Documentary on Radicalisation of Hindus in Eastern UP

[ejazr]

Someone sent me this documentary by Rajeev Yadav focussing mainly on the communal politics of Yogi Adityanath in Eastern UP. A case study on how a communally harmonious place (Gorakhpur) where Hindus and Muslims took part in each other's festivals, were historically muslim nawabs had given away 1000s of acres of land to temple societies, and where the local Jama Masjid grounds were used for Ram Leela celebrations; is increasngly communalised and results in riots later on as well as hatred and divisive politics is promoted even among little kids.

Mainly focussed around 2005 riots in Easter UP and its aftermath, it is pertinent to note that it was Mulayam Singh Yadav who was in power and allowed the riots to go out hand. Although this represents a small number, the use of religion for politics can be seen to create communal disharmony that will have direct implications to National security in the long run. To be strong outside, you have to be strong inside and that can only happen if the idea of unity in diversity is maintained and such divisive politics and spread of hatred is kept in check.

 

[Rage]

I find this very disturbing. UP has to rectify its population problem, otherwise it will find itself going down the same shithole as Pakistan. Unemployment is now the biggest concern in the state, driving other factors and impelling such phenomena as radicalization and corrupt politics. People everywhere in the rest of India are finding jobs, and are finding livelihoods. which takes them away from politics of militant radicalization. But in the state of UP, they are finding nourishment in a very crass form of politics: one that has its roots in the complex social-political relations between the Hindus and Muslims, particularly in the Awadh, Bagelkhand and Rohilkhand regions.

What year is this documentary from? Because, I have the feeling that it is from the aftermath of the 2002 riots. There has been nothing in the mainstream media of late, in UP as well.

 

[Rage]

I just conducted some extensive research on the topic. It seems, Yogi Adityanath is now a member of Parliament from the same Gorakhpur town riding in eastern Uttar Pradesh. It seems his co-opting into mainstream electoral politics has toned down his rhetoric for the moment. He was arrested in 2007 after a minor riot in Gorakhpur, which saw one Hindu individual dead and several Muslims injured, after a group of Hindus opened fire on a Muslim procession, but posted bail. His relationship with the BJP has been strained. Ironically, he voted against the BJP on the women's Reservation Bill, arguing "each person should get into parliament on his/her own merit". He also argued: "There are other more important issues to be discussed. People are suffering from price rise, there is Maoist insurgency, there is terrorism, and our country is facing grave internal and external security threats", possibly indicating a mellowing of stance (?) Gorakhpur, which has seen very little development for over a decade during his communal politics, has now begun to see some development with investment trickling in via the Gorakhpur Development Authority (GIDA).

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3698770

 

[ejazr]

The documentary was released last month, but the material is from 2005 riots and its aftermath, so there could be footage from 2003-2004 as well after the Gujarat riots.

Keep in mind that India is experiencing one of its youth bulge, moreover, we have increasing sex ratio problems. Lots of frustrated young men who have no females for marriage or companionship can lead to bouts of unrest as we have seen in Kashmir which experienced a youth bulge in the early 1990s.

As long as media lense is put on the speeches of politicians and anyone who crassly uses religion for politics or political oppurtunists are exposed, this can be kept in check. And obviously people themselves should demand from their politicians to do away with political religious politics just as they want them to be free from corruption. Infact, this is also a corruption of a form, not corruption of money but corruption of religion and faith.