The Hindu : New Delhi News : Identity crisis?

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Monday, Jan 14, 2008
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Identity crisis?

With reference to “Identity crisis” by Atul Jain in these columns on January 7 in response to my “Just politics” (December 24), it feels good to see that what I intended to do through my writing has worked. Realising, thinking and then reacting. Believe me, these are the steps we need to take to solve our country’s problems.

While reading the piece, I thought there were certain questions which should be given a deeper thought. Do we really think that politicians actually cater to our needs? What happened in Nandigram could only be done by insensitive and insensible people. Who else could pass orders for killing people protesting against their poverty?

Again, the concept of Indians not having a national identity is an exaggeration. The reality is that our unity lies in this diversity. It works as our strength rather than our weakness.

Take Pakistan, for example. It is a nation with a single identity. But what is happening there? Its future looks bleak. The nation is gradually perishing.

So the problem is not the lack of a national identity but the fact that we feel we don’t have a national identity and the fact that we accept everything that is handed down to us. Along with the politicians even we are to blame to a certain level for the current state of affairs in our country. It is time we stopped listening to everything they say and start forming opinions of our own. Only then can we bring about a change.

Sugandha Munshi,

University Hostel for Women, Delhi University, Chhatra Marg, Delhi – 110 007.

One identity?

With reference to “Identity crisis” by Atul Jain in these columns (January 7), I agree with much of what he has written. But I have a serious disagreement on a point he has made. The solution recommended by him to “avoid the random polarisation of voters” is in my opinion highly dangerous. True, in strict theoretical terms, “we are a group of nations which are sticking together for 60 years” (to engage in the why’s and how’s of it will not be appropriate here), and the “problems” of insurgency and naxalism are adversely affecting us and hence “we need to develop one national identity”. However, this theoretical notion is extremely problematic.

First, if such a bizarre “one national identity” in a sub-continental sized, multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country as diverse as India is ever constructed, it will be a majoritarian identity, laden with upper caste/class and dominant religious bias. Come to think of it, what is the image that comes to our mind when we say “Indian”?

In the minds of most people, I bet, it will not be that of a Naga, a migrant UPite/Bihari/Dalit rickshaw-puller or of a namaaz-rendering burqa-clad woman or a malnourished child from Kalahandi. Our mass media are full of “Indian” images on various occasions and for various purposes, upholding the majoritarian notions. It is due to such majoritarianism that there is gross injustice and unequal distribution of resources across the length and breadth of India, and thus insurgency and naxalism. These trends should not be labelled as anti-national at once, but rather be seen in perspective because they are an expression of demands for inclusion. Given the dynamics of electoral politics in India, “polarisation of voters” is a logical outcome, and not necessarily a negative thing. Our diversity needs to be celebrated and any attempt at homogenisation and building “one identity” should be regarded as a threat. What is actually needed is to hold our local, state-level and national leadership accountable on every issue. It is important to mount pressure on them to perform, making our democracy much more participatory. And for that, a “national identity” is not required.

Sneha Banerjee,

Second Semester, M.A. in Politics, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

Left and right….

Comrade Jyoti Basu needs to be congratulated for admitting an ideological blunder for once by accepting that socialism is not feasible right now (The Hindu, January 7). Such candour was expected more from our leading left intellectuals none of whom has publicly re-examined their past assumptions till now despite the inherent demand of their vocation.

But having said that, one also wonders what could be the rationale for swinging away from totalitarian socialism to uncaring capitalism in a camp that once believed in the ideals of social justice so passionately. Surely it is impossible to defend the dictatorship of the proletariat or the centrally planned “command economy” today.

We could even say that Marxism was just an unfortunate mutation which marred the socialist vision of a just society. But if we throw out this inspiring ideal as a whole, as implied in the latest stance of the last communists, then we would be committing perhaps a greater sin than that of keeping silent against the crimes of “socialist” dictators earlier. For socialism remains relevant to “the long revolution” which seeks a just order without gross inequities or cut-throat competition. Even the liberal welfare state does not address this question adequately; a question which at least requires an assault on the gross injustice of large inheritances. It is ironical that a leader like Jyoti Basu has to be reminded that a democratic and “liberal” socialism would surely re-surface as a possible ideal once the problems of dearth and drudgery have been overcome substantially through another century of wretched profiteering at the most.

Devesh Vijay,

Reader in History, Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi, Delhi.

Why attestation?

While applying for a course in any college or a job in a government organisation, one often needs to go through this process of “attestation” of documents. The search for a gazetted officer is quite a task! And once you manage to locate one, you need to make sure that you are at your humble best to get his signature.

Shockingly, I have recently come to learn of several MBBS doctors who pursue this business of attestation as a side business.

I strongly feel that in this digital high-tech age this whole attestation formality can be done away with. The academic institutions or organisations can always ask for the original documents for verification once the admission/recruitment process is over. They can also ask for confirmation of marks and experience from the concerned examination board or office of the candidate.

This one single thoughtful move will provide immense relief to one and all.

Mohammed Afzal,

D-2/4 SDV, Surajkund, Faridabad – 121 009, Haryana.

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