Women reservation bill treat to Subaltern's political immergence
Women reservation bill treat to Subaltern's political immergence
It is hoped that centenary year of the International women's day will bring cheers as Women Reservation Bill is expected to be table in the Rajya Sabha on 8th March 2010. It is anticipated to be approved as Congress, BJP along with left have come together which is the rarest to see in Indian democracy owing to differences in nature of ideologies each one adheres to. They have gone to the extent of issuing a whip in order to ensure bill becomes an Act. However, it is conspicuous that there is not a consensus on such a prime bill. It has been vehemently opposed by SP, BSP and Janta Dal United. In spite of intense political rivalry between SP, BSP and RJD and Janta Dal, there is a thread of commonality that binds them together. It is social struggle they lead for their rights in terms of voices of the exploited, oppressed and restoring human dignity, social economic and political rights they have been fighting for and affinities in their subaltern identities. As to why the political parties which have been engaged into fighting for the rights of the marginalised are opposing "progressive women's reservation bill' and as to why congress, BJP and left have combined to vote for the bill? Why BJP which mobilised people against reservation for OBCs, supporting it? Is it just because of as Virappa Moili said `they owe the bill to their mother". Its too intricate to answer. Therefore it is of prime importance to analyse it on historical as well as contemporary socially and political grounds and try to understand the subaltern perspective.
When the first Lok Sabha was constituted, there were 369 Brahmin members out of total 540. But numbers of Brahmins have considerably reduced over a period and in the prevailing Lok Sabha, Brahmin's merely reduced to 69. The reduction of higher caste representatives in the Parliament and increase in the number of representative of subaltern categories may be attributed to enhanced political awareness, participation in the democratic processes and successful political mobilization in the electoral politics. Building political conscious, electoral gains and ability to influence legislations is largely perceived to be threat not only to their long maintained political hegemony of the upper caste but also to status quoits stands. The increase in the political clout of BSP, SP, RJD is evident from strengthening and consolidation of the exploited sections of the society which is further reflected through their electoral gains.
It would not be ironical to state, against this social and political background, mainstream parties have come together and planning to pass Women's reservation Bill in the parliament. Otherwise, BJP which was antagonistic to Mandal Report implementation makes passing Women reservation Bill one of its priority. Passing the bill in the existing format will have adverse implication the women belonging to SC/ ST and OBC communities. The representation to the women will be at the cost of not only quelling political aspiration of the SC/ ST and OBCs but also at the cost of representation of the women belonging to oppressed section of the society. The bill also conveniently ignores three fold discrimination that women belonging to SC/ ST and OBC background face not only on the ground of patriarchy and gender but also on the ground of their caste
. Therefore bill is socially insensitive and blind to twin discrimination that women belonging to marginalised communities commonly faces. Isn't opportunity representation most exploited SC/ ST / OBC females desirables? The bill is concluded to be for the political participation of the women in the decision making and empowerment of the women. This definitely is a empowerment of women but this is not a step towards holistic empowerment, On the contrary this will ensuring empowerment of the women belonging to the privileged section of the society and deprive deserving SC/ ST / OBC women of the opportunity of decision making .
Why secular congress and progressive left has failed to gauge such adverse implications on marginalised section of the society? Contracting Ideologies may blur, weather, compromised and even collapse, the way it is apparent from present Congress, BJP and Left political consensus, against protecting rights of vulnerable SC/ ST/ OBC women in general and exploited and marginalised section of the society in particular. It exhibits that, how do different political ideologies and parties complement each other in ensuring rights of the privileged and upper castes are protected. The bill and consequently political lobbing across parties and ideologies seem keener on arresting political and social juggernaut of subalterns than thin representation of the women over the years in the parliament.
This is an alarming political and social indication to the parties like BSP, SP and RJD who have been fighting for subaltern voices. It is a threat to their immerging political immergence as it is likely to turn the clock back to higher parliamentary representation of Brahmins to 1951 first constituent election. Similar political arrangement is most likely to occur when question of empowerment of SCs/ STs and OBCs comes for deliberation in parliament like reservation in the private sector, radical land reforms; control over natural resources, halting welfare expenses and subsidy; prevention of the atrocity act may meet similar political adjustment like the one we have been witnessing now. Secondary, bill in the present form would further strengthen the dynastical politics in India giving opportunity representation limited to political families. Thirdly it is most likely to bring in more elitist and urban biased in the democracy. Last but not the least overtly intolerant media over reservation to SC/ ST/ OBC is giving wider publicity to Women's Reservation bill speaks volume about existing contradiction in selectively protecting rights and interest of the privileged, which is enough to sense all is not well .
Nilratan Shende
Research Scholar
Dept of HSS
IITB , Powoi.
Date: 8th March 2010
It is hoped that centenary year of the International women's day will bring cheers as Women Reservation Bill is expected to be table in the Rajya Sabha on 8th March 2010. It is anticipated to be approved as Congress, BJP along with left have come together which is the rarest to see in Indian democracy owing to differences in nature of ideologies each one adheres to. They have gone to the extent of issuing a whip in order to ensure bill becomes an Act. However, it is conspicuous that there is not a consensus on such a prime bill. It has been vehemently opposed by SP, BSP and Janta Dal United. In spite of intense political rivalry between SP, BSP and RJD and Janta Dal, there is a thread of commonality that binds them together. It is social struggle they lead for their rights in terms of voices of the exploited, oppressed and restoring human dignity, social economic and political rights they have been fighting for and affinities in their subaltern identities. As to why the political parties which have been engaged into fighting for the rights of the marginalised are opposing "progressive women's reservation bill' and as to why congress, BJP and left have combined to vote for the bill? Why BJP which mobilised people against reservation for OBCs, supporting it? Is it just because of as Virappa Moili said `they owe the bill to their mother". Its too intricate to answer. Therefore it is of prime importance to analyse it on historical as well as contemporary socially and political grounds and try to understand the subaltern perspective.
When the first Lok Sabha was constituted, there were 369 Brahmin members out of total 540. But numbers of Brahmins have considerably reduced over a period and in the prevailing Lok Sabha, Brahmin's merely reduced to 69. The reduction of higher caste representatives in the Parliament and increase in the number of representative of subaltern categories may be attributed to enhanced political awareness, participation in the democratic processes and successful political mobilization in the electoral politics. Building political conscious, electoral gains and ability to influence legislations is largely perceived to be threat not only to their long maintained political hegemony of the upper caste but also to status quoits stands. The increase in the political clout of BSP, SP, RJD is evident from strengthening and consolidation of the exploited sections of the society which is further reflected through their electoral gains.
It would not be ironical to state, against this social and political background, mainstream parties have come together and planning to pass Women's reservation Bill in the parliament. Otherwise, BJP which was antagonistic to Mandal Report implementation makes passing Women reservation Bill one of its priority. Passing the bill in the existing format will have adverse implication the women belonging to SC/ ST and OBC communities. The representation to the women will be at the cost of not only quelling political aspiration of the SC/ ST and OBCs but also at the cost of representation of the women belonging to oppressed section of the society. The bill also conveniently ignores three fold discrimination that women belonging to SC/ ST and OBC background face not only on the ground of patriarchy and gender but also on the ground of their caste
. Therefore bill is socially insensitive and blind to twin discrimination that women belonging to marginalised communities commonly faces. Isn't opportunity representation most exploited SC/ ST / OBC females desirables? The bill is concluded to be for the political participation of the women in the decision making and empowerment of the women. This definitely is a empowerment of women but this is not a step towards holistic empowerment, On the contrary this will ensuring empowerment of the women belonging to the privileged section of the society and deprive deserving SC/ ST / OBC women of the opportunity of decision making .
Why secular congress and progressive left has failed to gauge such adverse implications on marginalised section of the society? Contracting Ideologies may blur, weather, compromised and even collapse, the way it is apparent from present Congress, BJP and Left political consensus, against protecting rights of vulnerable SC/ ST/ OBC women in general and exploited and marginalised section of the society in particular. It exhibits that, how do different political ideologies and parties complement each other in ensuring rights of the privileged and upper castes are protected. The bill and consequently political lobbing across parties and ideologies seem keener on arresting political and social juggernaut of subalterns than thin representation of the women over the years in the parliament.
This is an alarming political and social indication to the parties like BSP, SP and RJD who have been fighting for subaltern voices. It is a threat to their immerging political immergence as it is likely to turn the clock back to higher parliamentary representation of Brahmins to 1951 first constituent election. Similar political arrangement is most likely to occur when question of empowerment of SCs/ STs and OBCs comes for deliberation in parliament like reservation in the private sector, radical land reforms; control over natural resources, halting welfare expenses and subsidy; prevention of the atrocity act may meet similar political adjustment like the one we have been witnessing now. Secondary, bill in the present form would further strengthen the dynastical politics in India giving opportunity representation limited to political families. Thirdly it is most likely to bring in more elitist and urban biased in the democracy. Last but not the least overtly intolerant media over reservation to SC/ ST/ OBC is giving wider publicity to Women's Reservation bill speaks volume about existing contradiction in selectively protecting rights and interest of the privileged, which is enough to sense all is not well .
Nilratan Shende
Research Scholar
Dept of HSS
IITB , Powoi.
Date: 8th March 2010
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