The Hindu Business Line : Dangerous divisions

In the first quarter of the 19th century Mahatma Gandhi started his historic `knit India' effort as the country remained deeply divided on social, cultural and religious lines. He brought together the downtrodden across the country. Gandhiji's charkha (spinning wheel) became a powerful symbol for the growth of economic nationalism, which saved many a traditional cottage industry. Through simple, every day activities, Gandhiji successfully united Indians before leading the biggest non-violent mass movement in the history of mankind. What the Mahatma achieved after years of painstaking effort — a unity transcending caste and religion — has been reversed, and caste has become a key political factor today. While this may offer some politicians a political raison d'etre, it could also erode the country's human capital.

As the country remains divided along various lines, taking up powerful social and economic issues becomes difficult. Thus, it is difficult to cooperatise farmers the way they are polarised on the basis of caste. Cooperatising the fragmented land holdings can be beneficial in many ways — reduce the cost of irrigation, lower input cost, and give the farmers the power of volumes.

What farmers need urgently is technological input, dedicated extension officials and an effective marketing chain; their income could double in no time. The Next Generation in the rural areas needs to be educated and trained in computers so that it can leverage information technology both to farm better and market their produce at the best rates. The Government must spend the social sector money effectively so that the rural entrepreneurs benefit.

At a time when the country needs every one to pull together so that it does not drift away from the high growth path, nothing should be done to divide people along caste and religion lines. More than anything else, India desperately needs human capital to provide resilience to the economy.

Political parties have a crucial role in this effort. They must encourage their workers to know the real status of the people. Practised right, true cultural nationalism will nurture indigenous skill, and make hundreds of traditional economic activities sustainable. Culture and nationalism that inculcate a sense of purpose can be the best antidote to casteism. National parties must heed the ancient words, Vasudaiva Kutumbakam (world is but one family) which has no room for caste or religious divide.

(The author is a Pune-based freelance writer.)

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