Is India for Indians? The Raj Thackeray Phenomenon
February 13, 2008 by Team ASO
Menaka Ramiah
In the light of the incidents in Maharashtra, which are posing serious threats to the nature of Indian federal polity many strands of thought have come to light. Legal Provisions apart (the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution enables a citizen to reside in any part of India and practice any legal profession), there are many other issues which need attention. It is an irony that it is in Shridi, the name boards of shops written in other regional languages were blackened. (Shridi Baba is worshipped by many people throughout the country as the propagator of unity among people.)
Regional or cultural identity as such is definitely not a vice. But, when it becomes a basis for discrimination, hatred and eventually violence, it has to be condemned strongly in a democratic and a federal country, like that of ours. Intermixing of communities has always been a part of Indian culture. This intermixing has manifested itself in many forms and has been caused by many factors. Interstate migration is just one such. In Delhi, for example, there are pockets where people belonging to one particular ethnic, cultural or regional group reside. (I have sometimes felt that R.K Puram, where many people from Tamil Nadu reside, is a Puram, giving it a Tamil tinge and not a pur as Badarpur or a puri as Chanakyapuri.)
The pattern of migration has been that, people move out of their villages to the nearby towns, from towns to cities, from cities to state capitals, from state capitals to metros and from metros to international destinations. Say for example, if all individuals are driven out of their present residences to their respective places of birth, then virtually all cities and towns will have to become vacant. Indians abroad should leave their jobs and drill soil in their own land!!!. This is not restricted to physical movement alone. The billions of dollars that come into India as FDIs and FIIs only mean that the capital which was earned and generated in one part of the globe are being invested in yet another part meaning thereby that job opportunities that could have been created in their own countries are being created elsewhere. Thus if someone says that jobs in a particular federal unit have to be reserved exclusively for persons born there, then they might as well give back all investments that someone else brings in. Will this economics work out?
No, definitely not. Then do we mean to say that in the rat race of profit making, should indigenous, disadvantaged, weak and depressed be allowed to die a natural death? Should we uphold Darwin??? A welfare State cannot let this happen. A middle way has to be struck upon. Capacity building of the common man can be one viable solution. To my understanding, navnirman or reconstruction does not essentially mean destroying something which is already existing and then erecting on its debris something new. It might as well mean repairing and altering the unfavourable features and replacing them by the favourable desired ones, for the benefit of larger good.
To this end, if any one is genuinely interested in the betterment of Maharastrians and want more representation in government services like Railways then, may be they train up their candidates to fare better in the examinations, to make them better in business may be entrepreneurship development programmes are conducted, schools and colleges are opened. All this will lead to sustainable, continuous and steady growth of human resources. Superficial efforts to drive away the competitor and secure a place in economy will not pay even in the short run. What is required is a concerted effort of all those concerned if underdevelopment of people is the only reason behind all this mishaps.
Very well written……..
Unity in diversity is the mantra we exhibit to all nations in our planet……. let there will not be any flaw in that. The Maharashtra incident is definitely a major threat to our democratic setup, which is the only major reason for our respect among world community….Government should curb these type of discriminations at its early stage with stringent punishments, not as the arrest drama took place this day….
Well…I think the election commission /Supreme court should be given more powers in monitoring / reporting the behavior of political parties over a period of time….and….When they find them obnoxious…..they should be banned….
MNS dont deserve to be a political party….
Raj thackarey is a thorn on Mumbai’s cosmopolitan set up.
He is a rebel…..
There is something called fundamental duties in the Indian constitution….isnt this violation?
The simplest thing to do is to cancel his citizen ship
It is all about vote bank (regional) politics. The party should be banned… But is our election commission is capable of doing that? Even in election commission, the vandalization of politics is started
States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh should use the government funds given to them to develop the State and add infrastructure. If this is done and jobs are available there, then there will be no need for people to move off to far off areas in search off livelihood.
Theorotically India is for Indian. We can live, do job, make home in any part of India irespective of where we born & brought up. But in practice this never happens because we indians are diverse people & we belive in unity in diversity. No other country on earth have this much diversity. One has to accept both Unity & diversity to be Indian. There are both negative way & positive way of looking at this situation.
Positively - we can get fill of visiting many countries just by visiting different parts of India. We can learn different languages, see different geographical features & even have lots of different ways of celebrating same festival. In Europe you have to travel different countries for that. Countries like Japan, US are same from east to west , north to south. Same language, same holidays, same way of living life.
Negatively- we think like mumbai is for marathi, Hindi should not be impossed on tamil, Hindi is spoken by majority so should be national language etc.
I don’t want to blame anybody but both Raj & North indian polititians forgot about basics of Unity in Diversity. Raj should honor that Chat pooja is cultural part of Bhiharij also north indian polititians should not forget that it is matter of personal belief & is not a venture for political strength show.
When one accepts Unity in Diversity , one accepts that Mumbai is a part of Maharastra. it has unique marathi face, marathi culture. Similar can be said about any city in India whether it is Chennai, Bangluru, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad. One should not force to change that. Do you like if you go to Chennai & require to speak in Bengali because all taxi drivers are from bengal or go to Delhi & to speak in Kannada to give order in restaurant because all waiters are from karnataka. These are exagerated examples but similar things are happening. From decades you require to speak in Hindi in Mumbai & same I observed in some parts of Pune recently. This creates tension & polititions use these tensions for their advantage. Remeber anti Hindi movement in Tamilnadu or anti Bihari movement in Aasam.
Time is to spread word that when one migrate from one part of India to other part one should culturaly, linguistically assimilate to local culture & language. One should not encourage leaders to take advantage of the situation. This time north indians should come together & say that they come to Mumbai & made it their second home. They will prove that they are no less marathi than other. They will learn marathi & work with local parties on local isues. They come to mumbai to run away from mis-management of north indian polititians so they no longer consider them their leaders.
This way Raj & other north indian polititians will be without issue. They will loose but janata will won. Finally all leaders are doing this for votes.
Who is Raj Thackeray? Does anyone know him before his anti - North Indian outbursts? Or what’s “phenomenal” about him?
Raj is the nephew of Bal Thackeray. He was running Shiv Sena & was all powerful in the party hierarchy until he fell out with his uncle. He lost the succession battle to his cousing Uddhav & went into sulking.
He resurfaced with a rag tag outfit called MNS but really didn’t make the dent to Maharastra politics. Wanting to gain attention, he started this anti-North Indian campaign which his goons used it to the hilt.
His campaign is nothing but old wine in new bottle. Do you folks remember the anti-South Indian campaign of Bal Thackeray during the ’70s & ’80s. Remember the iconic Tamil film Kamal Hassan-starrer “Nayagan”? It was loosely based on a Tamil don Varadaraja Mudaliar based at Mumbai who served as a bulwark against the Sena.
Today, Raj is targetting the poor & lowly laborers & petty traders from Bihar & UP who have no savior. Agreed he was provoked by Abu Azmi of Samajwadi Party. But you can see the damage & death caused by Raj’s remarks. It was pathetic to hear that one Marathi manoo has died because of his goons. Mindless violence is the order of the day.
If I can paraphrase, Mumbai was not built in a day, not built one community alone. Everyone contributed & made what Mumbai is today. Unity in Diversity is the strength of our country. And these outfits are out to tear the harmonious social fabric apart.
The arrest & release are all part of policital drama enacted by Congress & NCP. They are using Raj as a tool to weaken Shiv Sena.
There is a reputation that Thackerays are always handled with kid gloves & let off lightly. Let’s see what the court decides in this case. And that would bear testimony to our judicial system’s real independence & fairness.
There were a couple of hints in the article that highlighted the real plight. What India stands for, is beyond democracy or constitution or rights. The culture of the land is greater than all the forms of government. What the constitution and the democratic setup has tried is to take the essence of the nation’s culture and put it as a set of administrative guidelines. Tolerance to other faiths and cultures has what made India in to such a vibrant confluence of varieties. Outbursts based on regionalism or religion are attempts made by groups of people for their self-interest. When political powers fan such bad sparks, it engulfs the larger public. Sustained progress is not in killing the competitor but in overcoming the competitor in health ways. Politicians who claim to drive away people whom they claim as ‘outsiders’ would eventually end up standing alone. But not before sending down lot of innocent victims!
Think, fellow INDIAN, think… we live by making everybody live!
Kudos! Good work..
Few days back in HINDU..the whole essence of this drama was conveyed in one simple epithet..
History repeats itself..First time as a tragedy..Second time as a farce..
This is a meticulous plan by Raj Thackeray inspired by Bal Thackeray’s similar drama in 60s to boost his image ,feeding on the media frenzy….
Its so disheartening to know that people with such fedualistic attitudes live in Mumbai which is the epitome of cosmpolitan culture
It is well written by Ms.MenakaRamiah….we have to appriciate her sayings……
Besides this i want to register some of my ideas here…. these are all just political stunds by politician that they want to show who they are….before Rajthakrey establishing his political party he did not raise any questions about or against north Indians and amithab….now these people need recognization and want to seek people”s attention towards their party so they are doing all the worst things….even it was done before against
‘Superstar”Rajinikant by some politicians in Tamilnadu since they wanted publicity…what to do this is the fate of India….this kind of bad political sparks destroys democractic policies and unity in diversity ….jaihind.
Menaka your article reflected many youth’s heart.
I will tell my comment with one example which took place in my english speaking course college.
I went to English speaking course college for getting fluency in English.
There many foreign students used to come for studying English.
They always blame about India like they are doing like this, auto’s asking more money, where ever we go in India they want money. Indians are very worst like that.
Our tutor used to ask them,”Where u r from?”. They used to tell “I m From Iran”, “I am from UAE”, like that they used to tell various countries. She ask “How many religion in your country?”. They used to tell “Only One” “only two” like that.
Then she will explain”India is having 816 languages, various religions and various other communities. But still we are united as INDIANS. We are living in india with peace and calm. We strongly believe in “Unity in Diversity”.
She will explain like that. She is a anglo-Indian.
We are proud to be indians.
For publicity stunt these politicians used to take some arms in their hands. This is one among such arms.
Menaka reflected the mentality of the common public and youths of India. Well Written menak.
Raj sena is not against to the migrated people.
They want all the things in marata state shud be in marata.
They are not agains to other lanugage people but against to other languages dominating on marata language.
Its the way of protecting marata culture.
All the people who settled in marata state shud learn marata.
If you go to China .. you cant spread tamil there…
the same way..
THE WRITER VERY WELL HIGHLIGHTED WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE FOR THE SIMPLE REASON WE HAVE FORGOTTEN OR DO NOT WISH TO REMEMBER,THAT WE ARE INDIANS. If a state in our country can send the habitual to their native what would be the world scenario.It”s hightime we should distinguish between leaders and politicians.people should not fall prey to the drama of the politician.
Reply to sreedhar. You are correct. But write “Marathi” not “marata”. You are Tamilian so understand the language pride. If you know in Tanjavur , marathi people came their some centuries back. They still speak marathi at home but outside they speak Tamil & even they took name like tamil way. Now today they are more tamil than marathi. I work with one such person he gives his idetity at tamilian than marathi. Same is your superstar Rajanikant. He is technically Marathi or Kannadiga but he assimilated with Tamil culture so much that he will more prodly say that he is Tamil. & we marathi know him as tamilian than otherway. Same can be said about Sindhia or Gualher. They migrated their & even changed surname from Shinde to Scindia to look more Hindi. They done inspite of they are Kings & no fear of anything.
I believe in if you are in Rome you should be Roman. Examples of Scindia & Rajanikant shows that. Thats why locals don’t see them as outsiders.
But migrated Biharis & UPits whom Raj asked to leave don’t behave like this. Instead of adoting Marathi culture, learning Marathi language or atleast behaving orderly in Mumbai they behave like they are still in UP or Bihar. Amitabh is living in Mumbai for so many years & also knows marathi but when Raj said bad words to him he did not given any statement. Does his silence is acceptance of Raj accusations. What Amitabh is doing same North Indians do. It does not matter for them how many years they stay out of their states, it does not matter Bihar & UP are states which are not to be proud of, it does not matter they aare earning their livelyhood in some other state, still they are Biharis & UPits.
Well said Rakesh.
And this is happening only againsts UP & Biharis - in Maharashtra, Assam, North-East and even in Delhi & Punjab. All automobile sector in dominated by Punjabis, Sindhis, Industries by Gujaratis, Marawadis in Maharashtra.. But we marathi’s never revolted againsts them.
UP & Biharis should think about that !!
We all say a lot about Indian Pride to be so diversified but still united , today so many people spl. those who are not residing in Mumbai feel Raj Thackeray is wrong , i just have a simple question from them ” Mumbai has a maximum capacity to accommodate 7million residents but today we are having more than 16million residing right here in mumbai ” they need basic necessities like i.e. Water , shelter , food , transportation etc. What i get from the above comments is people here believe in a JUNGLE RULE , that is survival of the fittest i.e. If Bihari’s can stay in extreme conditions in mumbai they should be allowed to stay irrespective whether its hurting the social / economic standards of Mumbai citizens residing in Mumbai for ages , just because its India & india can go around any part of india start a Slum reside there stealing Local jobs & happiness . A guess Raj has a very valid point here , We should put some restrictions on these people to spoil the city anymore .
Excellent work Menaka.I appreciate your views.
Comments by Mr. Cyberkitty seems to be an immatured and childish one.
Thackerays should be exiled.I wonder whether he accepts Mumbai being a part of India also or not.
May god give him wisdom.
He is a Mad dog from the yaer1965. Now what he natural death is very near. Then the other son and other baster. Not going to succeed. Bil Laden will attach them.
THE BECOMING OF HINDISTAN
—————————————-
The central govt in Delhi has plans to wantonly ignore other languages and pave the way for their decline by sole use of Hindi and by the portrial of India to the outside world as Hindia.
Except for some sentiments raised by Tamils, other language speakers are simply taking it for granted to accept Hindi as their officated mother tongue.
Some examples of Hindian propoganda by both the Hindian central government and large MNCs:
1>Gas books across India printed only in Hindi and English
2>Air Hindia, Hindian Airlines, S(J)et(h) Airway etc having announcements only in English and Hindi.
3>Hindi being compulsory in CBSE schools while Hindian can choose to skip the state language in favour of Sanskrit
4>Lack of opportunity of native Tamils in the north leave alone North Indians to learn Tamil and other southern languages in their areas
5>Tamil being portrayed with lude ‘comical’ roles in Hindian films
6>Hindian railways train tickets skipping the state language
7>Airports (like in Madras) hiring Hindians who cant speak Tamil/state language
8>Hindian Railway and other Hindian institution websites restricted to only Hindi and English
9>Hindian movies only being sent to the Oscars and other cultural events ignoring other languages
10>Hindian bank passbooks skipping the state language
11>ATMs of most banks (Citibank, Hindian Bank etc restricting to Hindi and English)
12>Looking down on states of Tamil Nadu because of refusal to prescribe to “accept-Hindi-as-your-language” attitude
13. The very use of the term “Regional language” to non-Hindi languages
14. The use of Hindian stickers in trains and else portaying “speaking Hindi is nationalism” and other propoganda messages stating use of English or non-Hindi as not being nationalistic.
15. The very absence of languages other than Hindi on the symbol of citizenship of the country– the passport
The above is a part of a sinister policy create to transform India to simply Hindia or Hindistan.
These remarks are taken as fascist…but you need to ask yourself whether the National Language policy of India itself isnt fascist.
If you trace the history since independence regarding the use of language apart from Hindi, you can foretell the future plan for this fascist policy.
This Hindian fascism should not make it a big mistake for India to be a lingual union. The last thing for the country is encouragement a colonial attitude by speakers of the “elevated” lingo.
DMK, PMK and other Tamil traitors are happy with this scenario as they are in business with their Hindian masters who safeguarding the TN reservation policy, where several Hindi OBCs get reservation in TN while Tamil FCs are thrown out. Their vote bank has been assured by their Hindian masters.
There is a theoretical concept of India and there is a practical concept of India. In practicality, India is indeed multiple countries. Maharashtra being one of them.
The constitution should be changed to fit the people and not the other way around. India cannot become a country by killing all the cultures which live in that place.
So spare us a lesson on what it is to be Indian and approach this problem as if it was real and not brush it away as “political issue” “economic issue”.
Finally, stop assuming Maharashtrians are not well trained and competitive. If you guys are so competitive, how is it that you show up in our state and we don’t in yours.?
Thanks to Ram Kumar G for the details
ufff the politics victimises the innocent. One should remember that it is difficult to make things pleasant after shakening the unity among people.
HI its really nice that what u writen but do u ever come to UP or BIHAR….or u get stay of minimum 6month….i think no if yes you wont be write like this….look i am a south indian and in my job carrier i have been to lots of places to india like mumbai, hyedrabad, bangalore, orissa, pune, assam…. but right now iam in noida UP…..u know i dont have a single option to stay here i m serching for a new job to just getout of this place…cuz simply i say this UP gys r really Burn bitch bastards……they love to breake rull…even if u find those person is saying him self a don…his brother or father is from police…can u belive….this UP gys r dont know how to behave…due to IT companys are coming frequently thats why the UP guy are selleing ther land & geting lots of money and then stared ther rull…. after that money spend they wont have any choice and start ther proffesion…..if u want to see about these UP guy come and stay here…after some time u fill that
RAJTHAKREY….IS THE BEST WHAT HE DOING HE IS RIGHT…….
I SALUTE U RAJTHAKREY FOR THIS STEP IF I WILL BE THE POWER OF LIKE U THEN I MUST BE START THIS REVULATION IN SOUTH….THEN THIS UP BASTERD ARE KNOW IT VERY WELL…..