Imperialism And Resistance

India is a deeply fragmented country, not only by ethnicity and religion, but also, and perhaps primarily, along class lines. In the past few years, India’s public relations department has attempted to portray the country as an up and coming nation modeled along western style so-called “democracies.” Fact is that about 10-15% of the country has adopted some of the worst aspects of the “west”: its unrepresentative “democracy” , the elite’s adoption of some of the most despicable aspects of “western” culture, and the attempted complete subjugation of its vast working class population. However, the working class, the small scale farmers, while themselves not immune to this attempted “western neo-liberalization” of India, have not gone down quietly.

This video on the Maoist movement presents one aspect of the struggle in India – while it includes some good interviews, and perspectives, unfortunately it is very superficial in its discussion about the Indian Maoist movement. Nevertheless, it is a video worth watching, if only to get a glimpse of an India that is too often ignored, in all the (false) hype about “the largest democracy.”

A seminar by Allama Jawad Naqvi

Political Analysis of the ongoing crisis in the south asian subcontinent especially in the context of recent attacks in Mumbai. Click here to listen/view the talk.

The video below is first in a series of nine shows by Zaid Hamid on India’s Hindu Zionists, their ideology, their attempts at destabilizing Pakistan, and their anti-Muslim, nazi inspired, pogroms. This racist hate movement is by and large mainstream in India, one of its (supposedly former) leaders, Sonal Shah, is also part of the anti-Muslim pro-imperialist President elect Obama’s advisory team. Shah is also reported to be on a shortlist for a cabinet level appointment.

(Video is in Urdu – click here to watch all nine shows )

India has its very own fascist movement that wants to convert the country into a pure Hindu nation, with no room whatsoever for anyone of any other religious background. This is not just an isolated movement, rather they exist in all parts of India, and has led to extreme anti-Muslim/Christian/Dalit (“untouchables”) mentality amongst many who belong to the majority Hindu religion.

Condi Rice and Indian politicians sanctimoniously talk down to Pakistanis (something that has become a code word in India for all Muslims) -but they have yet to effectively ban, jail, and remove the cancerous hate that lives within their own country. The video below is somewhat crude, but correctly points out that the Hindu fascist movement roots are in the European fascist movement of Nazism, and have a similar concept of “purity” of race.

Thousands of Indian Muslims, Dalits, Christians and other minorities are slaughtered yearly by such groups, but rarely ever is there a worldwide outrage – rarely if ever do Indian politicians take a firm stand against these groups. They cannot, because these are not shadowy groups, the political arm of fascism in India is part and parcel of the mainstream. If India is serious about dealing with terror, it first and foremost needs to shut down these groups, and their training compounds where this kind of violent hate based ideology is taught and practiced.

The western media, including the imperialist President-elect Obama, like to think of India as some kinda “largest democracy” along with being an economic role model for the region. While significant energy is directed towards attacking Muslims (physically and verbally) the imperialists have held up India as a reliable ally – and is considered more and more to be part of the zio-american orbit.

India, in reality, remains steeped in poverty, with ethnic-caste-religious conflicts raging all across the country. And, all the while, significant portions of its population are losing their ancient south asian heritage, culture, and identity, only to be replaced with some of the most obscene aspects of “western” culture, and outright fascism.

Lets take a look at the Indian economy; much is made of the growth in the past few years – primarily as a result of US/European “outsourcing” to take advantage of cheaper Indian labor. While this may have benefited a few, the vast bulk of Indian population have not seen any change in their living conditions.

A few charts will help make this clear (all data gathered through the IMF/World Bank web site).

GDP – India’s Gross Domestic Product has nearly doubled over the past six-eight years, suggesting a significant increase in economic activity, which should, one would assume, translate into increased wages for Indian workers.

Similarly we see that the Gross National (per capita) income has also shown a significant rise.

Daily wages: But while both GDP, and GNI (per capita) show significant rises, the actual wages for the vast majority of the population have largely been stagnant: 85% of the population continue to live under $2.50 a day (Purchasing Power Parity adjusted figures), nearly 80% live under $2.00 a day, and 28-30% live under $1.00 a day! So where has all the economic growth gone? Well, obviously most of it went to the top 15% of the population – rest of the population has gotten mere pennies (if that). The much touted “Indian middle class” is little more than a myth – and represent a mere fraction of India’s vast population. This so-called “middle class”, in fact, represents the symptoms of the deep inequities that ravage the Indian economic landscape.

The Indian establishment, instead of dealing with its failed economic policies, has chosen to 1) blame Pakistan for everything, and 2) appeal to the worst hate instincts of its majority Hindu population.

It is no wonder that India has become a country defined by its internal conflicts and hate groups directed at its minority populations (Muslims, Christians, Dalits and more) – that will be the topic of our next blog entry.

1. See this article on Obama’s extremist Hindu advisor:

***US President-elect Barack Obama may have cultivated a left-of-center image for himself, but Sonal Shah, the Indian-American advisor in his transition team, has well established rightwing leanings.***

Born in Gujarat, India, Shah came to the United States as a two-year old. Her father, a chemical engineer, first worked in New York before moving to Houston, and then moving away from his education toward the stock market. The Shahs remain active in Houston’s Indian community, not only in the ecumenical Gujarati Samaj (a society for people from Gujarat), but also in the far more cruel organizations of the Hindu Right, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Overseas Friends of the BJP (the main political party of the Hindu Right) and the Ekal Vidyalaya. Shah’s parents, Ramesh and Kokila, not only work as volunteers for these outfits, but they also held positions of authority in them. Their daughter was not far behind. She was an active member of the VHPA, the U. S. branch of the most virulently fascistic outfit within India. The VHP’s head, Ashok Singhal, believes that his organization should “inculcate a fear psychosis among [India’s] Muslim community.” This was Shah’s boss. Till 2001, Shah was the National Coordinator of the VHPA.

2. On the contemporary history of Iran, check this interesting entry on Vineyard of Saker’s blog).

3. President Ahmadinejad’s letter:

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Mr. Barack Obama

President-elect of the United States of America

I congratulate you on having gained the majority of the votes of those who took part in the election. As you know, the chances that God gives to his subjects pass swiftly. They can be used for the perfection of humanity and to the benefit of nations or, God forbid, to the detriment of nations.

I hope you will choose to honor the real interests of people and justice and equity over the insatiable appetites of the selfish minority. Use this chance to serve to the extent you can. And leave a good name behind for yourself.

People expect an immediate and clear response to the pressure for fundamental change in the American government’s policies, both foreign and domestic. This is the desire of all the world’s nations and of the American nation as well, and it should be the objective and basis of all your future government’s programs and actions.

On the one hand, the American nation, which has spiritual inclinations, expects your government to focus its energy and will on serving the people; dealing with the current economic crisis; restoring the country’s standing, morale and hope; eradicating poverty and discrimination; and renewing respect for individuals, their safety and their rights. It also expects policies that will strengthen the foundations of the family — part of the teachings of the holy prophets, who are also revered in America.

On the other hand, the nations of the world expect an end to policies based on warmongering, invasion, bullying, trickery, the humiliation of other countries by the imposition of biased and unfair requirements, and a diplomatic approach that has bred hatred for America’s leaders and undermined respect for its people. They want to see actions based on justice, respect for the rights of human beings and nations, friendship and non-intervention in the affairs of others. They want the American government to keep its interventions within its own country’s borders.

In the sensitive Middle East region, in particular, the expectation is that the unjust actions of the past 60 years will give way to a policy encouraging full rights for all nations, especially the oppressed nations of Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The great civilization-building and justice-seeking nation of Iran would welcome major, fair and real changes, in policies and actions, especially in this region.

If steps are taken in the path of righteousness, toward the goal of carrying out the teachings of the holy prophets, it is hoped that almighty God will help and that the enormous damage done in the past will be somewhat diminished.

I ask the high God to grant all of humanity and all nations health and happiness, honor and prosperity, and to grant rulers and officials the ability to learn from the past and to use every chance to serve, to spread love and kindness, to eradicate oppression, to do justice and to follow the holy guidelines.

Mahmoud Ahmadiniejad