Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Hindu Unity and the Achuthanandan Government
The ground swell of enthusiasm for a Hindu unity in Kerala, what was a reaction to the decades of power misuse by the minority communities in Kerala, stands paralysed. The heroic efforts by the leadership of the SNDP Yogam, lead by the dynamic Vellappilly Natesan, and the Kerala Kaumudi group, played major roles in that. Which was whole heartedly supported by all Hindu communities in the state, though the NSS played a bit of spoil sport, resulting in a historic process in Kerala. Giving great hopes to the people. But with no viable mechanisms to tap the new enthusiasmm, formation of a political front failed and the BJP front in internal crisis, the elections saw the fruits of this wave of Hindu unity going to the Communist lead Left Democratic Front. Who saw record win in the last elections. Though wearing the old mask of secularism it is everyone's knowledge that they too go by community loyalties in every decision. If the Muslim League or Kerala Congress does it without hiding, the comrades do it with a bit of camouflage is the only difference.
But once the LDF ministry took over there was a clever effort to sabotage the process. Leadership of the second senior partner CPI, Veliyam Bhargavan himself, attributing the win to the new support they gathered from the minorities. Many other decisions of the new ministry were aimed at damaging the Hindu unity principle. Perhaps a Hindu unity move will see the Communists disappear in Kerala, they may be using the government mechanism to save themselves, their political careers. And the trends are for a relapse to the old pattern, where the various Hindu communities are to align once again with the shrewd minority groups. What is to spell tragedy for Kerala in the days to come. There is celebration in the Ezhava community with V S Achuthanandan in the Chief Minister's chair, many others from the community in ministerial births. As if the game is won. Forget that the Hindu community including the Ezhava sector is cornered in Kerala, also that the territories captured by the minorities remains where it was. Personally it was a clever game plan of V S Achuthanandan that worked, he presented himself as the caste hero. Where the clever minority community newspapers and politicians gave the necessary leverages. While acknowledging the good traits of VS, like his championing the cause of the forests, there are also visible lacunas.
For a comparison V S Achuthanandan is not loved by the Hindus in Kerala the way Vellappilly Natesan is and this comrade did not mince words in dumping Vellappilly himself in the early days. The approaches of both, though from the same community, differ. But seeing the new upswing of community consolidation V S Achuthanandan could use it to his advantage is true. Not only that, the first interviews he gave made no mistake, that he is the saviour of the so called 'avarnas', low castes of Kerala. That hiding the fact that there is hardly any difference between the Nairs and Ezhavas in the state right now, both are as bad or as good. And the dalits and tribals cannot be equated with them. The old rhetoric whipped up by the British missionaries to neutralise the warring communities of Kerala, also divide the Hindus, driving the warring people to turmoil who stopped their attempts to subdue this land, is back again. Punishing the supposed sins committed a century back, what if Kerala is now under minority feudalism. That is no issue. V S Achuthanandan could do it with great perfection and get his pound of meat. The divide within the Hindu community is once again deepening, wrong myths being used to widen it. he present indications are that VS, possibly supported by some of the most paranoic intellectuals in the community, may end up fathering a new era of turmoil for the Hindus, divided they are to sink again further.
It makes little difference who runs the state now, that is, who is in the chair. The post-colonial governance mechanism is rotten and the options for the incumbents are not much. Dated British ceremonies and procedures is what governance means and only a strong Hindu consolidation shall be able to change this. But the career politicians are looking at the rewards is no doubt, like a comfortable life, some pittances thrown to their wards and accomplices. The fundamental questions affecting Kerala shall remain out of focus. It is known that the politicians have their own ways of riding the waves of popular movements for their own advantage. What happened here again. Most of them are not intelligenet enough to see through the smoke screen, the larger frame of Kerala society, where the state is heading for. They also lack the vision to take in the options before the government, illequipped and inadequately exposed as they are. Thus the cosmetic approaches are to be used again, adhoc interventions made in all sectors. All of this to be sabotaged by one group or other as the seemingly biased approaches bring negative responses. With a better leadership in the LDF scene would have been different, what the Party perhaps knew beforehand, how both VS Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan were asked to stay away from elections.
But VS Achuthanandan used a lobby to capture the chair, obviously there were many waiting who wanted that to happen, what became visible when the Party Secretariat later pointed to the remote control of media syndicates in the game plan. If V S Achuthanandan won, it can easily be portrayed as a win for the Ezhava community, what is presently happening. And the Chief Minister is flaunting that card with a degree of arrogance. Especially so with the CPI leader Veliyam Bhargavan who has thrown all sense of fair play and is now as chauvinistic, or more, as the old minority groups. Causing irrepairable damage to Hindu unity moves and other communities in Kerala. Obviously, left to itself, Kerala's Hindu unity move is heading for collapse. Who enjoys the scene can be easily guessed, also who must be silently plotting from behind to create the scene. VS Achuthanandan is not known to be an astute strategist, is a simple rural leader, easily swayed. And the LDF is as much vulnerable as the UDF to minority vote banks and strategems. It is time the mature leadership of the Hindu community comes forward to restore sanity. That the great dream of a Hindu consolidation is not lost for ever. If that happens it will be a tragedy for Kerala, for whether Nair, Ezhava or Pulaya it is the native idiom of this land. If that is lost, what is now almost lost, it will lead to doom. VS or no VS Hindu unity in Kerala cannot be compromised.
But once the LDF ministry took over there was a clever effort to sabotage the process. Leadership of the second senior partner CPI, Veliyam Bhargavan himself, attributing the win to the new support they gathered from the minorities. Many other decisions of the new ministry were aimed at damaging the Hindu unity principle. Perhaps a Hindu unity move will see the Communists disappear in Kerala, they may be using the government mechanism to save themselves, their political careers. And the trends are for a relapse to the old pattern, where the various Hindu communities are to align once again with the shrewd minority groups. What is to spell tragedy for Kerala in the days to come. There is celebration in the Ezhava community with V S Achuthanandan in the Chief Minister's chair, many others from the community in ministerial births. As if the game is won. Forget that the Hindu community including the Ezhava sector is cornered in Kerala, also that the territories captured by the minorities remains where it was. Personally it was a clever game plan of V S Achuthanandan that worked, he presented himself as the caste hero. Where the clever minority community newspapers and politicians gave the necessary leverages. While acknowledging the good traits of VS, like his championing the cause of the forests, there are also visible lacunas.
For a comparison V S Achuthanandan is not loved by the Hindus in Kerala the way Vellappilly Natesan is and this comrade did not mince words in dumping Vellappilly himself in the early days. The approaches of both, though from the same community, differ. But seeing the new upswing of community consolidation V S Achuthanandan could use it to his advantage is true. Not only that, the first interviews he gave made no mistake, that he is the saviour of the so called 'avarnas', low castes of Kerala. That hiding the fact that there is hardly any difference between the Nairs and Ezhavas in the state right now, both are as bad or as good. And the dalits and tribals cannot be equated with them. The old rhetoric whipped up by the British missionaries to neutralise the warring communities of Kerala, also divide the Hindus, driving the warring people to turmoil who stopped their attempts to subdue this land, is back again. Punishing the supposed sins committed a century back, what if Kerala is now under minority feudalism. That is no issue. V S Achuthanandan could do it with great perfection and get his pound of meat. The divide within the Hindu community is once again deepening, wrong myths being used to widen it. he present indications are that VS, possibly supported by some of the most paranoic intellectuals in the community, may end up fathering a new era of turmoil for the Hindus, divided they are to sink again further.
It makes little difference who runs the state now, that is, who is in the chair. The post-colonial governance mechanism is rotten and the options for the incumbents are not much. Dated British ceremonies and procedures is what governance means and only a strong Hindu consolidation shall be able to change this. But the career politicians are looking at the rewards is no doubt, like a comfortable life, some pittances thrown to their wards and accomplices. The fundamental questions affecting Kerala shall remain out of focus. It is known that the politicians have their own ways of riding the waves of popular movements for their own advantage. What happened here again. Most of them are not intelligenet enough to see through the smoke screen, the larger frame of Kerala society, where the state is heading for. They also lack the vision to take in the options before the government, illequipped and inadequately exposed as they are. Thus the cosmetic approaches are to be used again, adhoc interventions made in all sectors. All of this to be sabotaged by one group or other as the seemingly biased approaches bring negative responses. With a better leadership in the LDF scene would have been different, what the Party perhaps knew beforehand, how both VS Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan were asked to stay away from elections.
But VS Achuthanandan used a lobby to capture the chair, obviously there were many waiting who wanted that to happen, what became visible when the Party Secretariat later pointed to the remote control of media syndicates in the game plan. If V S Achuthanandan won, it can easily be portrayed as a win for the Ezhava community, what is presently happening. And the Chief Minister is flaunting that card with a degree of arrogance. Especially so with the CPI leader Veliyam Bhargavan who has thrown all sense of fair play and is now as chauvinistic, or more, as the old minority groups. Causing irrepairable damage to Hindu unity moves and other communities in Kerala. Obviously, left to itself, Kerala's Hindu unity move is heading for collapse. Who enjoys the scene can be easily guessed, also who must be silently plotting from behind to create the scene. VS Achuthanandan is not known to be an astute strategist, is a simple rural leader, easily swayed. And the LDF is as much vulnerable as the UDF to minority vote banks and strategems. It is time the mature leadership of the Hindu community comes forward to restore sanity. That the great dream of a Hindu consolidation is not lost for ever. If that happens it will be a tragedy for Kerala, for whether Nair, Ezhava or Pulaya it is the native idiom of this land. If that is lost, what is now almost lost, it will lead to doom. VS or no VS Hindu unity in Kerala cannot be compromised.
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Communist parties growth in Kerala entirely depending on the support they getting from the Hindus in Kerala. They cleary are getting it by putting the cast card on the shoulders of their leaders. When they face election the candidate selection is entirely depending on the cast structure of the constituencies.
This strategy is seen everywhere from selecting a leader to nominating a member for any post.
When Govida Pillai clearly wrote that apart from two three Christians. Communist party couldn't be able to attract Muslims they expelled him. That is their trick to tell world they care all.
If Hindus want to make their voice in the corridors of power they must field candidates in the election and have to win. Unless and until they do this there is no hope.
When Communist party born under the leadership of Krishna Pillai, it was a necessity for the poor people in Kerala. Now that factor is no more. Now if you look into Kerala Society most of the poor people are in Hindu Communities. In that most are in upper cast Hindus. This is a fact. Will this communist party champion their cause? If not why Hindus need a party like this?
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This strategy is seen everywhere from selecting a leader to nominating a member for any post.
When Govida Pillai clearly wrote that apart from two three Christians. Communist party couldn't be able to attract Muslims they expelled him. That is their trick to tell world they care all.
If Hindus want to make their voice in the corridors of power they must field candidates in the election and have to win. Unless and until they do this there is no hope.
When Communist party born under the leadership of Krishna Pillai, it was a necessity for the poor people in Kerala. Now that factor is no more. Now if you look into Kerala Society most of the poor people are in Hindu Communities. In that most are in upper cast Hindus. This is a fact. Will this communist party champion their cause? If not why Hindus need a party like this?
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