While the party claims that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav has brought a renewed focus on unsung heroes, political observers say it is an attempt to garner the support of OBCs, Dalits.
While the party claims that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav has brought a renewed focus on unsung heroes, political observers say it is an attempt to garner the support of OBCs, Dalits.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is making a concerted effort to celebrate the contributions of lesser-known symbols and leaders of India’s freedom struggle.
The party claims that the renewed focus on such icons is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to highlight the contributions and sacrifices of India’s unsung heroes in the freedom movement, one of the key elements of the freedom movement. . nectar festival of freedom ceremony to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence,
However, political observations in Lucknow suggest that the ruling government is trying to tighten its grip on Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and upper castes, and broadening the electoral base of the BJP by co-opting Dalit symbols.
‘Instill a sense of pride’
In recent times, the state government has celebrated the contributions of lesser-known icons like Chitu Pandey, Rani Jhalkari Bai, Dhan Singh Gurjar, Vijay Singh Pathik, Lakhan Pasi, Raja Bijli Pasi, Uda Devi and Avanti Bai. Shri Adityanath also highlighted the need to give due credit to such icons for instilling a sense of belonging and pride among the youth in the state.
“Exposing OBCs and Dalit symbols like Uda Devi and Jhalkari Bai is a key component of the party’s efforts to expand its electoral base. It also helps the party to show its commitment towards creating an inclusive society,” said Shashikant Pandey, professor of political science at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow.
Along with this, the state government is also giving prominence to the little known upper caste symbols. Shri Adityanath recently visited Ballia to celebrate Ballia Sacrifice Day and appreciated the contribution of Chitu Pandey, a member of the Brahmin community who participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Since 2014, upper caste and OBC voters have been instrumental in the party’s electoral success in the politically important state, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.
Satish Jha, a well-known social scientist who taught at Delhi University, points out that the politics of symbolism and appropriation of symbols did not start during the BJP rule. He said that even Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati had adopted the same strategy in the 1990s to expand the electoral base of her party.
“Though the BSP promoted symbols like Dr BR Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule, Dalit leaders like Uda Devi and Maharaja Bijli Pasi were not given much importance. The BJP is now giving prominence to such ideals and is making inroads among a section of Dalit voters,” Mr. Jha said.
In the 2022 assembly election, the BSP got only 12.88% votes, its lowest vote share in three decades.
To emphasize that the focus on such symbols is not mere symbolism, the UP government recently named three Women Territorial Armed Constabulary Battalions after Uda Devi, Rani Jhalkari Bai and Avanti Bai. It also named colleges and installed statues to celebrate their contributions.
In his speeches, the Chief Minister has said that the role of symbols like Rani Jhalkari Bai has been overlooked by Left historians who have “distorted history”.
‘A bid to rewrite history’
According to political analysts, the government is also looking to further its agenda of rewriting history through such initiatives. “Getting political mileage is one aspect, but we also have to keep in mind that rewriting history is an old project of the Sangh Parivar. Through such efforts, they are able to influence public opinion towards the need to rewrite history,” said Mr. Jha.
However, the BJP has dismissed suggestions of hidden agenda behind his recent attempts to popularize lesser-known people. “When the Prime Minister announced the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative, he also announced that we would celebrate lesser-known symbols. The efforts of the UP government and the BJP are in line with this.