India’s Prevailing Divide Must End

Social-caste divide is nothing new in India. Since time immemorial, this divide is in practice in the country. Often our leaders have vowed to end this divide. But every time this divide has emerged more strongly. Who is to blame for this prevailing divide? Obviously the political parties and the caste based organisations are to be blamed as for their own interest they either openly or clandestinely supporting this practice. Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janashakti Party (LJP), everyone is equally responsible for this menace. As a result, even in the 21st century, caste clashes are regularly taking place in India. It’s a national shame. But leaders like Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lallu Prasad Yadav or Ram Bilas Paswan are not at all bothered over violence in the name of caste. Rather, they are doing everything possible to keep it going for narrow political gains. No one is an exception. All are looking at this problem through their respective political prisms. How deadly the caste divide can be was recently proved at Bhima-Koregaon in Maharashtra. In remembrance of the victory against Peshwa Raj through Anglo-Maratha war, every year the Dalits celebrate the first day of English calendar year as Vijay Divas (Victory Day). For the last 200 years this practice went on without any tension between the Dalits and others. But suddenly this year, which happened to be the bi-centenary year of the war, there were tensions between the two communities living in the area, namely the Dalits and the Marathas. The reason behind the tension was not the celebrations of victory, but the fact that for last couple of years, the Marathas have been demanding reservation. But the rulers did not pay any heed to their demands. So the aggrieved Marathas were looking for an opportunity to vent their anger. It has been widely reported that two prominent religious gurus in the locality instigated the Marathas to take on the Dalits. The Dalits who are already in the reserved category, decided to celebrate the bi-centenary year with much more fun fare than previous years. The administration was aware of the prevailing tensions. But quite strangely it decided not to act. It is simply because of its inaction that one youth died and properties worth crores of rupees were destroyed. The trouble which started from Bhima-Koregaon in no time engulfed the entire State of Maharashtra. Only after that the administration acted and the political parties started to fish in troubled water. This is not only the story of Bhima-Koregaon, but also the reality in the country. Be it at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh or Una in Gujarat or in other places of the country caste clashes were organised to reap political dividends. This is not merely an allegation, but a fact. Otherwise, why the two religious gurus named in the FIR for instigating violence in Bhima-Koregaon are still moving freely? Why the persons behind the Saharanpur violence are yet to be arrested? No one is willing to believe the police version that the persons are absconding. Rather, it strengthens the belief that the caste clashes were orchestrated as parts of a sinister design to destroy the social fabric of the country. But the perpetrators should keep this in mind that people of India will never allow this conspiracy to achieve desired results. Sooner or later the people of the country will foil this conspiracy.