A state divided against itself

Election 2004, and the run up to it, brought out a dangerous hate agenda against Brahmins in Maharashtra. The attack on the Bhandarkar Insti...

Election 2004, and the run up to it, brought out a dangerous hate agenda against Brahmins in Maharashtra. The attack on the Bhandarkar Institute was possibly one manifestation of that. NCP leaders like Sharad Pawar and his trusted aide, R.R. Patil, spewed venom on the Joshis and Kulkarnis and 8220;four per cent8221; people read Brahmins, and organisations like Maratha Mahasangh and Sambhaji Brigade openly gave a call for a 8216;Brahmin vs Bahujan8217; war.

What8217;s behind the Maratha anger? Unfortunately, it flows from a one-sided perception of history. Some Brahmins did oppose Shivaji, but many other prominent ones stood by him, like Dadoji Konddeo and Swami Ramdas. Shivaji8217;s famous Ashtapradhan Mandal ministry had Brahmin members, too. Local Brahmins refused to crown him, but Gagabhat, whose roots were in Maharashtra, came specially from Kashi to do so..In modern times, Babasaheb Purandare and many other Brahmin writers have spent entire lifetimes singing paeans to Shivaji. For most Brahmins 8212; and even for the 8220;Manuwadi8221; RSS 8212; Shivaji is the greatest role model.

The perceived hegemony of Brahmins in arts, culture and sports, is another reason behind anti-Brahminism. But then don8217;t Marathas enjoy political hegemony? In any case, superiority in arts and culture cannot be achieved by numerical strength. Only the talented get a chance to rub shoulders with the established. V. Shantaram didn8217;t have to hate Brahmins to become one of India8217;s all-time great film directors. He actually worked with Brahmins like Keshaorao Datey and Shreeram Lagoo. Poetess Shanta Shelke is respected like her Brahmin counterparts. In modern Marathi theatre and films, many talented non-Brahmins have earned a place for themselves. In contrast, can a deserving Brahmin become a minister or chief minister in the state? Manohar Joshi and Nitin Gadkari were exceptions, but for this the thanks should go largely to Bal Thackeray, who doesn8217;t treat Brahmins as untouchables.

The leadership of the Marathas, represented mainly by the NCP and organisations like the Maratha Mahasangh, are perpetrating political Brahminism in Maharashtra. Forget Brahmins, they even grudge granting meagre political space to the Dalits out of inescapable political compulsions. Even today, in 8220;progressive8221; Maharashtra 8212; whose revered saints belonged to many castes 8212; Dalits are disliked in the 8220;zero-Brahmin8221; countryside. How can the non-Maratha Bahujans have an affinity for the NCP, a party toeing the line of the Maratha Mahasangh and Sambhaji Brigade, that have the patently exclusivist aim to establish a 8220;Maratha religion8221; by 2006? But while Dalits cannot be wished away, the 8220;four per cent8221; Brahmins can. Negating the contribution of Brahmins to Maharashtra8217;s progress and suppressing them with physical might amounts to brutal majoritarianism.