Social Movements in India An Analytical Framework Beyond Globalization - CSM.

Beyond Globalization - CSM

Social Movements in India

An Analytical Framework


Nature of Social Reality

• Multiple Social and Cultural Identities

• Hierarchical and Complex historical relations

• Unequal distribution of Resources and Power


What is a Social Movement

• Hegemony and Contestation of various stakeholders in a given social, cultural, economic and historical context of relations

• An organized response to Rising Social Conflicts emerging from Social Contradictions

• Political and Social Mobilization for staking claim to power or material resources


What do Social Movements try to Achieve

• Renegotiate power relation

• Reform/Transform the social structure

• Mediate between social and political space through a policy framework

• Catalyze a new class/social consensus

• Ignite emancipative spark for subjugated peoples

• Reorient policy from Managerial to Democratic and from exclusive to inclusive process


Social Determinants of Movements

• Class Nature of Leaders, actors and stakeholders

• Degree of political consciousness of movement leaders, actors and stakeholders

• Political and Social context that can allow flexibility and mobility of relations among social sections

• Economic relations among conflicting classes


Notions of Social Change in India

Pre-Colonial Processes• Dissent • Defiance • Disobedience• Self-infliction• Shaming/honor• Renunciation• Ultimate Truth• Transcendence• Individual Path

Post-Colonial Processes• Reaction• Resistance/Dissent• Reform• Disagreement• Engagement/Dialog• Democratization• Mass Mobilization• Conscientization• Radical Transformation


Analytical Framework for Understanding Process of Change

• Chronological Frame Work

• Non-Partisan (Grass Roots) Political Framework –

• Historical- Materialist and Dialectical Framework

• Narratives of various movements and their linear growth

• Description of numerous micro social actions weak in direct/dialectical relation to macro processes

• Growing Class contradictions shaping the historical forces of change


Movement in Chronological Framework

• Post contact processes for social reform and re-organizing social relationship

• Based on Primordial Identities

• Large Scale sectoral mobilization having direct Influence on Macro-political processes

• Demand for democratic inclusion, social justice and political space -shaping and transforming the social relations continuously

• 19th Century Reform movements against Sati, Brahminic dominance, ritualism, enlightenment/westernism

• Early 20th Century Nationalist Movement, Khilaphat, Muslim League, Dalit Movement, Linguistic Minorities, Regional Nationalities, Ethnic Minorities

• Late 20th century Movements by/for various Castes, Cultural identities, Regional & Religious groups, nationalities, women etc for social justice, equity and political rights

• 21st Century movements contention for direct political power in Bourgeois politics, resistance to neo-liberal dispossession, environmentalism, as well as movements from classes loosing privileges


Some Important Actors

• Ram Mohan Roy, Vidhya Sagar, Jyotirao Fule, Perriyar

• Tagore, Gandhi, Arbindo, Anne Besent, Dadabhai, M N Roy

• Ambedkar, Jinha, Nehru, Jaiprakash Narayan, Vinoba, Lohia

• Mayavati, Tikkait, Lalu & Mulayam • Medha, Bahuguna, Anna Hazare …


Grass Root / Non Partisan Framework

• Plural, Diverse and Dispersed • Micro Social Actions outside the

Party Political framework

• Contention for Political Space but NOT for Political Power

• Empowerment through RIGHTS & ENTITLEMENTS

• Identifies with issue and revolves around charismatic leadership

• Short Lifespan and weak institutionalization

• Anti-Dam, Anti-Dowary, Anti- Nuclear, For Animal Rights, Consumer Rights, Homo sexuality, HIV, disabled etc. rights…..

• Coalition of Networks, Mobilization/Resistance and Solidarity Groups,

• International Advocacy, National Policy Pressure Groups, Lobbyists, Local Networks contributing to define the discourse

• Expansion of Civil & Political Rights to Cultural and Environment Justice


Some Examples

• Narmada Bachao Movement – Medha • Chipko Movement – Sunderlal Bahuguna• Right to Information - Aruna roy• Anti- Corruption Movement - Anna Hazare• Anti-LPG movements in various parts of

country under multiple leadership


Dialectical-Historical-Materialist Framework

• Social processes are historically shaped by given mode of production and its relations

• Every mode of production develops its inherent Class contradictions

• Emerging class consciousness leads to resistance against prevalent forms of unequal exchange and exploitation

• Ruling elite retaliates with counter hegemonic measures which may include brute force, cultural and social alienation or reification, reactionary and violent counter-movements,

• The movement succeeds in generating more advance class consciousness


Some Examples

• Communist revolutionaries in nationalist phase – Bhagat Sing, Azad and others

• Communist Movements for Land struggles and working class rights just before and after independence – Telangana, Tebhaga, Textile Workers strikes….under CPI/CPM leadership

• Revolutionary uprisings of peasants and tribal led under M-L-M ideology under Naxalite leadership

• Armed and Guerilla anti-state warfare of Maoists in current phase


Colonization – A Turning point of Indian History

• Colonization initiated the process of looking inward

• Forced the elite to compare native social structures and Indian cultural values with those of the West

• The quest for breaking with rigid and inviolable social norms created internal churning among the elite sections

• With gradual replacement from Feudal mode of production to Industrial Mode of production began the change in Economic Relation and consequent Social Transformation


National Movement - Mobilization of Classes & Identities: Second Turning Point

• Existing differences and diversities of Castes, Religions and Economic interdependence posed challenge

• The emerging Liberal Elite under Congress provided mature and flexible framework of Social Consensus among various sections of Indian Society.

• National Movement for Independence was fought under hegemony of emerging elite with subaltern classes providing the force and mobilization

• Gandhi used Non-violence (Dissent, Disobedience and Defiance) which was the preferred ethos of vast majority


Fractured Unity of Elite and the Subaltern

• Power struggle among ruling factions belonging to major religious groups

• Historical antagonism between the ruling classes and the ruled who had lost the power under Colonial domination and

• Fear of not being treated equally if the social structure remains unchanged created deep fractures and discomfort among Muslims and Dalits and their autonomous organizations and organic leadership

• The social mobilizations generated new forms of aspirations among Muslims and Dalits demanding separate homelands


Reorganization of the Geopolitical and Social Boundaries

• The Indian subcontinent was redrawn on the basis of religious divide creating TWO nation states which had no historical precedence

• The emerging Nation State of India adopted a Secular, Socialist and Democratic constitution that guaranteed equality to all and a promise to eliminate all forms of exploitation and discrimination – another aspect having no historical precedence.


What did Nationalist Movement achieve?

• Ruling Classes established the hegemony during the nationalist phase

• Communist revolutionaries remained at fringe• The most oppressed section of Indian society, the

Dalits succeeded in forming an Autonomous Identity based Social Movement with Dr. Ambedkar emerging as their leader with popularity only next to Gandhi.

• Elite Muslims left the country and the working class Muslims were subdued.

Social Movements in India An Analytical Framework Beyond Globalization - CSM.

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