The lead editorial in Mint today talks of “political incoherence” and asks readers to answer the question, “Is ideology dead in Indian politics?” We all know the answer. All politics in India is centred around individuals today.
One of these individuals who is being much discussed on tv is Mayawati. I watched one of her supporters argue that the time had come for Dalits to take over The State and rule over the rest of the population.
For Mayawati and her supporters, The State is the prize. Once they are in control of The State they will do what all others have been doing for 60 years – channel the loaves and fishes of office to their own henchmen, dole out favours to them, and more. In short: Get Rich Quick.
Yet, if you search the archives of the Dalit website dedicated to Dr. BR Ambedkar, you will find my old article “Caste and the Market Economy” that argues urbanization and globalization are in the best interests of the lower castes. That is, the bright future Dalits seek lies in The Market. Under Mayawati, they will seek it in The State. Note that Mayawati is “against policies that benefit capitalists.” Under her leadership, it has become the Dalit goal to control The State. When they succeed, all Dalits will feel they have achieved something – but, just as 60 years of socialist governments have been unable to meaningfully help the working classes of India, so too will a Mayawati sarkaar fail at improving the living conditions of the average Dalit. Their only hope lies in The Market: a free market, urbanization, and a severely cut down State. This is not a direction in which Mayawati seeks to go.
Once again, then, we are back to “ideology.”
Statism is an ideology like all the others. Those who believe in it want to control The State and use its Revenues, and its Force and Violence, to suit their own ends. They will benefit some at the expense of others – through the misuse of State force.
This is the ideology of “legal plunder.”
Libertarians stand at the other end of the spectrum: No plunder. Private Property. Free Markets. Rule of Law. Liberty. Peace.
Newsweek has profiled Mayawati here, calling her India’s “Anti-Obama.” Whereas Obama reaches out to all Americans, Mayawati’s agenda is divisive and violent. Read it – and I guarantee you will feel scared about the future of this country.
HI Sauvik, while the dalits shouldn't discount the state altogether - it is the their largest employer, they haven't been given enough chances to embrace this "market economy" too.
ReplyDeleteIf you had worked in the private companies, it is open knowledge that the hiring managers fills his office with people of his own state or caste or community - be it a Telugu, or brahmin, or a malayali, or a muslim.
The reality is the government departments and the public sector companies have the lowest entry barrier for employment - i am not talking about the so called merit, i am talking about the glass door - the decisions of the managers.
I know many SC friends, who would keep their true caste hidden from anyone and say they are from the dominant caste of their district, or claim they are christians.
If they try to start their own business, they face discrimination there too, except maybe in the cities where their caste identities do not matter for everyday transactions. In the smaller towns and villages, caste is a major factor for even opening shops, and being a dalit shopowner means the rest of the village or neighbourhood will not be your clientele.