Feb 14 2008
Is Maha-rashtra larger than the Rashtra?
The killing of a Maharashtrian by the pro-Marathi trouble makers is unfortunate. Someone who had nothing to do with an ill-conceived agitation has, as happens in all such cases, been sacrificed. Mahatma Gandhi had said during his Satyagraha movement in South Africa that, there is suffering to be borne in all forms of conflict - whether violent or non-violent. The same has befallen an innocent man and his family.
Separatists have time and again targeted their diatribe against Gujaratis, South Indians, and now North Indians, in Maharashtra. The moot question to be asked is - Is Maha-rashtra larger than the Rashtra that is India? While it is alright to be patriotic, why should it be limited to borders of state and country?
We all are too deeply rooted to our sub-nationalities, if the existence of any thing of the sort is to be acknowledged. Whether we like it or not, each one of us is an Indian first. The current agitation is akin to the Kashmiri Pandits being thrown out of J&K. There is only the difference of degree.
The issue of development is getting lost in the din of the turmoil. States like UP, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal have very little to offer to those who have chosen to seek work in large metros. All the menial jobs go to these migrants. Their role in the development of Mumbai, for instance, cannot be undermined. These people offer the choice of labour at low wages to the moneyed people.
3 Responses to “Is Maha-rashtra larger than the Rashtra?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Not A Member? Register for Free!
What is happening nowadays is in contrast of a dream sketched by Tagore ” Where the head is held high– where knowledge is free– where the world has not been broken into fragments of narrow domestic walls–”.
The Maharashtra story is ugly and unfortunate to say the least, an inevitable result of ‘heartless-mindless-emotionless’ development of the materialistic world. The life of intolerance, little value for non-violence and mind-blowing activities for achieving success at any cost are making people restless. If only someone had time to sit in his verandah, spare a minute or two to introspect his/her act and look closely at the people around him/her, s/he may develop a tenderness for the world. The mantra of ’sucess at any cost’ and fear of ‘getting engulfed by others’ and the anxiety of ‘being left behind others’ are instilling a sense of insecurity in our people - they oppose even the truth, they are closely associated with. Eventually, four lawyers of north origin stood for Raj Thakarey, who led the mission to throw away them from their land of work.
Be optimistic. Things are changing. More and more youth are turning towards spiritualism for solace. More and more NGOs and groups are dedicated towards the noble mission of service. Ruthless tactics can shine at times, but it is the light of humanity that will last for ever.
I think there is no doubt as to what comes first - the Rashtra or Maharashtra. But we simply cannot delegate the responsibility of what’s happening in Maharashtra to “some separatist” forces. We have all become too idealistic and unrealistic. We have always shied away from confronting the reality when it comes to issues as sensitive as this. A Raj Thakerey cannot alone produce this sort of reaction amongst the people - there must be some sense to the issues he is raising and he has touched some supersensitive nerve of the Maharashtrians. I am not justifying what is happening is Maharashtra, but I am imploring the Indian community to introspect. What went wrong? How can we make the situation better? What lies at the roots of the issue? Do we have the capability to address them and find a solution to the problems faced by us. Or are we simply going to turn on the TV news operas which are becoming increasingly better and better at sensationalizing the issues connected with the life of people and watch the events unfold before us.
I feel that “Patriotism” was the last thing on Raj Thackeray’s mind when he raised the issue of North Indians depriving the Apla Manoos! Basically, it was political expediency that had made him raise such a ridiculous issue. Thrown out of Shiv Sena by his mentor and uncle, Balasaheb, and with the threat of political oblivion looming large for him, this was the only way he could kick up some storm and reestablish his political legitimacy. Otherwise, Raj Thackeray is intelligent, shrewd and erudite enough to know that Mumbai owes most of its growth to the outsiders, right from the British merchants to the Parsees, Gujaratis, Marwaris, even Bengalis (who set up the now famous Bollywood industry alongwith the Assamese) and now the South Indians and the North Indians! If I remember correctly, around a decade back, Balasaheb had raised the issue of throwing out the South Indians when Shiv Sena had been facing a similar threat of political extinction and had come back to power, riding on that wave. As far as the common man is concerned, he is indeed gullible to such provocation and what can you expect, if the Government cannot generate enough jobs and other sources of income for him! It is all that frustration that comes pouring out ! As far as the death of a Marathi is concerned, it is only ironic and poetic justice! Nothing else brings out the rdiculousness and hollowness of this entire debacle!