Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Election 2009: Caste and Vote

Posted : March 27, 2009 at 12:36 am [IST]

I have few mails in my email box informing me about the men of my community who have obtained candidatures of different political parties for the forthcoming general election in Bihar and UP. I am really very poor in my knowledge regarding these gentlemen who are or may be MPs after the election. I am certainly unlucky in maintaining these network or relations. However, as usual some are taking lead role in convincing the members of the community to make these candidates win. I am totally against it. It is no more possible to live with these identities. It is harmful for the community as well for the nation. The sooner we stop these approaches, the better it will be.

Why can’t the community stop considering its own as the best in the lot? It is always the individuals who build a great community by their performance and sacrifices. In this election, the right approach will be to select efficient persons who are capable to do good for the region they represent without any caste bias. The day of affluence by land holding has become history. Let us drop the shortsighted approach based on caste. With death of distance and globalization reaching every aspect of living, it will be difficult to maintain the dogmas dictated by the caste leaders. But how should we do that and who takes the lead?

I was also shocked to find a national weekly such as Outlook to have on its front page this week a caste-based caption. It talks about how Brahmins still rule the political parties. According to it, every party has a Brahmin drafting canny political strategy. It has stories about Satish Chandra Misra, Pyarimohan Mohapatra, Arun Jatley, Brajesh Misra, Sitaram Yechury, Pranab Mukherji and Jairam Ramesh, Sanjay Baru, Cho S. Ramaswamy, Shivanand Tiwari, YSV Datta, and other Kautilyas. I don’t know if these gentlemen are equally vocal to project themselves as the representatives of Brahmins. And further I don’t know if they follow all the dictates of scriptures, say in Gita, expected from a Brahmin. Perhaps this is mischievous means to bring in caste in management of political parties. At least for some, I carry very poor opinion.

Should not the editors stop resorting to make the magazine more flashy by resorting to such means?

PS: For next three days we shall be in Port Blair in Andaman. I had a long time wish to go there to pay my salutations to those freedom fighters who sacrificed to make our lives better and the nation free. Please wait to find my views and impressions on Kalapani, as I have chosen to be without this machine providing connectivity.

- Indra

Category: Religious/Social issues |