Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Mumbai's recent political development -- Matter of real concern

Sphere: Related Content Are we Indian? Or are we North-Indian? South-Indian? West-Indian? East-Indian? North-East Indian? When we refer or identify someone as North-Indian or South-Indian, subconsciously we divide India in north-south identity. We agree that to identify geographically we need to tell south-north etc. but I am sure when we refer someone as North-Indian or South-Indian we actually don't refer the geographic position we all try to make a point that you are not from my state and you are an outsider, here our absolute identity "Indian" does not work. We always blame our politician that they are the sole creator of this problem.But if we look at ourselves we will find that we also refer our good friend as "North-Indian" good friend. Let me share one very personal experience. I studied my BE in a town near to Bangalore. One day we friends were playing cricket. All of a sudden one guy came to the field and started disturbing our play and ultimately that guy made a point as we were outsider of of Karnataka, we need to learn Kannada language. It is not a problem of Karnataka, it is a chronic problem of each and every state in India. When someone feels the they are getting marginalized in their own state, people from the other state are coming and grabbing all the opportunities they feel very much unsecured, scared. So they try use the sentiments as their weapons to stop any kind of influx of the people from any other state. All of us love their states and it is good. But we only feel the love for our state when we feel unsecured. And amid of everything we forget our true identity that we are "Indians" first, later we are "Kannadiga" or "Maharashtrian" or "Bihari" or "Bengali". If we see that if at all people from the other states are coming and taking away our opportunities, we should also do hard-work and try to use the opportunities. In this way we can create a healthy competition which will bring prosperity only to our state but also to our nation as a whole. Thus we can also create a leading example of embracing all people from other state. Because at the end of the day we are Indians.
But what is happening presently in Mumbai, it is totally a game to gain political mileage. Yes, I agree that in Mumbai, "Marathi Manush" are marginalized. Compared to people from other state Marathis are not majority in terms of getting opportunities, business etc. But political leaders are using this scenario as the weapon to gain political mileage and they are blaming people for other state ("North Indians") for this situation instead of pointing out where the actual problem is. If at all, Marathis are lagging in socio-economical position in Mumbai, they should try to equipped themselves to get and utilize the opportunity so that no one from outside state would not be able to snatch anything from them. As mass leader any political leader should spread this message to his followers. Because in this present situation of socio-economical scenario the boundary of state based on language is fading slowly. Nothing is mine or yours permanently, if you have the capability you are the winner, otherwise simply a looser, that's all. No point of foul cry. Each of us should understand this. One way it will help India. People will mix up with each other, will live in other state and slowly the stupid "provincialism" sentiment will disappear. Then there will be only one identity that we are "Indian" and I think this identity is far more than enough for us.
But the leaders are simply taking profit out of this situation. The equation is simple very simple. First Mr. Raj Thackeray simply does not have any hold or any position in Maharashtra politics though his party is going to complete two odd years. So he is playing same old "Marathi Manush" sentiments as Mr. BalaSaheb did long back. Raj knows that it is very easy to provoke his followers by telling the North-Indians are spoiling Mumbai or Maharashtra, they are not doing enough for Mumbai (pointing to Mr. Amitabh Bacchan) and all North-Indians are taking away all opportunities. The reason is simple, it is to catch the marathi votebank. Secondly, why Mr. Amitabh is easy target because he knows if he tells anything about Mr. Amitabh or Samajhwadi Party, state government or central government would not tell or would not take any action against him. Because at the both places Congress is in power. And the spat between Congress and Bacchan/SP is no need to mention. Thirdly, after loosing ground in UP, SP is trying to woo the North-Indian vote bank in Maharashtra to put their first step in Maharashtra. That's all.
At the end of the day who are the victims? The common innocent people, WE. Who are forgetting their own identity that we are "Indians" and we fighting against our own countrymen, "Indians".