Gender, Religion and Caste, Class X, Democratic Politics
GENDER AND POLITICS:
A
prominent social division in our country is the gender division,
generally understood to be natural and unchangeable. It is based on
social expectations and stereotypes about women for centuries. They are
brought up differently and made to think that the main responsibility of
women is housework and bringing up children. The main responsibility of
the man is to earn money to provide for the family. There is a division
of labour based on gender in most of the families.
Sexual Division of Labour:
The
sexual division of labour happens when the work is divided on the basis
of the gender of the person. Generally, the household work is done by
the women of the family and men go out to work. The work done by the
women is not paid for and also does not require any basic skill. The men
earn the money for their work and need some basic skills to do the
work. Women do go out and work, to fetch water, collect wood and work in
the fields. But work done by women is not valued and not considered as
essential.
Even
though the men and women work for the same number of hours in a day,
the work done by men is considered more important. This has resulted in
confining the women to her household and has restricted her
participation outside the home.
This
has led to a monopoly situation in politics where only men rule. But
gradually, with increasing education and awareness gender issues have234
been raised in politics. The role of women in changing and has changed a
lot from the previous times. They now enjoy more or less equal
political rights and have advanced in many fields today and are found in
almost all occupations today.
Different Aspects of Life in Which Women Are Discriminated:
Indian
society is a patriarchal society. There is a male domination
everywhere. Women in our society face discrimination, disadvantage and
oppression:
1. Education: the
literacy rate of women is still lower than men. Only 54% of the women
are literate against 76% of men. This is because a boy’s education is
still preferred over sending a girl to the school. Spending money for a
boy’s education is considered more important as they consider the boys
to be the future bread winners of the family, rather than girls who
shall be married off. In the field of higher education the prop. of
girls is significantly lower than the boys.
2. Proportion of Women in Paid Jobs: women
still have a small share in the highly paid jobs and higher posts. On
an average a woman works one hour more than a man per day. But women’s
works is not recognized as much of it is housework which is unpaid.
3. Preference of Male Child: Indian
parents prefer to have male children over female children. A female
child is considered as a burden as the parents will have to earn for her
dowry to marry her. While, a boy child is considered as an asset for
the family who will earn and increase the family income. This preference
has resulted in social crimes such as female foeticide where a girl
child is killed even before she is born.
4. Crime against women: there
are various instances of crime against women, they are exploited and
harassed at the work place and at home. There are cases of domestic
violence against which makes her unsafe even in her family.
All
these factors have prevented the women from actively participating in
the work outside their homes and have confined her to homes. Any role
played by women outside the household work is not respected and
recognized.
Women in Politics:
Gender issue with respect to politics: work
has been divided on the basis of the gender of the person, all the
housework was assigned to women and income earning assigned to men. A
women role outside her household has been very limited and very minimal,
especially in politics. However the gender issue has been raised in the
politics. Women in different parts of the world have fought for equal
rights for women. These protests demanded equal educational and career
opportunities, extension of voting rights to women and improving the
political and legal status of women.
It
seems likely that women would have improved their status had they not
raised their voice, gender issues in politics. Women oriented movements
all around the world drew attention towards unequal rights to women in
the political field. These women demanded equal social, political and
economic rights for women. The belief of these feminist movements was
that unless women have power to make decisions, they can progress in
society. It meant having more women as elected as representatives in the
political field. To ensure fair share of women in govt. bodies, it is
legally binding to have 1/3 of seats in local govt. bodies are reserved
for women. Such reservations have helped women in voicing their concerns
and interests and demanded equal status and opportunities.
Status of women’s representation in India’s Legislative Bodies:
In
India the participation in the political area is very low. The women
strength in the Lok Sabha is not even 10%. Their share in the state
assemblies is as low as 5%. The share of women in India is behind those
of several developing countries of Latin America and Africa. One
probable solution to increase the women participation in the political
system is to make legal laws for the minimum number of seats to be
filled by the women candidates. In the Panchayat and Municipalities, it
is legally binding to fill one third of the seats by women candidates,
the panchayati raj amendment act. This has resulted in 10Lakh elected
women representatives in the local govt. bodies. Women’s Reservation
Bill envisaging 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and the State
Assemblies is pending before the parliament.
Feminist:
advocating social, political, legal, and economic rights for women
equal to those of men. refers to a series of campaigns for reforms on
issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment and sexual violence. Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights.
Feminism is mainly focused on women's issues, but because feminism
seeks gender equality, some feminists argue that men's liberation is
therefore a necessary part of feminism, and that men are also harmed by
sexism and gender roles. Feminists are "person[s] whose beliefs and
behavior[s] are based on feminism." Feminist theory
exists in a variety of disciplines, emerging from these feminist
movements and including general theories and theories about the origins
of inequality, and, in some cases, about the social construction of sex
and gender. Feminist activists have campaigned for women's rights—such
as in contract, property, and voting — while also promoting women's rights to bodily integrity and autonomy and reproductive rights. They have opposed domestic violence, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. In economics, they have advocated for workplace rights, including equal pay and opportunities for careers and to start businesses.
RELIGION AND POLITICS:
Gandhiji’s View on Religion: He
did not consider religion as Hinduism, Islam or Christianity. To him
every religion was based on some belief supported by rituals. He tried
to get rid of rituals as far as possible. To him religion was a human
institution that helped people solves practical affairs. He believed
that the moral values drawn from all the religions should be used to
guide the political system.
Religion Be Positively Used in Politics: Gandhi
preached for using the moral values and ethics of all the religions as a
guide to the political system. All religions have some belief system
and the ethics drawn from it should be used in politics as a guide.
Ideas, ideals and values should have a place in political. People should
be able to voice their needs and interests as a religious community.
Also the leaders should regulate the religion to ensure that it is not
used for discrimination and oppression. The use of religion in politics
should be dome with careful thought and analysis. No religious demand or
interest should be raised if it is against any other religion. Religion
should be used to people and not to arouse feelings of distrust and
suspicion. What he meant was that politics must be based on ethics and
moral values contained in all religions which are essentially the same.
These unite rather that create differences.
Religion,
the political expression, of which has been dangerous and explosive in
India, leading to violence and riots. It led to the partition in 1947
and exodus of millions of people across the border. Expression of
religious differences in politics of different countries is very common
since it is a very sensitive issue. As principles, ideals and values of
various religions are based on humanity, their political expression
ought to play a positive role in politics. Political leaders should see
that there is no discrimination and inequality among citizens on the
basis of religion. The state and the govt. should treat all religions
equally without favour or partiality.
· Human
rights groups in our country have demanded that special measures be
taken to protect religious minorities, like, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs,
& Parsis. Their contention is that these minority communities are
victims of communal riots. Their opinion has substantial truth but there
are exceptions too.
· Some
political parties and women’s movement have been demanding uniform
civil code for all communities and are demanding a change in family laws
of all religions because they discriminate against women and favour
men.
Communalism: What is Communalism?
· When religion is expressed in politics in exclusive and partisan terms.
· When one religion and its followers are pitted against another.
· When beliefs and practices of one religion are considered superior.
· When the demands of one religion are formed in opposition to another.
· When the state favours domination of one religion above all others.
What is NOT communalism?
· Adherence to a religion or its system.
· Indulgence in ritualism, superstition, obscurantism, magic charm and occult practices, astrology is NOT communalism.
· Practice and propagation of a religion, religious gatherings, seminars meetings etc. is NOT communalism.
· Running a religious education institution or organization is NOT communalism.
What is the ideological basis of communalism?
· Religion is the principal basis of social community
· Fundamental interest, socio-economic interest, and political interest of a religious community are the same.
· People who belong to different religions cannot belong to the same social community.
· Insignificant and superficial commonalities among followers of different religions.
· Interests of most Religious communities are different and mutually conflicting.
· People
belonging to different religions must live together as equal citizens.
They must not try to dominate the other. They should not desire to form a
separate nation.
· This
was the extreme form of communalism practiced under the aegis of of the
Muslim League which led to the Partition of India. The Muslims felt
that the Hindus would dominate them and therefore two separate nations
were created- India and Pakistan.
· But
people of same religion do not form one social community. There are
rich & poor; educated & illiterate; among one religion. Also
people have different interests, aspirations, identities, status,
profession, occupation of people are dissimilar among the same religious
group. They have varying opinions and ideological inclination, some are
orthodox or liberal or moderate.
Communal Politics:
· The
use of religion where one religion is shown as superior to the other
religion is called communal politics. One religious group is against the
other religious group and demands of one religious group are against
the demand of the other religious group.
· It
is based on the idea that religion is the only basis of forming a
community. It believes that followers of one religion belong to the same
community. Their interests, ideas are opinions are same or should be
same.
· It
also believes that people of different religions cannot be part of the
same community. Their ideas, interest and opinions cannot be same, their
ideas and demands are bound to be different.
· In
an extreme case of communalism, it follows that people from different
religions are not equal citizens and cannot live together as one nation.
The Idea of Communal Politics Fundamentally Flawed:
· The
idea of communal politics is fundamentally flawed as it is not
necessary that people of the same religion have identical interests and
demands.
· There is a possibility that people of the same religion have different interests, opinions and ideas.
· The
demand and interests of the people depend on the roles they play in
society. Their interests are based upon the position and the status they
enjoy in the society and not based on the religion that they follow.
Forms of Communal Politics/ Political Expression of Communalism:
1. Political expression of communalism in everyday beliefs;
involving religious prejudices against certain religious communities,
stereotypes, belief in superiority of one’s own religion. The most
common form of communalism is in everyday religious ideas of people.
Beliefs and ideas of one religion are shown superior to the beliefs and
ideas of another and are given more importance. The demands of a
religious group are against the demands of the other religious group.
2. Political dominance of majority religious groups over the minority, called majoritarianism. Maximum representation in Politics,
they want elected representatives in the political system belonging to
their religion. This often results in domination of those belonging to
the majority community. People of the minority community then demand a
separate state for themselves. E.g. Sri Lanka- dominance of Buddhism
over Muslims and Christians. Minority communities have a strong desire
to form a separate nation or an autonomous group.
3. Political mobilization
of masses on religious/communal lines- political leaders exploit
religious sacred symbols, instigate local religious leaders, emotional
appeal, fear to polarize people of one religion for political gains.
This mostly happens during elections. Political leaders appeal to people
of different religions to gain votes. It attempts to bring together all
the people of one religion together. The political leaders pay special
attention to the demands of one religion at the cost of the other
religions.
4. The Most Ugly Form Communal Riots, Massacres and Violence:
the people from various religions are in opposition to each other and
they use violence to show the domination of their religion. People
demand a separate state for people of separate religions and it leads to
division of the country on communal lines. In post –independence
period there have been worst communal riots at the instigation of
political parties.
When does the communalism problem become acute?
Communalism
means promoting ideas of a particular religion. It believes that people
belonging to one religion belong to one community. It becomes a problem
when religion is seen as the only identifying factor. It creates an
acute problem when:
1. It is used in politics as an exclusive factor where people belonging to different religions are treated differently.
2. Demands
of one religion are against the demands of another religion and there
is feeling of distrust among the people of different religions.
3. Beliefs and ideas of one religion are shown superior to the beliefs and ideas of another.
4. Various
religious groups are in opposition to each other and the winning or
defeat of a particular group is associated with respective religion’s
winning or defeat.
5. State power is used to show the domination of one religion as against the other religion.
Secularism:
India
is a secular country; there is no discrimination on the basis of
religion. In the eyes of the government all religions are equal and
same, they enjoy equal privileges. The makers of the Indian constitution
firmly believed that a multi-religious country like India had to be
secular state. Secular means being neutral to various beliefs and no
special provision is there for any religion. Secularism gives people the
freedom to practice and follow any religion of their choice and treats
every religion equally.
Communalism
is the most dangerous challenge to democracy and Nehru was much aware
of this. In 1951, he stated that “Communalism will break up India”, he
knew it posed the main threat to India’s integrity. In 1948, Vallabhai
Patel declared in the Jaipur Congress Session that the Congress and the
government were determined to make India a secular state. The word
secular was not initially used in the constitution; it was added by the
42nd Amendment Act, 1976, in the Preamble.
The
principal of secularism is one of the basic feature s of our
constitution. Communalism is a threat to the very existence of India and
therefore it has to be combated by all of us. The Constitution and the
State alone cannot guarantee a secular society. We need to counter
communal prejudices and propaganda in everyday life. During elections,
mobilization based on communalism needs to be encountered by the public,
by the Election Commission and the courts.
The Constitutional Provisions that Make India a Secular State:
1. There
is no official religion of India. Every religion is given the same
importance, even though Hindus constitute almost 80% of the total
population. The constitution treats every religion equal.
2. The
constitution gives freedom to people to follow any religion of their
choice. People to free to follow, preach, and propagate the ideas of any
religion.
3. The constitution does not allow any discrimination on the basis of religion.
4. The
states have the powers, given by the constitution, to intervene in
religious matters if they threaten the peace of the state. They are
allowed to intervene to ensure equality among different religious
communities.
Religion
is not a threat to our country. But its activities have to be checked
so that it does not take any violent form. All the religions are equal
and are treated equally by the constitution. Any movement on
communal/religious lines has to be checked to ensure equality among the
religions.
CASTE AND POLITICS:
Political
expression of casteism has seen both positive as well as negative
outcomes. Casteism is a unique phenomenon to Indian society.
The Caste System/The Caste Hierarchy:
Some
form of social inequality and division of labour exist in almost all
the countries. Since the existence of the earliest civilizations,
ancestral profession and occupation are passed on from generation to
generation. Caste system is an extreme form of the hereditary
occupational division, which was sanctioned by rituals; members of the
same caste formed a separate social community. They practiced the same
occupation, dined with the same caste group, married within the same
caste group. The most extreme and virulent expression of casteism was
discrimination against the so-called ‘outcastes’ or untouchables whose
mere touch could pollute a person of upper caste.
In modern India, the caste system has declined to a great extent due to:
1. Socio
religious reformers like R R M Roy, D Saraswati, and Swami Vivekananda
opposed the caste system. J Phule, Gandhiji, Ambedkar, R Naicker
aggressively worked for a casteless and egalitarian society.
2. Large scale industrialization and urbanization.
3. Growth of education and literacy
4. Occupational mobility whereby members of the same caste opted for various other occupations.
5. Abolition
of zamindari and landlordism, coupled with land reforms destroyed the
old socio-economic system in villages which protected and nurtured caste
system.
Casteism has not totally disappeared from our system:
1. In
India, mostly people marry within the caste framework; intercaste
marriages are not accepted and are still considered a forbidden.
2. In
remote villages where illiteracy has not reached yet, untouchability is
practiced even today. That is despite the fact that our constitution
abolishes untouchability.
3. Caste
and class are almost synonyms, member of upper caste are generally
better off than those of the lower caste. This is because the upper
caste has access to modern education. A large number of professionals,
government servants and people occupying upper positions and ranks
belong to the upper castes and therefore form the upper class.
The Two Social Groups: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: They
are Indian communities that are accorded special status by the
constitution of India. The scheduled caste communities were considered
“outcastes” in the Hindu social order. They have been denied the access
to various resources and were given only low status work. The scheduled
tribes included those communities who were self sufficient and lived in
hills and forest. They were not allowed to live with the rest of the
society and were also not given equal opportunities of work.
Politics Based On Caste: Casteism
is based on the beliefs that people of same caste form a separate
social community which has similar social, economic and political
interest. These interests are different from those of other castes:
1. People of the same caste vote en bloc (as a whole) for a candidate of the same or different candidate.
2. When
they do not vote en bloc they prefer a candidate who belongs to their
own caste, irrespective of merits or demerits of the candidate.
3. While
selecting a candidate for a constituency, parties keep in mind the
caste composition of the electorate, and whether the candidate would be
able to get the support of the majority caste.
4. The
office bearers of a party are appointed on the basis of caste to please
or not to displease a caste group in the party and the constituency.
5. If
the candidate happens to belong to the caste in majority in the
constituency, it is presumed that he would be elected. If he is elected
he is presumed to have been supported by the caste in majority. If he is
not elected it is presumed that the majority caste did not support him.
Or the voters of all other castes united to defeat him.
6. Political parties take care to give fair representations to various castes and tribes in the council of ministers.
7. Parties and candidates appeal to the caste sentiments of voters.
8. Political parties are known to favour certain castes; on the other hand, particular castes favour particular political parties.
Adoption
of Universal Adult Franchise and single transferable vote compelled
political parties to go to people to mobilize and secure votes. Castes
which were neglected until then became much sought after.
Caste alone cannot determine election results in India: Caste
is one of the most important factors, sometimes it is rendered totally
insignificant. Issues like development and candidate’s past performance,
merits and demerits become key factors:
1. No
state legislature in the country has a majority of any caste group.
Every caste group has its presence in the parliament. It means that no
caste group can be ignored and every citizen’s vote is necessary to win
elections.
2. It
is impossible to secure votes of all the voters of a caste in a
constituency, there are a host of other factors that count. If a large
population of voters from a particular caste votes for a candidate, we
call it the vote bank of a particular party.
3. It
generally that many political parties put up candidates from the same
predominant caste in a constituency. Therefore, naturally, all members
of the predominant caste cannot vote for the same candidate. There is
more than one candidate from the caste making up sizeable members of
voters’ list whereas many voters have no candidates from their class.
4. The
ruling party and serving PMs and MLAs frequently lose elections. If all
castes and communities repeatedly voted for the same political party,
same parties and candidates would have kept on winning elections.
Caste and Electoral Politics: Caste is only one of the important factors in electoral politics.
1. Voters’
attachment to political parties is stronger than their attachment to
particular candidate belonging to their caste or religion.
2. Depending on their economic background or economic benefit or loss, voters from the same caste or community vote differently.
3. Rich
and poor farmers and those in government service and businessmen or men
& women from the same caste are quite likely to vote for different
candidates.
4. Decisive factors are performance of the govt./party/candidate; popularity and personality of the political leaders.
Influence of Politics on Caste: There
is a two way relationship between caste and politics. Politics
influences the caste system and vice versa. There is politicization of
the castes that are dragged into the political arena:
1. Each caste group has a tendency to grow bigger by including in its fold most immediate castes or sub-castes.
2. Many caste groups form some sort of coalition with other caste groups at some point on some issue.
3. New
kind of caste groups have come up, after the Mandal Commission report.
All upper castes are referred to as “Forward Castes” and others as
“Backward Castes”
Political Leaders Treat Castes as “vote banks”: It is difficult to agree with this as:
1. Other parties would put up a candidate from the same caste.
2. All voters may not belong to the same caste.
3. If “vote bank” helped in winning then the same party would win every time.
Political expression of caste division has led to positive and negative outcomes:
Positive:
1. Caste politics has led to reservation of seats in government jobs for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs.
2. These caste groups have more presence in the three organs of the government.
3. Several lower castes are now demanding more shares in land, resources and other opportunities as well.
Negative:
1. Caste division has also resulted in conflict and violence.
2. It
might lead to division of the political party on the basis of caste
where one political party represents one caste exclusively
3. Politics
based on caste is not healthy for the democracy, important issues like
poverty, illiteracy; unemployment and corruption are generally over
shadowed by politics based on casteism.
