Abstract
Identity is a concept that evolves over the
course of life. Identity develops over time and can evolve, sometimes
drastically; depending on what directions we take in our life. In the age of globalization, a human being is more aware than old times
regarding his community, social and national affairs. A person who identifies himself as part of a
particular political party, of a particular faith, and who sees himself as
upper-middle class, might discover that in later age, he's a very different
person. Perhaps he's no longer interested in politics, he's changed his
religion, and he's living on less money than when he was in his younghood. Any
variation is possible during a person's life span.
Religious
Identity:
A person's religious identity is the name of
the religion that they identify themselves with. In this society people want to
know, "What religion are you?" Generally they expect a one-word
answer with the name of a religion that expresses their religious identity. A
person might say they are a Buddhist - or a Christian - or a Jew - or a Muslim
- or a Hindu. These are examples of religious identities. Recent developments in the field of social sciences in general and
sociology in particular suggest a gradual tendency towards revival of interest
on the issue of religion and identity. It is plausible that religion and
identity may be positively correlated. The link between religion and identity
can be contextualized through the exploration of the self.
Identity Politics:
Identity politics is a political style that focuses on the issues relevant to
various groups defined by a wide variety of shared characteristics, including,
but not limited to, race, social class, religion, sex, gender, ethnicity, ideology, nationality, sexual orientation, gender expression, culture, currency, shared history, medical conditions,
profession, and other of the many ways in which people differ from each other,
and into which they may be classified or classify themselves. This concept
played an important role in shaping social and national sphere.
Social
Justice:
Social justice denotes the equal treatment of
all citizens without any social distinction based on caste, colour, race,
religion, sex and so on. It means absence of privileges being extended to any
particular section of the society, and improvement in the conditions of
backward classes (SCs, STs, and OBCs) and women. Social Justice is the
foundation stone of Indian Constitution. Indian Constitution makers were well
known to the use and minimality of various principles of justice. Social justice found useful for everyone in
its kind and flexible form.
Although social justice is not defined
anywhere in the constitution but it is an ideal element of feeling which is a
goal of constitution. Feeling of social justice is a form of relative concept
that is changeable by the time, circumstances, culture and ambitions of the
people. Social inequalities of India expect solution equally. Under Indian
Constitution the use of social justice is accepted in wider sense, which
includes social and economical justice both.
The major objective of this paper is to
critical analyze all the above mentioned conceptions and see their relation with reference to a
national character building as the present scenario of India showed a identity
crisis between individual’s religious identity and secular objectives of the
constitutions. The negative effect of the identity politics ruin ideal nation’s
character and negatively affects the concept of social justice too. For a better nation we should a balanced
state of affairs where every citizen has a space to develop him/her self and a
motivation to contribute in development of India.
Note : This is submitted for a Three-Day
Philosophy Teachers' Meet of North-Western Zone sponsored by ICPR, New Delhi to
be organized by the Department of Guru Nanak Studies, Guru Nanak Dev
University, Amritsar on 29th to 31st Dec. 2015 with the theme "The Crisis
of Multiple Identities in Contemporary World"
