I can confidently say that religion has never been an issue in our village. Over the past 10 years, however, there have been a few changes, such as the Muslim community now offering prayers using loudspeakers and the Hindu community beginning the tradition of Kanwar Yatra. Despite these shifts, people from all religions still enthusiastically participate in cultural programs like traditional plays, dramas, Ramleela, and Jagran, just as they always have.
Politically, people from both religious communities have generally followed different ideologies in the past and continue to do so. Additionally, there is a noteworthy point to add: the dominant castes, along with other backward castes and marginalized communities, each have their own distinct ideology. Even though they may support certain political figures, their ideological beliefs often differ from them. Ideology serves as the foundation of the vote bank in politics, but here, individualism often overshadows ideology.
Currently, a new aggressive phrase, "Bantenge to Katenge" (If we are divided, we’ll be hurt), has gained traction. In our context, this notion seems more likely to incite hostility based on caste rather than religion. Such an ideology already existed here to some extent, but the introduction of this new phrase could add fuel to the fire for those with similar mindsets. If this phrase becomes widely used, as it appears to be promoted through media, it might create a web of caste-based animosity rather than religious divides. This will likely hinder interaction and unity between backward castes and other groups, especially among aggressive individuals.
Modern ideologies have emerged and appealed to the youth, often drawing them towards these concepts. However, these ideological arguments have put the youth at greater risk than before. In earlier times, such words and phrases were analyzed in newspaper articles, but today, rather than focusing on meaningful discourse, the youth are drawn into trivial debates.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended to offend or hurt the sentiments of any particular caste or religion.
Date: October 8, 2024, Nagpur, Maharashtra, originally written Hindi for my social media friends
