Ramesh Tamiri
History does not move in a straight line. It has its own ways to move, at times straight, on other times circuitous. Mere change of ruling party does not mean change of regime.
Though political power is a basic requisite, regime change demands that new dispensation should have vision for desired change and also instruments to do it. When the basic institutions remain same, no change is possible. CAA, Farm Laws or further changes in Kashmir are enough examples.
Two things are important for bringing change:
- 1. Hegemonist politics to create a legitimacy for change.
2. Change in institutions and harmonisation of power centres within the ruling party.
It is anybody’s guess how much change does present BJP wants. Some things happening are good and some disturbing.
Retreat on Farm Laws may be a good tactics but has damaged the image of BJP among its core supporters.
Unless it does something extraordinary on other fronts it can only go downhill.
There are two things that are presently propelling movement for change – 1. Hindu resurgence for changing anti- Hindu set up, and 2. Dynamics of building a modern nation- State.
Hindu resurgence can only be sustained over a period of time if there is a critical mass to sustain it. This means building new narratives on economy, history, Politics, national security, foreign relations, culture, etc.
In next 5 to 10 years there will be substantial change.
Intellectuals and ideas will have a critical mass to influence change.
New politics will emerge. This politics will shape institutions and create legitimacy for change.
New politics will also create momentum for positive engagement with Muslims.lt will force Ashrafi elite to abandon communal identity politics in favour of secular integration. That will also create a positive ecosystem within Muslim community for Reforms and modernisation.
Slow pace of history can not be a cause for rejection.
Change is inevitable. ln the process, BJP will reinvent itself and a new opposition party will emerge that will not oppose bipartisan consensus on critical issues.
The author Ramesh Tamiri is an expert on Kashmir history and affairs. Once this lane (in photo) used to be the one leading to his house in Shivpora Ram Munshi Bagh.
His house was adjacent to this one storeyed house but it can not be seen in this picture.
His house was fraudulently grabbed in 1996. After 3 years of court case not much came out of it. The house went for distress sale in 1999.
A few months back a three storeyed house has come up on the site of Tamiri’s house.
Samiti says he “live s in an India where irony is victims of genocide are dubbed as Zionists when they call for restoration of their houses built with hard-earned money”.
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