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Thread: The Mandir is here. The Mandalites are struggling. What happened?
1/20
PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Ram temple at Ayodhya tomorrow. This, when seen alongside the political muscle the BJP now boasts, is a landmark achievement for Mandir/ Hindutva politics
1/20
PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Ram temple at Ayodhya tomorrow. This, when seen alongside the political muscle the BJP now boasts, is a landmark achievement for Mandir/ Hindutva politics
2/20
Meanwhile, the politics of Mandal, the other mega-agenda that was predicted to drive Hindi belt politics 1990s onwards, is struggling, with its most notable practitioners, the BSP and the SP in UP and the RJD in Bihar, seemingly out of steam.
Meanwhile, the politics of Mandal, the other mega-agenda that was predicted to drive Hindi belt politics 1990s onwards, is struggling, with its most notable practitioners, the BSP and the SP in UP and the RJD in Bihar, seemingly out of steam.
3/20
So, how did the politics of Mandir acquire its edge over the politics of Mandal, despite the arithmetic and mobilizational potential the latter held (and indeed still holds)?
So, how did the politics of Mandir acquire its edge over the politics of Mandal, despite the arithmetic and mobilizational potential the latter held (and indeed still holds)?
4/20
First, there was the issue of conditioning, which, back in the 1990s itself, set different yardsticks for how the politics of Mandir and Mandal would come to be viewed in popular perception.
First, there was the issue of conditioning, which, back in the 1990s itself, set different yardsticks for how the politics of Mandir and Mandal would come to be viewed in popular perception.
5/20
The Hindutva project, with its Mandir centerpiece, promise of civilizational resurgence, and accent on restoring social order, was more in tune with India’s (only occasionally uneasy) acceptance of its social stratifications and grouses about insufficient global respect.
The Hindutva project, with its Mandir centerpiece, promise of civilizational resurgence, and accent on restoring social order, was more in tune with India’s (only occasionally uneasy) acceptance of its social stratifications and grouses about insufficient global respect.
6/20
Mandal politics, OTOH, threatened a messy social churn, power capture by subalterns unfamiliar with the business of governance, and, a setback to aspirations for global stardom.
All this meant that many were predisposed to judge Mandalites more harshly than Hindutvavadis.
Mandal politics, OTOH, threatened a messy social churn, power capture by subalterns unfamiliar with the business of governance, and, a setback to aspirations for global stardom.
All this meant that many were predisposed to judge Mandalites more harshly than Hindutvavadis.
7/20
So, depending on who held power, a law & order issue could be just that or sign of jungle raj; coarse remarks signaled either empowering use of local idiom or worrying lack of sophistication; and, political compromise suggested either dawn of wisdom or sickening opportunism.
So, depending on who held power, a law & order issue could be just that or sign of jungle raj; coarse remarks signaled either empowering use of local idiom or worrying lack of sophistication; and, political compromise suggested either dawn of wisdom or sickening opportunism.
8/20
Plus, there was a feeling that the Mandalites weren’t up to the task of navigating the rapid economic, technological changes sweeping – and unsettling - the world.
What began as an unequally-loaded contest would be further skewed by choices the two sides made/ didn’t make.
Plus, there was a feeling that the Mandalites weren’t up to the task of navigating the rapid economic, technological changes sweeping – and unsettling - the world.
What began as an unequally-loaded contest would be further skewed by choices the two sides made/ didn’t make.
9/20
The BJP benefited from 3 things.
A. Its national ambition and consequent embedment of economic & nationalist issues in its narratives conveyed that it was a responsible actor with a handle on macro issues shaping local aspirations and committed to retrieving national glory.
The BJP benefited from 3 things.
A. Its national ambition and consequent embedment of economic & nationalist issues in its narratives conveyed that it was a responsible actor with a handle on macro issues shaping local aspirations and committed to retrieving national glory.
10/20
In contrast, Mandal parties, with their state foci, preoccupation with caste, and limited engagement with matters economic, came across as players with limited canvases and worldviews, unequipped to handle economic aspirations and cravings for global muscle and approval.
In contrast, Mandal parties, with their state foci, preoccupation with caste, and limited engagement with matters economic, came across as players with limited canvases and worldviews, unequipped to handle economic aspirations and cravings for global muscle and approval.
11/20
The BJP has hardly improved India’s economy or international standing, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it has looked better equipped than the Mandalites to deal with economic, geopolitical, and national security issues for the better part of the last 30 years.
The BJP has hardly improved India’s economy or international standing, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it has looked better equipped than the Mandalites to deal with economic, geopolitical, and national security issues for the better part of the last 30 years.
12/20
B. While both sides made overtures to social groups that were not their natural constituency, the more energetic and sustained efforts came from the BJP.
The results however are not a function of such effort alone.
B. While both sides made overtures to social groups that were not their natural constituency, the more energetic and sustained efforts came from the BJP.
The results however are not a function of such effort alone.
13/20
Pushing social groups into the BJP’s arms has been the perception that the Mandal parties are family enterprises, or Muslim-Yadav and Jatav outfits at best, not the social justice champions working for all dispossessed they originally claimed to be.
Pushing social groups into the BJP’s arms has been the perception that the Mandal parties are family enterprises, or Muslim-Yadav and Jatav outfits at best, not the social justice champions working for all dispossessed they originally claimed to be.
14/20
The disillusionment resulting from such perception, valid or not, is understandable. Parties built around the case for greater and wider political representation can’t be seen as reluctant about opening their own internal leadership positions.
The disillusionment resulting from such perception, valid or not, is understandable. Parties built around the case for greater and wider political representation can’t be seen as reluctant about opening their own internal leadership positions.
15/20
Three: While both sides had grumbles about the mainstream media, the BJP for being too leftist-secular, the Mandalites for being Manuwadi, the path they chose to address the issue and get their voices across were different.
Three: While both sides had grumbles about the mainstream media, the BJP for being too leftist-secular, the Mandalites for being Manuwadi, the path they chose to address the issue and get their voices across were different.
16/20
The BJP worked on a parallel propaganda and communication machinery driven by the electronic and social media. The Mandal parties found these too fancy for their liking and woke to their potential late.
The BJP worked on a parallel propaganda and communication machinery driven by the electronic and social media. The Mandal parties found these too fancy for their liking and woke to their potential late.
17/20
Two other developments impacted the Mandalites’ sheen.
(I) The tumults of coalition politics in the 1990s, 2000s saw them make several political somersaults. Amidst corruption charges dogging top leaders, this harked back to original apprehensions about power grabbing.
Two other developments impacted the Mandalites’ sheen.
(I) The tumults of coalition politics in the 1990s, 2000s saw them make several political somersaults. Amidst corruption charges dogging top leaders, this harked back to original apprehensions about power grabbing.
18/20
(II) Amidst growing Islamophobia across the world post 9/11 and its systematic stoking within the country, the Mandal parties’ association with Muslim constituents would make it convenient to label them minority appeasers and anti-national.
(II) Amidst growing Islamophobia across the world post 9/11 and its systematic stoking within the country, the Mandal parties’ association with Muslim constituents would make it convenient to label them minority appeasers and anti-national.
19/20
The social justice agenda is no less relevant today than what it was in the 1990s, but for the Mandal parties to live up to their initial promise, they need to reflect on issues of leadership and communication.
The social justice agenda is no less relevant today than what it was in the 1990s, but for the Mandal parties to live up to their initial promise, they need to reflect on issues of leadership and communication.
20/20
Most importantly however, there is the need for a fresh framing of the social justice plank, away from the accommodating but patronizing frame offered by the BJP and the fraying, distorted version of it that the Mandalite parties have locked themselves into.
End of Thread
Most importantly however, there is the need for a fresh framing of the social justice plank, away from the accommodating but patronizing frame offered by the BJP and the fraying, distorted version of it that the Mandalite parties have locked themselves into.
End of Thread
