Social Analysis: I am not a Silent Spectator - Part 2

 

You know why I put this title? Because I admired Fr. Stan Swamy so much. When you write something like this, you need courage. And sometimes, just putting that one line upfront gives you the courage to go on.

Let's Start with the Tribals

Tribals are the ones deeply linked with their clans, who speak many dialects. But they started migrating due to forced displacement, especially to states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They’ve been differentiated by religion over time.

Why is tribal culture dying? Because most of them have oral traditions — no written scripts — and so their languages are not preserved. India has approximately 1,900 languages. Yet, we see Dalits have caste, but tribals have no caste.

I know this is a little off-topic. People don’t like to read long texts nowadays — but trust me, if you don’t read, then who will? And if you don’t fight today, then who will?

We always blame someone else. That won't help.

Language and the Question of Identity

Language formation starts from non-verbal communication, then to symbols, and finally to words and sounds. Having a script is the advanced form of a language.

For instance, Konkani does not have its own script — how complicated is that?

Truth be told — life is complicated. We ask, What is truth? Every time, and still no answer.

Dravidian scripts have curves; Devanagari has lines.

Let’s look at caste numbers:

• OBCs: 1000+ sub-castes
• Dalits: 476 sub-castes, with hierarchy even among themselves

Some tribes even claim superiority over others. The Santhals, for example, call themselves primitive, and believe that high and low is a natural order.

Who decided what is high and low?

What if low was high and high was low? Imagine the chaos.

Even in the UK and Ireland, the Irish are looked down upon by their own people. What a joke.

There’s a temporary hierarchy (like office positions) and a permanent hierarchy (like caste or birth). The latter is poison.

We need to finish these identity tags and unite under a humanitarian religion. No hierarchy. Just humans.

Kandhamal, Vanwasi & The Great Identity Theft

Take Kandhamal — the fight was not just between Hindus and Tribals; it was manufactured. People were trapped.

Why this negativity? Why this difference?

Sometimes, it really hurts to live in a world full of division.

Honestly, following Buddha seems like an easier, more direct option.

Tribals worshipped nature. Tribals from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are called Adivasi, while those from Northeast are termed Tribals.

Then the Hindus, being their cunning selves, renamed them as Vanwasi — forest dwellers. Really?

Even our former President was a Dalit — yet gave in to the ruling fundamentalists. Another President, a tribal woman, followed suit.

Extracting from the Tribals, Silencing the Voices

Untouchability. Caste system. Hinduism’s deep entanglement. Vote-bank politics. The only interest the Government seems to have in Tribals is in extracting resources.

In Mudugodu, Karnataka, the Siddis live — and after much work, they finally got ST status.

But let’s ask: What did we gain from independence?

Every village in India is a republic by itself. So what’s the point of independence if we're just slaves to our own people?

Even today, we’re not safe. Not children, not anyone. We need a revolution, not reforms.

Ambedkar knew this. That’s why he issued the 5th Schedule — to protect tribal land rights.

I won’t even speak about Manipur — not because I don’t care, but because fundamentalists might kill me for saying the truth.

The Economic Inequality is Real

2021’s Oxfam Survey says:

• 1% of people hold 59% of India's wealth.

What a shame.

I say this knowing I’m blaming myself too — because I’m a philosopher, and I should be standing up.

Poverty is violence. What one has vs. what one should have — that's the gap. It leads to insecurity, frustration, and collapse.

India now has the highest tax rate in the world — what are we even building?

Japan and South Korea had no natural resources and yet they’re rich. Why not us?

Causes of poverty?

• Crime, sickness, accidents
• Childhood trauma, unemployment, overpopulation
• Political reasons, poor governance
• Lack of sharing, lack of planning

What results?

• Terrorism, beggary, child labour, prostitution, slum growth, gender-based violence.

This is a country where the government sells liquor and private companies sell water. That’s not irony — that’s tragedy.

Pharma, Education, Politics = Same Story

The biggest money-eaters today?

• Pharma companies
• Doctors and medical shops

Promote generic medicine, please.

Education? Same mess.

Poverty today is not natural. It’s politically constructed.

Look at stray dogs — no one’s catching them anymore. Why? Because it's now a $5 billion industry — vaccines, injections, “stray management.”

Everything is man-made business.

Hindutva, Control & Manufactured Consent

The institutionalization of R**S is real. They are following a clear Hindu nationalist agenda.

A simple incident in Bijapur escalated due to mis-actions — typical.

Fundamentalists say, "Others can stay — if they follow our rules."

In 1925, they already said they’ll capture everything.

Let’s be clear — there’s a difference between Hinduism and Hindutva:

• Hindus are peace-loving, non-violent people.
• Hindutvawadis are power-hungry fundamentalists.

Gandhi was shot by his own people.

These groups create binaries — us vs. them — and then rule through those binaries.

Are we so innocent that we forget everything when someone pushes our buttons?

Today everything is bought — EC, ED, CBI, even the judiciary.

Thankfully, Supreme Court is trying to be more objective now. But for how long?

Marginalization & Corruption

Remember Harshad Mehta?

• Stock market scam
• Hawala scam

Now they target Muslims — drag them into Waqf Board debates.

Christians? Block their FCRA accounts.

Can’t we just ask questions? Can’t we let some pregnant knowledge give birth already?

The NEP — National Education Policy — is also suspicious.

We don’t need extra pressure from politics when the world is already in a mess.

Even demonetization — who removes small denominations and introduces larger ones?

It was the poor who suffered the most.

Electoral bonds? Compromised. Budgets? Opaque.

Look at Japan and South Korea again — let’s talk sustainability, not doomsday.

We’re headed to doomsday built by our own hands.

What Can We Do?

Check the facts. Fight back. I’m writing this because I’m a student of philosophy, and questioning is my job.

Why are we still behind Europeans? We should’ve gone way ahead!

Operation S*door was another disaster.

Blind trust won’t help. We must question:

• Are the propositions valid?
• Are they true?
• Are they sound?

Education is the only way forward.

We must question everything — in religion, politics, society, home, jobs — everywhere.

Media could’ve united us — but now it's bought too.

I don’t trust the media anymore. I trust the people who ask questions.

They have hegemony, and they’re using the repetition method to rule.

Even while writing this, I feel stagnant. Lost. But I keep going.

If you hear me out, maybe we can do something together.

To challenge something takes guts — and first, you have to be convinced about what you’re doing.

Are you convinced? 

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and are based on personal analysis, historical interpretations, and cited references. They do not represent any institution, organization, or collective entity. This article is intended for critical discussion and social awareness, not as definitive truth or legal/political advice. Readers are encouraged to: Verify claims through independent research. Cross-check statistics with official sources (e.g., government reports, peer-reviewed studies). Respect differing perspectives in debates on sensitive topics (caste, religion, gender, etc.). While efforts have been made to cite credible sources, some anonymized accounts are included due to safety concerns. The author does not endorse violence, discrimination, or illegal actions.

Legal Note: This article is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution (freedom of speech), subject to reasonable restrictions. Any references to communities, religions, or historical events are analytical, not accusatory. Legal liability for acting upon this content rests solely with the reader.

                                                                                                  Rohan Brahmane (Student of Philosophy)