Cultural Regression, Political Warfare, and an Assault on St. Valentine

Since February 3rd, when Raj Thakeray, leader of the right wing party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), started making inflammatory statements faulting migrants from North India for not learning the local language or adopting local customs, youth in Mumbai have gone on a rampage. Perceiving migrant workers as stealing their jobs, depressing wages, and corrupting their culture, these party activists threatened migrant workers and attacked taxi drivers, street vendors, and other properties and businesses. As a result of the national outcry, Mumbai police eventually arrested Thackeray and his co-discriminationist Abu Asim Azmi, but not before one bystander — most embarrassingly to the politicians, a Maharashtrian — died in the rioting. Behind the scenes of the violence, as usual, lies a political power grab between Thackeray and his cousin over who is the true heir of Bal Thackeray’s political legacy.

Detailing the clash of politics, culture and religion, the International Herald Tribune points out the increasing incidence of communal tension, social censorship, and narrow-minded sectarianism around India. Citing examples such as the self-imposed exile of renowned Indian painter M. F. Husain (who offended many by painting nude depictions of Hindu goddesses), death threats to Salman Rushdie, the banning of the Da Vinci code, and effective religious zoning (whereby entire neighborhoods have been declared vegetarian, rendering them essentially off-limits to Muslims), the IHT highlights a disturbing regressive trend in social and religious thought in India. Case in point: Delhi protesters yesterday blocked roads, chanting “Down with Valentine.”

Oddly, the underlying out-with-the-migrant-workers theme based on the accusation that some “other,” whether domestic or from abroad, is to blame for the lack of jobs, as well as the perceived corruption of culture is eerily familiar. Does Samuel Huntington consult on the side for the Hindu right-wingers? Maybe his books aren’t bringing in enough cash.

(IHT link courtesy of GM — thanks!)