Spectacle of Emancipation!

The last few days have been hailed as what amount to be an achievement of identity politics in India, Droupadi Murmu, a Tribal woman, was elected as the 15^th President of India. It is for the first time that a Tribal or what we can say an indigenous person has become the first person of the country. But what comes after this is an appreciation and glorification of the victimhood of the first person. The whole politics of the oppositions have been divided into many stands some stating it as tokenism, others as the emancipation of the marginalized, and rest either confused to support because of her identity or not to support because of her party. The third stand is what is needed to be explored because it is the point that always brings us to a dead end, identity pessimism. What happens here is that they neither fully accept the criticism of their politics nor can criticize when the exploiters and oppressors are from the same identity. The loop goes on and in between what they do is try to justify their stands based on supporting the individual rather than questioning the background and objectives of such moves but in the end, they hang up supporting those against whom they think they have always fought. Well, it can also be concluded that they are not able to identify the actual oppressors or exploiters just roam around with what is a narrative from one end with no scope for future dialectics. The macro level approach is just shifted towards the micro level from the whole it is just about individuals surrounded by bad people who are not oppressors but so innocent to be brainwashed or misused by the oppressors. So, the person is good, the idea of representation is achieved but what the single person can do alone, we should not expect too much from the person alone, now it is the system that is not enabling them to do anything in return for their people but then again this doesn’t mean we should criticize them. As they have come from such a hard background their life was full of miseries and now has been going through the toughest years of their life. At least we are satisfied that one of us is holding that position.

This is wholesome is what is happening from the day Droupadi Murmu has been nominated for the post of President. What has been going on is either glorification of her sacrifices or a plea of mercy or sympathy for the personal life tragedies. Aren’t victimizing women based on their personal life a reflection of conservativeness that for women these things matter but there are no statements with relation to the male leaders, as males can hold themselves in every situation, as it is normal for a tough strong man.  Though we have equal condolences for her losses what does it have to do with the post of President? Are there any criteria that we should not criticize anyone just because they have personal sufferings? Then on the other hand it is always stated that mainstream cinema including the media is the only one that is dramatic and tries to overshadow every gruesome activity of the regime through emotions. Now, if this is a step of identity emancipation then about the status at the class level that she has achieved in her last 25 years of the political carrier with the BJP. Wasn’t she being part of every gruesome thing that this Regime has committed in the last 25 years?

If identity representation is the only end then where it is leading us to? If identity is only what matters, then the former President was also from a Bahujan identity. The biggest attack on the achievements of Babasaheb, reservation policy committed in the presence not only present with aid of the Bahujan (EWS policy). Now, if you again come up with the lame answers of the micro level then let me give you an answer from the individual level first, the Constitution does make President a puppet King but President is still a King. The Pocket Veto power i.e., neither to give assent nor return the Bill. Still, the last resort was there but it was never used by the President in case of Abrogation of art. 370, EWS, CAA-NRC, The Farm Laws, and the list goes on. I don’t think Babasaheb ever wanted to keep things only restricted to identity politics, may it be at some point then what was our purpose? Isn’t our obligation to expand those circles or approach beyond that instead of the prevailing circumstances?

The right approach is need of our because without it we all are fighting without identifying the actual enemy. Rest join the oppressor or exploiters and one day you will be represented at the top level within their system which is systematically structured to exploit and oppress those who are less powerful at the bargaining level.  

By: Himanshoo Atri