Bonar Thesis April 29 Appendices
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Hanuman’s Army: Adivasi and Hindutva in Gujarat by Thane Bonar B.A., University of Victoria, 2004 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Political Science Thane Bonar, 2010 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Hanuman’s Army: Adivasi and Hindutva in Gujarat by Thane Bonar B.A., University of Victoria, 2004 Supervisory Committee Dr. Radhika Desai (Department of Political Science) Supervisor Dr. Matt James (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Radhika Desai (Department of Political Science) Supervisor Dr. Matt James (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member Scholars writing on the rise of Hindutva, particularly in Gujarat state, have attributed its success to its ability to serve middle and upper caste and class interests. In recent state and Lok Sabha elections, though, Hindutva, through the Bharatiya Janata Party, has also made significant inroads outside of this elite, particularly in Adivasi (Aboriginal) communities. This electoral support has emerged alongside Adivasi participation in anti- minority violence in the Dangs District in 1999 and the 2002 post-Godhra carnage. This thesis seeks to understand these developments and in doing so rejects predominant explanations which rely on a paternalistic false-consciousness approach that strips the Adivasi of independent political agency. It shows that the economic development of Adivasi communities has led to stratification and the emergence of an Adivasi elite. Bourdieu’s notion of symbolic capital is used to show that the psychological rewards that Hindutva is able to offer this elite have material consequences and thus this hegemony can serve the interests of these elements of Adivasi society. iv Table of Contents Supervisory Committee ...................................................................................................... ii Abstract..............................................................................................................................iii Table of Contents............................................................................................................... iv List of Figures.................................................................................................................... vi Acronyms.......................................................................................................................... vii Glossary ...........................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................... 1 Methodology................................................................................................................... 8 Structure........................................................................................................................ 10 Chapter 2: The Mental and the Material Elements of Hegemony .................................... 13 Conventional Explanations ........................................................................................... 15 Hindutva and the Subalternists ..................................................................................... 17 Dalits and Hindutva ...................................................................................................... 23 Ideology ........................................................................................................................ 27 Ideology and Hegemony............................................................................................... 29 Beyond Ideology? ......................................................................................................... 35 Cultural Capital............................................................................................................. 40 Social Capital................................................................................................................ 41 Chapter 3: The Adivasi: Origins to Independence............................................................ 43 To Be Adivasi ............................................................................................................... 44 Early Interactions.......................................................................................................... 47 India’s Tribes as Indigenous Peoples............................................................................ 52 Adivasi and Colonialism............................................................................................... 58 Isolation and Protection ................................................................................................ 66 Adivasi and the Nationalists ......................................................................................... 69 Chapter 4: Adivasi and Independent India........................................................................ 76 Nehru and India’s Tribal Policy.................................................................................... 78 Adivasi and the Politics of Gujarat ............................................................................... 83 The Stratification of Adivasi Society............................................................................ 88 Chapter 5: The Adivasi as the Foot Soldiers of Lord Ram............................................... 97 Dangs ............................................................................................................................ 99 2002 Post-Godhra Violence........................................................................................ 101 Fatehpura, Dahod.................................................................................................... 107 Panvad and Kawant, Vadodara............................................................................... 108 Sanjeli, Dahod......................................................................................................... 109 The BJP’s Electoral Success....................................................................................... 110 Electioneering in the Tribal Belt: the Strategies of the BJP ....................................... 116 Chapter 6: Hindutva as Symbolic Capital....................................................................... 127 Cultural Capital........................................................................................................... 130 Social Capital in the Hindu Fold................................................................................. 133 The Symbolic Capital of Hindutva ............................................................................. 134 v Hindutva as Hinduism................................................................................................. 135 Hindutva and the Adivasi Elite................................................................................... 137 Sanskritization............................................................................................................. 140 Chapter 7: Conclusion..................................................................................................... 145 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 150 Appendix A: Selected Sangh Parivar Organizations ...................................................... 161 Appendix B: Detailed Lok Sabha Election Results ........................................................ 162 Appendix C: Detailed Vidhan Sabha Election Results................................................... 163 vi List of Figures Figure 1: Map of Gujarat State by District ......................................................................... 7 Figure 2: Vidhan Sabha Scheduled Tribe Reserved Constituencies (in grey)................ 111 Figure 3: Lok Sabha Scheduled Tribe Reserved Constituencies (in grey) ..................... 112 Figure 4: BJP Percentage of Votes (1980-2009) ............................................................ 114 vii Acronyms ABVP Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad BJS Bharatiya Jan Sangh CNI Church of North India HJM Hindu Jagran Manch ILO International Labour Organization INC Indian National Congress ITDP Integrated Tribal Development Program KHAM Kshatriya, Hindu, Adivasi, Muslim NEFA North East Frontier Agency RSS Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ST Scheduled Tribe TSP Tribal Sub Plan VHP Vishva Hindu Parishad viii Glossary Adivasi (also Abibasi) Literally original inhabitant, aboriginal Babri Masjid The mosque at Ayodhya constructed in the 1500s that was destroyed by Hindutva mobs in 1992. The site of the mosque is alleged to be Ram’s birthplace and its construction is said to have required the demolition of a Hindu temple (Ram Mandir). Bandh Protest in the form of a general strike, typically lasting one day, in which shops are closed and cities generally come to a standstill Bharat Mata Mother India Bharatiya Jan Sangh Political party representing Hindutva from 1951-1980 Bhauband Bhil nobility Bhil An Adivasi people of central India (including