As democracy is seeping in slowly all over the world, there is an organization which is monitoring the degree of democracy in the individual countries, The Economist Intelligence Unit. As such in each country there are diverse factors which on one hand work to deepen it, while others weaken it. Overall there is a march from theoretical democracy to substantive one. The substantive democracy will herald not just the formal equality, freedom and community feeling in the country but will be founded on the substantive quality of these values. In India while the introduction of modern education, transport, communication laid the backdrop of beginning of the process, the direction towards deepening of the process begins with Mahatma Gandhi when he led the non-cooperation movement in 1920, in which average people participated. The movement of freedom for India went on to become the ‘greatest ever mass movement’ in the World.
The approval and standards for democracy were enshrined in Indian Constitution, which begins ‘We the people of India’, and was adopted on 26th January 1950. With this Constitution and the policies adopted by Nehru the process of democratization started seeping further, the dreaded Emergency in 1975, which was lifted later restored democratic freedoms in some degree. This process of democratisation is facing an opposition since the decade of 1990s after the launch of Ram Temple agitation, and has seen the further erosion with BJP led Government coming to power in 2014. The state has been proactively attacking civil liberties, pluralism and participative political culture with democracy becoming flawed in a serious way. And this is what got reflected in the slipping of India by ten places, to 51st, in 2019. On the index of democracy India slipped down from the score of 7.23 to 6.90. The impact of sectarian BJP politics is writ on the state of the nation, country.
Ironically this lowering of score has come at a time when the popular protests, the deepening of democracy has been given a boost and is picking up with the Shaheen Bagh protests. The protest which began in Shaheen Bagh, Delhi in the backdrop of this Government getting the Citizenship amendment Bill getting converted into an act and mercilessly attacking the students of Jamia Milia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University along with high handed approach in Jamia Nagar and neighbouring areas. From 15th December 2019, the laudable protest is on.
It is interesting to note that the lead in this protest has been taken by the Muslim women, from the Burqa-Hijab clad to ‘not looking Muslim’ women and was joined by students and youth from all the communities, and later by the people from all the communities. Interestingly this time around this Muslim women initiated protest has contrast from all the protests which earlier had begun by Muslims. The protests opposing Shah Bano Judgment, the protests opposing entry of women in Haji Ali, the protests opposing the Government move to abolish triple Talaq. So far the maulanas from top were initiating the protests, with beard and skull cap dominating the marches and protests. The protests were by and large for protecting Sharia, Islam and were restricted to Muslim community participating.
This time around while Narendra Modi pronounced that ‘protesters can be identified by their clothes’, those who can be identified by their external appearance are greatly outnumbered by all those identified or not identified by their appearance.
The protests are not to save Islam or any other religion but to protect Indian Constitution. The slogans are structured around ‘Defence of democracy and Indian Constitution’. The theme slogans are not Allahu Akbar’ or Nara-E-Tadbeer’ but around preamble of Indian Constitution. The lead songs have come to be Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s ‘Hum Dekhenge’, a protest against Zia Ul Haq’s attempts to crush democracy in the name of religion. Another leading protest song is from Varun Grover, ‘Tanashah Aayenge…Hum Kagaz nahin Dikhayenge’, a call to civil disobedience against the CAA-NRC exercise and characterising the dictatorial nature of the current ruling regime.
While BJP was telling us that primary problem of Muslim women is Triple talaq, the Muslim women led movements has articulated that primary problem is the very threat to Muslim community. All other communities, cutting across religious lines, those below poverty line, those landless and shelter less people also see that if the citizenship of Muslims can be threatened because of lack of some papers, they will be not far behind in the victimization process being unleashed by this Government.
While CAA-NRC has acted as the precipitating factor, the policies of Modi regime, starting from failure to fulfil the tall promises of bringing back black money, the cruel impact of demonetisation, the rising process of commodities, the rising unemployment, the divisive policies of the ruling dispensation are the base on which these protest movements are standing. The spread of the protest movement, spontaneous but having similar message is remarkable. Shaheen Bagh is no more just a physical space; it’s a symbol of resistance against the divisive policies, against the policies which are increasing the sufferings of poor workers, the farmers and the average sections of society.
What is clear is that as identity issues, emotive issues like Ram Temple, Cow Beef, Love Jihad and Ghar Wapasi aimed to divide the society, Shaheen Bagh is uniting the society like never before. The democratisation process which faced erosion is getting a boost through people coming together around the Preamble of Indian Constitution, singing of Jan Gan Man, waving of tricolour and upholding the national icons like Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar and Maulana Azad. One can feel the sentiments which built India; one can see the courage of people to protect what India’s freedom movement and Indian Constitution gave them.
Surely the communal forces are spreading canards and falsehood against the protests. As such these protests which is a solid foundation of our democracy. The spontaneity of the movement is a strength which needs to be channelized to uphold Indian Constitution and democratic ethos of our beloved country.
Comments
True Muslim Even in the age of 80 fights like an tiger. But RSS fellow in the age of 20s needs a group to attack on elder muslims.
RSS needs bunch of coward sena to attack an old man or woman. It shows that they are not only coward but impotent too.
They are coward because they are the followers of Rama, one who used monkey sena to save his wife from ravana.
How they can respect?they have pros.childreans they are living in bhat house.bhat is there father.chaddis are animal.
better it is not to live than to live like a coward.
80 years old one man against a bunch of cowards proves it all.
this is an Inhuman act. The culprits should be punished.
Oh shivaji babu, I just pray that your parents should not face same problem.. Then who will you blame? Family members? YOurself or any other! every dog has a day my dear babu.
seriously inhuman act, beating elders not good.
these are not anti social these are terrorists and anti national islamophobes who are terrorising the common man.
Dear Shivaji,
From where you received that the aged couples are attacked by relatives? If it is true its inhuman. However, no relatives will attack the old couples such way where they cannot bear the pain. No media reported that the attack was by relatives, you have to clarify the source of your news.
This is not new in DK, RSS thugs and police attack aged Muslims people at thier home or outside. There are ample evidence, RSS thugs dressed in Police uniforms attacked homes in Ullala and other places in Mangalore recently. A MLC from BJP admitted that 60% RSS thugs are in Police force in Mangalore.
Kalladka is Communally sensitive since a long time, Police department sincerely work in this area to bring the peace.
SToP bending & bowing to the CHEDDIS. Dear authorities they are dragging you to HELL by portraying their FALSE history to U. Recognise the EVIL & GOOD and Support the GOOD ...
God has given you power of authority to protect the masses from such EVILS. One day U will need to answer for the injustice done to the innocent... PONDER & THINK before U encourage and support CHEDDis.
Muslims Should UNITE, its getting out of control.
The DEVILS dont recognise even elderly people & women. They attack like COWARDS...
To the HONEST hindus, dont put the AXE in your leg by supporting these devils..The one who gave SOUL (LIFE) will question when he takes back our LIFE ... JOIN hands with the secular people and stop supporting the LIARs who deceive YOU by putting FAKE FEAR to unrest the SOCIETY.
Bring Anupam Kher to Learn what is intolerance and how its spreading in India.
Anupam visit Coastal Karnataka Do some Justice To your AWARD as you JUST bagged in for doing Nothing for the Country.
simply blaming particular group, this act is done by his own family for property dispute.
really terrible, which religion is this which s not respecting elder one.
must punish the culprit. i request police to nab this goons very soon because of some bloody all society must bend their knee.
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