In Kerala, recently, CPM faced a sharp setback. A state known to be deeply faithful to its comrades turned its back on the communist party in the Lok Sabha Elections. CPM could secure only one seat. This was a big shocker for the party when the results were announced. It wasn’t for the people, however. The grievances were such.
What went wrong? Plenty. Fund mismanagement, corruption, hooliganism, dictatorial tendencies, lack of acknowledgment of mistakes, farmer deaths, pension delays, etc. The list seems endless. A sort of arrogance had crept in after CPM’s second consecutive term. It was reflected in their attitude towards commoners and overall leadership. People started catching on to their lies and false promises.
How did Malayalees react? Through their votes. CPM could secure only one seat in Kerala in the recent Lok Sabha Elections 2024, facing an overall 2-4% dip in vote share. They suffered a severe blow even in their strongholds like Kasaragod, Kannur, Vadakara, and Palakkad.
Kerala is a prime example of how to get your revenge against political parties if they fail to meet your standards. No freebies were promised in the state, so the votes were cast purely on the basis of the political party’s performance.
The only way a common man in India can express his disappointment towards political parties is through his votes. Yet, Indians do not show up when the time comes. Excuses pop up, “We have work,” “We don’t want to travel,” “What’s going to happen, anyway?” Due to this, the parties that were a disappointment continue to be in power.
The point I am trying to make is concerning West Bengal. The government had already shown its true colors before the election. They tried to cover up the Sandeshkali rapes and protected the party member from arrest. Police officers were attacked when they went to arrest the party member. Hooliganism was its max. Everyone witnessed it. Yet, the party won again.
Someone said if an election were to be held tomorrow in West Bengal, TMC would again win. This is unfortunate. In such cases, is the government alone to blame? Aren’t we the citizens enabling such a behavior, too? TMC’s supporters turned up en masse to save and vote for the party while the others relaxed at home in the sweltering heat. There was post-poll violence in the state because TMC members were furious they did not secure enough votes as before. Yet, somehow, we refused to acknowledge what we saw. We continued to believe the words of the party who was placing the blame on everyone else except itself. We celebrated the “saving” of democracy, unaware that the party we voted for was no better.
Indians are expressing their anger on social media and the streets now, but they forget they can do it the Kerala way too. When the time comes, hit where it hurts – through your votes. This is the only way to get a political party to introspect and correct themselves. It is a powerful tool. Use it.
It is with utter dismay I am reading the news about the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh. Secular Muslims in the country are trying to protect the Hindus. This is positive news, and you can’t help but feel grateful for such people in the community. However, radicals are still deliberately targeting the houses and religious places of Hindus. How can they be stopped?
Often, we have seen that in the struggle between radicals and seculars, the radicals emerge victorious. This has happened previously in Iran. A student uprising in Iran in 1979 played a significant role in the downfall of secularism and the emergence of the Islamic regime.
Student protestors climbing the gate of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979 / Wikimedia Commons
The reasons for the uprising back then were quite similar:
Widespread discontent with the Shah’s authoritarian rule, political repression, and economic issues.
Iranian students, both domestically and abroad, were active in organizing protests, disseminating anti-Shah literature, and galvanizing public opinion against the regime. They played a crucial role in spreading revolutionary ideas and mobilizing the masses.
A simple act of protesting an “authoritarian” rule in Iran brought in a more religious regime that was dictatorial in its tendencies. So how successful would one consider this student uprising, unless the original intention of the riots was not social justice, but a religious takeover? Shah, considered secular in nature, fled the country never to return, which in all probability will be Sheikh Hasina’s trajectory too. Comparisons are inevitable. Iran is still struggling to bring back its golden days of secularism. Will Bangladesh end up being the same? Only time will tell.
I saw Bangladeshi residents expressing their joy over Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, which is valid, as she was unnecessarily brutal in her approach. But I also saw them in private groups worrying about the future of the country and whether they will fall into the hands of radical Islamists. Some even said they would leave the country if it came to that.
What does this mean for India? Sheikh Hasina was considered pro-India in her approach. She kept the fundamentalists like the Jamaat-e-Islami and anti-India elements under check. This is of significance as India shares a long border with Bangladesh and any sort of instability has the potential to spill over to neighboring regions.
The new leader, Muhammad Yunus, is a Nobel Laureate. He has proven himself an intellectual, but how effective would he be as a politician and a peace-keeper? Will he be pro-India and continue to maintain peaceful relations with our country, promising to secure the borders and protect the minority community in Bangladesh? Or will he be a puppet for the radicals? Questions only time can answer.
As usual, the leftist ecosystem in India is working overtime to convince us that the Hindus in Bangladesh are not in trouble. This is not surprising. It is a standard approach when minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and even within India (Kashmiri Pandits) are attacked. The events are quickly negated or justified and brushed under the carpet. A close observation of their responses provides enough proof of their bias. In my 40+ years, I have never seen them acknowledge attacks against Hindus. There is always a “reason” for it.
If by chance you point out the attacks, you are labeled a right-wing communal Sanghi (a BJP supporter). However, if you support any other community, you are a social justice warrior, an activist, and a secular. This double standard is difficult to fathom, and I have seen many becoming BJP supporters because of this hypocrisy.
In India, I am witnessing more secular Muslims openly supporting Bangladeshi Hindus than the so-called secular Hindus. Due to the indifference of left-leaning Indian Hindus, the community will continue to suffer persecution at the hands of radicals. There is not enough support. For the support to pour in, people need to first acknowledge the fact that there is an issue.
It is with some relief I read that all political parties in India are on the same page regarding the Bangladesh issue. The opposition hasn’t yet negated the Bangladeshi Hindu’s plight. They voiced concern for the minorities in Bangladesh and said they would work in unity with the central government. A nuanced approach their supporters need to learn.
Hopefully, peace will soon be restored in Bangladesh, rendering my concerns unnecessary. Until that day arrives, my worries persist.
It’s the fifth anniversary of the Abrogation of Section 370. I couldn’t help but reflect on differing opinions about this watershed moment in the nation’s history. There are politicians like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti who consider it a disaster. Then, there are BJP supporters who think it’s the best thing that happened to Kashmir.
How do you know who is right?
It’s a given that our biases influence the sides we choose. When we believe something is unjust, we tend to seek out information that aligns with that perspective. Conversely, when we aim to be more optimistic, we focus on positive news.
In the context of Kashmir, you see different types of YouTube videos. If a vlogger or YouTuber seeks to demonstrate that the Abrogation of Article 370 was misguided, they will seek out discontented Kashmiri locals who share that viewpoint. On the other hand, those looking to justify the decision would seek out locals who support it. No matter one’s perspective, there will always be individuals who support each side of the story. Both sides are also convinced that only their version is the correct one.
However, it’s important to consider the facts.
As per Firstpost’s new article, “The incidents of organized stone pelting, connected with terrorist-separatist agendas, went from a staggering 1,767 in 2018 to zero in 2023“. More facts are provided in the article, which is worth a read.
The writer poses a valid question to Omar Abdullah, who keeps talking about how nothing has changed in Kashmir:
The question arises now that, for the first time in two decades, since four years, which is 1460 days and counting, not one youth has died, but you are saying that the situation overall is terrible. Are we then to assume that normalcy is stone-pelting and youngsters dying every week? The end of stone-pelting and no civilians dying is actually a terrible development for your politics.
Ultimately, your perception of a situation is influenced by your bias. But I can’t help but wonder with all the discontent over the Abrogation of 370: Is the prevention of youth fatalities from stone-pelting incidents of less importance than advocating a political agenda?
I came across this news today. It is comforting to know that there are members of the Muslim community in India who are fighting for unrestricted women’s education.
Samastha earlier had conveyed that a Muslim woman’s education should be encouraged but within religious restrictions. This became a point of debate across the state of Kerala, with many progressives calling it problematic. However, the most striking response came from a group within the community – the KNM. The organization is demanding that Samastha apologize for its take. KNM is not without its faults, but the stand they took on this particular issue is noteworthy.
Samastha and KNM
To the uninitiated, the “Samastha” group in Kerala refers to “Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama,” an influential Sunni Muslim scholarly body in the state. Samastha plays a significant role in managing religious and educational institutions, including madrasas and mosques, and often issues guidelines on religious matters.
The term “Mujahids” in the context of Kerala typically refers to the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM), a prominent Islamic reformist organization in the state. The KNM often contrasts with traditionalist groups like Samastha, promoting a more modern interpretation of Islam, such as advocating the opening of the doors of mosques for Muslim women to enable them to offer Friday juma prayers.
Restricting Women’s Education on Religious Lines
If we connect religion with education, the progress of women in our country will be hindered. Afghanistan is a live example of this. Currently, girls in Afghanistan are generally allowed to attend school only up to the sixth grade. The Taliban, who regained control of the country in August 2021, have imposed severe restrictions on girls’ education beyond this level. Secondary education for girls (grades 7-12) has been largely suspended, and there have also been significant restrictions on female university students, including the closure of universities to women in late 2022. These measures have been widely condemned by international organizations and human rights groups. The global campaign #LetHerLearn, which advocates for Afghan women’s right to education, is gaining traction.
India is no Afghanistan. Here, women are allowed to study without restrictions regardless of religion. Women who are limited to religious studies may face challenges in the corporate world. It would severely restrict their job opportunities in a secular country like India, where well-paid corporate jobs often require you to engage with a global audience and follow strict academic and professional protocols that might not always adhere to religious lines.
Jobs cannot be built around religion in a democracy. Corporate jobs often require specific skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, and digital literacy. Religious studies may not always focus on developing these skills, which can impact the ability to perform effectively in a corporate setting.
Unfortunate Consequences
What happens when there are limited job opportunities for women due to religious restrictions? They will end up staying at home. Marriage becomes the only option. Financial independence becomes a distant dream.
It is ultimately up to the Indian Muslim woman to decide. If she wishes to pursue further studies, she should not be shamed.
Indian Muslim women deserve quality education, just like anyone else in India. We should have more Indian Muslim women in top positions in the corporate world. Currently, they are practically non-existent outside of Muslim countries. However, to make this happen, there need to be some reforms within the community that will help the women integrate more seamlessly into the existing corporate structure.
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Picture Courtesy: The New Indian Express (July 2nd 2024, Kerala Edition)
The recent election in India was proof that the BJP is not invincible. Despite the party’s considerable efforts in improving the economy, it failed to connect with the people at the grassroots level. Voters ultimately prioritized free benefits and voted based on caste and religion in rural areas, where the BJP performed poorly. These are the exact issues the government had been working to avoid because they do not contribute to India’s growth in any way.
The election outcome cannot be blamed on the voters, as it is understandable why promises of freebies and jobs with guaranteed 1 lakh salaries were more alluring than infrastructure or development, no matter how burdensome such things might prove for the exchequer. Saying no to such promises is a luxury reserved for the privileged.
It needs to be acknowledged that all political parties, not just the BJP, have played a role in fueling discontent, animosity, and disharmony among communities. It is a collective failure that we, as a society, allowed ourselves to be divided along religious lines. The INDI alliance, too, resorted to fear tactics and misinformation in the name of secularism to further their agendas. As the opposition parties relentlessly worked on propagating their “savior” image, people were quick to believe that the answer to all their solutions, like poverty and joblessness, was the INDI alliance.
I have always been of the belief that one should judge a party/politician by the work they do, not the words they utter. But unfortunately, we are quick to believe hate narratives and forget that in this big bad world of politics, there is no savior, only megalomaniacs greedy for power.
To gain back confidence, the coalition NDA government needs to pull up its socks. Things are far from gloomy for the BJP, as they still are the party with the most seats (240) in India. Congress comes a distant second with their 99 seats. However, BJP’s performance was still a big disappointment to its supporters who expected their party to get more support, especially in Uttar Pradesh, where the sacred Ayodhya temple was built after a long period of wait.
Some changes are in need of the hour. What can the Indian coalition government do to improve its performance? Here are my takes.
Don’t take success for granted
Undoubtedly, this has been the biggest lesson for the ruling party that you should never take your success for granted. The BJP became overconfident with their “400 paar” declarations, which resulted in them not doing enough groundwork.
Many reasons are mentioned for voter dissatisfaction in places like Uttar Pradesh, but the parties would have more accurate insights than us, the speculators. RSS workers allegedly did not campaign extensively or help voters reach the booth, there is also an allegation of missing votes, not enough compensation for people who lost their homes to make way for the temple, etc. Regardless of the issue, the fact remains that the BJP and RSS did not make an effort to connect with voters in rural areas and understand their issues. Instead of providing justifications, the BJP should regroup and focus on the areas where it faltered.
Outreach programs for minorities
Most Christians and Muslims I know are frightened of the BJP. This is where the opposition party made a resounding impact, albeit in a negative/divisive manner. The local politicians went around, scaring people into thinking they would be evicted if the BJP came into power. Elderly, economically disadvantaged Muslims who were approached by news channels were seen pleading to the general public with teary eyes, “Please don’t vote for the BJP. If they come into power, they will kill us.”
Who is responsible for this fearmongering? The “Hindu vs other religions” narrative has gained such solid ground that it seems next to impossible to convince minorities that Hindus mean no harm to anyone. Media, too, has a huge role to play in spreading this fear. Due to their irresponsible journalism, done solely to put Modi in a poor light, they ended up creating irreparable damage.
It became easier for the opposition to spread hatred after the emergence of the Ayodhya Temple. No one from the ruling party made an effort to explain to the minorities that these sites are as important to religious Hindus as Mecca or Medina for Muslims or the Vatican for Christians. Justice was denied to the Hindu community since the Mughal era when temples were brutally demolished to make way for mosques. A few Muslims realized this, such as the archaeologist KK Muhammed (the one who studied the site and came to the conclusion that the mosque was brazenly built over a temple) and the BJP Malappuram candidate Dr. Abdul Salam. Both of them have openly said on news channels how other communities should show empathy to “our Hindu brothers and sisters” as the community was subjected to extreme unfairness in the past, so much so that even their most sacred sites were denied to them. It takes a great deal of empathy to acknowledge someone else’s turbulent past, and you can’t help but feel gratitude for such people.
As no effort was made by the ruling party to bridge misunderstandings, political parties milked the opportunity for what its worth. Rest assured, they will continue to use the sacred temple as a tool for playing politics, further increasing the divide between Hindus and other communities. BJP should realize communication is key and work towards improving the skill to effectively clear misunderstandings.
The BJP team in Thrissur (Kerala) appeared to have been effective in their communication, which may explain why the party received Christian votes despite the opposition’s efforts to portray the Manipur issue as a communal clash. Interestingly, it was only after the elections did priests and bishops in Kerala clarified that the Manipur issue is not communal but rather ethnic. However, by that time some individuals on the ground had already done enough research to discover this on their own.
BJP often lags in countering allegations or taking strict action against the hatemongers. They never communicate their side of the story or a simple “you are safe with us,” the absence of which leads to speculations and uncertainty. They need to interact more with minorities at the ground level and induce confidence in them by clearing their misconceptions. This can come only with proper effort.
Offer financial relief to citizens
In rural areas or for those with low income, freebies are highly valued. However, it’s important to note that these freebies are often funded by taxing the middle class. The government should find a way to carefully balance the two – providing assistance to the poor without burdening the middle class. While investing in infrastructure and development projects is beneficial for the economy, it’s crucial to also provide some relief to ordinary citizens.
Avoid polarizing language
In order to gain the trust of more people, the BJP needs to use more restrained language. While Modi’s “ghuspetiyas” comment was aimed at illegal immigrants, it was twisted by the opposition for their own benefit, leading to fear-mongering.
Many people now understand that words uttered by politicians often mean nothing and are solely used as a tool to sway voters. They understand it’s a game. However, others may take it more seriously. To prevent this, simple language should be used, and the intention should be clearly specified.
We have observed the significant rise of left-leaning political commentators on social media, particularly YouTubers, during this election. Dhruv Rathee and Ravish have amassed massive views, surpassing even mainstream news channels. It was believed that they would have a significant impact on the Lok Sabha Elections.
Dhruv, who typically maintains a neutral tone, noticeably shifted his approach in the months leading up to the election, embracing a more polarized political viewpoint. I use the term “polarized” because he blatantly overlooked several important issues during this time, such as the Sandeshkhali rapes in West Bengal and the Sidharthan case in Kerala, primarily because these cases put the opposition in a poor light. Personally, I felt his demeanor change from that of a regular YouTuber to that of a politician.
After months of running intense social media campaigns, were these left-leaning YouTubers successful? In a previous post, I mentioned how Dhruv Rathee is unlikely to have a significant impact on the Lok Sabha elections. The echo chamber angle aside, the answer lies in the data collected from the CSDS-Lokniti Post Poll Survey. It shows how the BJP performed well in urban areas while lagging in rural areas.
How much influence do YouTubers have in rural areas? Unless a proper survey is conducted that asks people living in villages, “Did Dhruv Rathee or any other YouTuber influence you to change your voting pattern this time?” we will never know for sure. Another way to analyze the impact is by examining video statistics. Content creators can share their video statistics, including the regions where their videos were most viewed. Did they receive significant viewership from rural areas?
Huge rallies were conducted in villages where Dhruv’s videos were played. However, it’s safe to say that people in rural areas do not vote based on social media activism. Instead, they vote based on their personal experiences, caste-based politics, and the help they receive. They are unlikely to resort to the Internet to research the pros and cons of political parties.
To summarize, any success resulting from YouTube videos should have primarily been reflected in urban areas, but that was not the case. BJP performed considerably well in cities.
The Monkey Dilemma 
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