New Delhi, August 21 (MExN): The Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) organized a special talk on the theme “Alternative Politics: New vision, new path” at JNU, New Delhi on August 19.
The invited speaker, Prof. Yogendra Yadav, introduced the theme “Alternative politics” in view of the belief that the idea of India founded on the idea of republic is under serious threat and thus, needs renewal with new kind of politics, a press release from Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan, President, NSA informed.
He built his arguments on three points: What this idea of India is, why this idea of India is facing a crisis, and the practice to renew the crisis. He grounded the idea of India on the three pillars of modern nation-state - democracy, diversity and development. He said that none of these three principles originated in India, but each of the three had a peculiar turn and twist which makes them very Indian.
What mattered to the speaker was the situation of India before it became democracy, the release said. Prof. Yogendra, according to the release, was of the opinion that before India became democracy it was not common to think that democracy can be practiced in conditions of deep deprivation and lack of education.
India is the first country in the world that made possible for us to think that democracy could be genuinely globalised, he stated, adding in that sense India democratized the idea of democracy. The speaker further viewed that India was the place where the idea of homogeneous nation was finally put to rest. “India was the first country where the idea of a modern nation state does not need homogeneity. The idea that the modern nation states can be built in the condition of diversity is India’s contribution to global world.”
Prof. Yogendra also opined that the foundational principles that constitute the republic India is in deep crisis. Stating that the roots of the crisis lie in the weakening of political argument and practice that constitute India, he maintained there is sharp erosion in the politics and vision of India. “Modern Indian political thought that constitute the living inspirational ideas have dried up. Vision dies along with the political practice.” He observed that “we have failed to provide to the last person, so, we need energetic and imaginative politics that bring together victims of growth. We need to reinvent the vision; the vision that makes India what it is.”
The session was chaired by Prof. Aditya Mukherjee from JNU, a renowned historian and well known professor across India and abroad, while Dr. Rembemo Odyuo, an academic councellor at IGNOU was the rapporteur. Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan, President, NSA started the session by welcoming the participants and resource persons and Lovitoli Zimo, Vice President, NSA ended it with vote of thanks.
