“Mass vote bank” when turned up into “hurting vote bank” (Indian political scenario)…..

Vote bank is a political weapon as well as vertebrate column of every political party. Without it, it’s spineless. This vote bank, as a lethal weapon has got a lethal output. So that, if someone gives an effort, to  retrospect about its working process and psyche, it emerges up as ” being silent and fluctuating ” in its characteristics. With the lapse of time, it has gone through a continuous metamorphosis. In this cursory retrospection of Indian political panorama after independence, we notice these characteristics step by step .

                                             Old time’s voters

At the initial stage it was like a huge crowd of illiterate or less educated people. People as a voter, were basically naive and used to take the political leaders as “charismatic and demigods”. Every word, emitted from the mouth of the leaders was like an oracle to them. On the most, this crowd of people in the capacity of “mass vote bank,” had had a mental set up. People’s mental set up was, of self-contented genus, who was happy in minimum facilities. At that period of time, this “mass vote bank” was, the permanent asset of the Indian national congress party.

During this political journey of post independence era, some significant events were natural to occur.  These events, were supposed to have effects on political scenario of the India. Otherwise also, this is but a natural metabolism of history of every nation. Among this metabolism of history, a most significant event was expected to occur. Even, the circumstances seemed apparently most favorable for that but that couldn’t been shaped up.

                   Why communistic Ideology foiled in India

This supposed event was, political emergence of “Communist party” at pan Indian level, as a major political party. But, this effort got foiled automatically or rather because of reasons, being described onward. Amazingly, at the period of time after Independence as a nascent nation, India was laden with the circumstances suitable for flourishing of communism in India. The factors, which might be helpful in emergence and rooting down of Communism. Factors, as that of  poverty at vast level, hunger index, disparity level, illiteracy, feudalism. Added with, centuries long persecution and exploitation of deprived and down trodden classes etc.  To say, everything supposed to boom the communism, was extant there. But despite of all the favorable circumstances,  it got failed  in India.

While, in many Asiatic countries, it rooted and flourished in the same circumstances. The main factors behind the foiling of this attempt were. Firstly, Britishers  despite having their own civil administrative infrastructure to run the country, never they intervened  in the old, traditional village governance system.  That traditional governance system, from the time immemorial was “democratic based” in nature.  In that traditional system, every village had a tradition to choose an esteemed person, as a “village chief or head.” Along with, some other persons of the ranks, as members of jury.

This conventional governance, worked upon the principles of hearing the view of all. This system, was so helpful to sort out  the local disputes, by putting up the matter before the village chief and jury. Which, otherwise could be raised up as a big issue if not been sorted out.  Further more, in case of religious contentions between two different parties, never religious moorings and faith were touched  by the “village jury.”  Those issues, were separately dealt by the religious teachers. The Indian  National Congress Party after Independence kept on continue the same system. And somehow provided  a legal and constitutional get up to this system.

Second significant factor was,  to quash the hunger of people by implementation of PDS {Public distribution system of food grains etc) policy. Under this program, public at large, was granted the right to obtain at cheap cost, the commodities like food grains ,sugar, kerosin oil etc on subsidized rates. In every ward, muhalla or colony, the government run shops for the purpose of the distribution of these commodities were opened.  Along with government issued Ration card that contained the list of the names of members of family of the card holder. Every such member was considered as a unit.

This step of providing minimum food in every family, helped the kitchen hearth  kindled. This was the magical step, that threw the huge cold water  on the aggressive communistic ideology. For a communistic revolution to be a “success ,” the “hunger” is the most vulnerable element,  but that element was erased silently .

                                 Change in the pattern of voters

For decades, this “mass vote Bank” remained pledged to Indian National congress Party. But, with the passing of time, a new young generation joined the politics. apart from, various regional political parties were formed by these ambitious young Turk leaders with different nominations. Their basic politics were propped upon religion, cast and region based issues. Then next and next to next generation as a mass voter were more educated one. This spread of education, also awakened voters and helped in disillusioning the image of old leaders.

For about three decades,this vote bank remained in fluctuation mode. This period contained, the last two decades of 20th century and first decade of 21st century. Sometimes, it was with Indian National Congress party, sometimes with the regional parties, and other so called Nationalistic parties.  The fluctuating tendency of this mass vote bank  in this way, began to “hurt badly” to all political parties, with its changing attitude. This present vote bank was “not a self-contented on minimum needs.” It was a fidgeting class, who was properly educated  and kept itself update with all available information.

This vote bank was in habit, to compare the standing of its India with other progressing nations.  These people wished that India too should  be included in the list of Nations, who were heading toward the level Of “developed” or “most developing” Nations. From here only, a resurgence of ” Neo Nationalism” surfaced up. This mass vote bank, along with  an anguish for  his own personal desires, too began to think aggressively about the future of the Nation as a whole.

This turned him up into  a disconsolate mass, who sought a vent for his pant up feelings. The mass vote bank who long ago was a self contented one ,now got adjoined emotionally with Nationalistic party. The party, who could forward and lead  his Nationalistic aggressive feelings. This was the “aggressive Nationalism.” This Nationalistic propensity of people, with a bias, gradually given the name of “Hindu Nationalism” by our neighboring  Nations. In fact this awakened vote bank, now has become the “hurting vote bank,” for erstwhile national party. Penned by– Vinay Pharasi…..