Caution on exclusionary streak in nationalism
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The downside of minorities is a large basic disaster in democracy: Appadurai
Noted Indian-American socio-cultural anthropologist Arjun Appadurai has cautioned towards the cultural subtext throughout the concept of nationalism that always are typically exclusionary and majoritarian.
Prof. Appadurai, the Goddard Professor in Media, Culture and Communication at New York University, added the issue of minorities was a large basic disaster in democracy.
He was delivering the primary Prof. Jacob John Kattakayam (JJK) memorial lecture, collectively organised by the Institute for Social Research and Action (ISRA) and JJK Students’ Collective, on ‘The culture of development and the development of culture’ on Monday.
Prof. Kattakayam was former Director of the UGC Academic Staff College and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences in Kerala University.
Prof. Appadurai mentioned the concept of minority is a contemporary, liberal and social idea whereby such individuals are seen as incomplete residents who had no place in the nation. The idea has led to a scenario of higher impunity in the nation the place any individual can commit any crime towards these under them in the social strata.
He opined growth hinged on increasing the ‘aspiring capacity’ of marginalised sections. “Aspiration acts a forward-looking motivation to develop oneself. However, development will never happen when hope is dead among a certain community. Such sections must be enabled to aspire for development by helping them attain experiences gained through mobility, education and others. Policy makers must introspect whether development policies had potential to strengthen the capacity of the poor to aspire,” he mentioned.
Transport Minister Antony Raju, who inaugurated the commemoration, credited Prof. Kattakayam for influencing the State’s senior citizen insurance policies, particularly whereas formulating pointers on highway security, old-age houses and the implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.
T.K. Oommen, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University, presided over the programme. Antony Palackal, Head of the Sociology Department in Kerala University, additionally spoke.
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