr. Salman Khursheed. Such populous measures are the roadblocks in the unity of India. The only purpose they serve is to divide India and keep it compartmentalized under different religious brands. Time has come when government of India must seriously think about the definitions of MINORITY and MAJORITY. Even if I accept your religion-specific definition for a while, then, how about some states, like J&K and Punjab, with other religious majorities . Are you then going to give special privileges to the minority community in these states? Won't you disturb the peace of these areas?
The proposal to create TELENGANA has already sparked many other movements. Where will this lead India to? shouldn't our politicians be put throgh a NATIONAL INTEGRATION COURSE FOR ONE YEAR at the ' Institute of National Integration' at Pune? It will do them good. In fact this course must be made compulsary for all those who elect politics as their career. They must not be allowed to contest election unless they qualify on this course.This can be one big step towards unifying India and rid India of politicians creating such faux pax. What is your take?
Read more...
