Abstract:
Identity politics is individuals forming exclusive political alliances based on their racial, religious, ethnic, social, or cultural identity to advance their own interests, rather than those of a larger group. Identity politics goes beyond the political imagination, challenging all engrained notions as well as the significance of race, caste, class, and sexual orientation. The primary assumption underpinning identity politics is that people who share a common identity confront similar forms of discrimination and oppression, and hence must band together to combat those forces. Identity politics in India has its roots in the traumatic history of Partition and the demand for distinct electorates based on religion and caste identities. Furthermore, the state is viewed as an active contributor to identity politics by establishing and maintaining state structures that define and recognize individuals based on their identities. Language, caste, religion, gender, and other factors all contribute to identity politics in India. Identity politics have both beneficial and harmful consequences on society. On the one hand, it raises political consciousness among marginalized and weaker elements of society and improves representation for socially oppressed classes and minorities through legal measures such as reservation. On the other hand, it planted the seeds of animosity and enmity among various sectors of society based on caste, religion, and so on, resulting in confrontations and riots that disrupted communal harmony and the secular nature of the nation. It fostered limited or narrow-minded attitudes among residents and political parties, making them intolerant of other communities. It is accountable for divisive tendencies and fostering separatist impulses, posing a threat to the nation's unity and integrity. The objective of this paper is to study the impact of identity politics on Indian society at large.
Key-words: Indian Politics, Society, Caste, Religion, Gender.
Note: To be presented in a ICSSR sponsored National Seminar on Understanding India’s North East: Ethnicity, Identity and Issues of Conflicts (Hybrid Mode) organised by IQAC, MGM College in collaboration with IQAC, Pranab College on 7th & 8th February, 2025.
