Political viewpoints based on the interests and perspectives of social groupings with which individuals identify are referred to as identity politics. It is a type of politics in which individuals with a certain racial, religious, ethnic, social, or cultural identity advocate their own special interests or concerns without regard for the interests or concerns of any broader political group. Identity politics encompasses the various ways in which people’s politics can be influenced by parts of their identity via loosely linked social organizations.
Identity was not crucial to politics until the late 1950s, and it evolved as a new notion as a result of political and economic upheavals in the 1960s. It does not mean that the concept of identity or identity crisis did not exist, but it was nowhere to be found in popular books and magazines, corporate and business literature, and political statements and manifestos published before the middle of the twentieth century. There was simply no discussion of sexual identity, ethnic identity, political identity, national identity, consumer identity, corporate identity, brand identity, identity crisis, or ‘losing’ or ‘finding’ one’s identity – indeed, no discussion of ‘identity’ in any of the ways that we are so familiar with today.
Since the latter half of the twentieth century, specifically during the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, identity politics has been recognized as a legitimate field of study. Significant political movements such as second-wave feminism, Black Civil Rights, Gay and Lesbian Liberation, and numerous Indigenous organisations formed during this time, with their demands for justice based on perceived injustices experienced by their specific social groups.
Heyes and other historians believe that, while the notion of “Identity Politics” has philosophical origins extending back to Mary Wollstonecraft and Frantz Fanon, its implementation has been restricted to the previous 15 years. Identity politics involves categorising individuals based on their social group membership and the belief that some groups, such as women, ethnic minorities, and sexual minorities, are oppressed and more vulnerable to forms of oppression, such as cultural imperialism, violence, labour exploitation, marginalisation, and powerlessness. As a result, these social disparities may be used to achieve empowerment and work towards a more fair society.
India is one of the most diversified countries in the world, with a population of 1.25 billion people and a large, highly inhabited territory. As a result, India’s social and political processes are extremely complicated. Caste, ethnicity, language, community, and even race are all examples of fault lines in Indian culture, with gender-related concerns increasingly becoming part of the socio-political debate. Immediately after attaining independence, India had to handle fundamental identities such as language, and caste, and in recent years, gender identity has acquired pace and force as another significant feature.
1. Language
Following India’s independence, political movements aimed at establishing new states based on linguistic identity emerged. In the years following independence, the idea to form a Telugu-speaking state in the northern portion of Madras State gathered traction. The sixteen northern Telugu-speaking districts of Madras State became the new state of Andhra in 1953, making it the first state to be formed on a linguistic basis. Language dominated Indian politics from 1953 to 1956. The demand for separate states based on linguistic collectivities, however, did not cease in 1956 and is a source of worry for Indian politicians today. Language is crucial in organising group identities and establishing criteria for designating in-groups and out-groups. According to the 2011 Census, India has around 19,500 languages or dialects, with 96.71% of the population speaking one of the 22 scheduled languages as their native tongue. This linguistic variety is at the root of India’s continuing identity issue.
2. Caste
Caste has become a fundamental factor of Indian culture and politics, empowering rising factions but also escalating combative politics, perhaps contributing to a developing governability dilemma. The origins of confrontational identity politics based on caste may be seen in the provision of official assistance for oppressed caste groups in the form of protective discrimination. This caste-based group identity, reinforced by caste-based political consciousness, is institutionalized by caste-based political parties that profess to maintain and safeguard certain identities, including castes. In India, political groups such as the BJP (Bahujan Samaj Party), which is controlled by higher castes, the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), which is dominated by lower castes, and the SP (Samajwadi Party) have utilized caste patterns to gain political advantage in elections.
3. Gender
Women’s status has been unrecognized since time immemorial, with the exception of the Vedic period. At the moment, awareness, as well as education, exposure, and so on, has paved the way for society’s neglected genders to speak up about their ignored presence. Since the 1950s and 1960s, there have been LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, andTransgender) movements gaining traction, demanding their rights and acceptance of their presence and respect in society.
‘Gender Identity’ refers to how people see, believe, and feel about themselves. However, gender in relation to identity politics connotes a struggle of identification for their presence, as well as a demand to be respected and treated equally on par with another gender (particularly males). Feminist and LGBT liberation movements in and throughout the world are instances of this.
These are intended to combat atrocities and to eliminate social evils such as child marriage, polygamy, restrictions on widow remarriage, non-access to education, ill-treatment, and so on, as well as to gain equal remuneration for work, social, economic, and political rights.
To address the challenges caused by the crisis of identity experienced by various sectors of people based on religion, caste, religion, gender, and so on, the framers of the Constitution, as well as the nation’s leaders, have enacted a number of policies and legislation. Some of these are as follows:
Constitutional Provisions:
- Fundamental rights (Part III of the Constitution) are inscribed under the Right to Equality (Articles 14-18), the Right to Freedom (Articles 19-22), and the Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25-28).
- 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Act in 1993 – the creation of local self-governments (more power to states), and reservation for women. Etc.,
Governmental Measures:
- States Reorganization Act, 1956- the creation of states on linguistic lines.
- Mandal Commission Report- reservation in all India Services and educational institutions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes which correspond to 15%, 7.5%, and 27% respectively
- Set up a National Commission of Backward Classes, Nation Commission for SCs and STs, and National Commission for Women – to protect the interests of the respective communities. Etc.,
Acts of Judiciary:
- Section 377 Verdict: Decriminalization of homosexuality.
- Ban of the practice of Triple Talaq.
- Caste-based reservations to Dalits and Adivasis.
Identity politics has had an influence on society in both positive and harmful ways.On the plus side, the creation of political parties based on regional, language, or caste identities may allow them to focus on certain parts of society that are denied political power and economic opportunity. It also allows for growth in political consciousness among marginalized and weaker elements of society, as they would be part of the mainstream of politics as well as a part of the recognition they acquired via asserting their identity. Through legal measures such as reservation, identity politics has also improved representation for socially discriminated classes and minorities.
Examining the Consequences: Identity politics has sown the seeds of animosity and enmity among many groups.
