Why Bengal Rejected BJP’s Hindutva Agenda?

Why Bengal Rejected BJP’s Hindutva Agenda? Image Courtesy – Times of India

Bengalis are proud of their culture, and to some extent, they are chauvinistic to protect their cultural freedom. That is why Bengal rejected BJP’s Hindutva agenda presented in the way of grasping the political power there.

The combination of Narendra Modi-Amit Shah and other cabinet ministers came to Bengal with a lot of confidence to conquer the power of Bengal. They came with money and muscle power and also with the power of central agencies, election commissions, and all the national media. The leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have completely failed to understand the mentality of the people in Bengal. In fact, they have failed to realize the essence of ‘Bengaliness’.

Tathagata Roy, a senior leader of BJP stated, “Leaders like Shiva Prakash, Arvind Menon, Jagat Prakash Nadda, or Kailash Vijayvargiya never understood the culture of Bengal. After winning 77 seats as a consolation prize in the Assembly elections, the central leaders of the BJP are now playing armpits.”

He also alleged, “The central leadership of the BJP made inconsistent candidate lists in multiple constituencies without understanding the culture of Bengal and the minds of the people of Bengal. Outrage erupted shortly after the announcement of the list of candidates, with huge police forces deployed in Hooghly, North Bengal to handle the situation.”

Let us now analyze why Bengal Rejected BJP’s Hindutva Agenda –

Barrier of Language:

It is a fact, Bengalis in general cannot speak the Hindi language accurately or care to speak. They use to get confused about the grammatical sense and gender sense of the Hindi language. There are many jokes about a Bengali trying to speak the Hindi language. Unlike Southern India where people do not want to speak Hindi instead of their local language or English, people of Bengal can understand and try to speak out Hindi in their own way.

When a minister from outside of Bengal comes and addresses the people about a whole lot of things instead of Bengal’s own leader, people get confused with lack of credibility. The people love to hear from their own leader and in their own language who has at least a level of credibility and principle. Instead, people had to wait every time whenever a meeting was held, and also had to wait to hear addressed in the Hindi language. Automatically, a gap in communication created there and the people of Bengal rejected the concept of ‘One Nation One Party’.

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Barrier of Culture:

Very frankly speaking, Bengalis are not much fond of worshipping ‘Ram’ in the way Bharatiya Janata Party likes to prescribe. Bengalis are very much fond of ‘Maa Kali’, ‘Maa Tara’, ‘Maa Durga’, ‘Radha-Krishna’, ‘Lord Shiva’ and several other Gods and Goddess except ‘Ram’. So, the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is somehow mismatched with Bengali culture. But, the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to impose this slogan in the mind of Bengali people with an artificial ‘Jai Shri Ram’ wave. Automatically, that did not work.

Bengalis are mostly non-vegetarian and cooperative with other religious groups. In fact, there are no conflicts between Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain people in general. Often it has been observed that Hindus and Muslims jointly celebrate the great festival of Durga Puja in Bengal. Even the Hindus also join Iftars in the season of Ramadan. So, polarization in terms of religion is not possible in Bengal as the culture of Bengal developed in this way from the ancient era. There is no restriction of eating Beef, Pork, and any kind of meat by any of the religious communities because religion is not the prime factor here. People of Bengal cherish their cultural freedom than any other thing with unity in diversity.

Secular mindedness:

A large section of the people in Bengal nurtures a secular mentality unlike the other states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc. Even they do not support the ‘Dowry System’ during marriage ceremonies. But, in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, the ‘Dowry System’ has become a tradition during a marriage ceremony. This kind of mentality creates a big difference between the people of Bengal and the people of other states.

Respect for Women:

In a Bengali family, a woman is much more powerful. A housewife gets a level of dignity in a family. But, this picture is diametrically opposite in several other states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc.

A girl child gets the same attention as a boy child in a Bengali family. But, on the other hand, people in Bihar, UP, and Rajasthan generally do not want a girl child in fear of marriage expenditure and their ‘Dowry’ tradition.

That is the reason when a girl is born and brought up in Bengal she carries a level of dignity just like a boy. The dignity of a woman is much higher in Bengal than in any other state in India. Now, when our beloved Prime Minister teased a lady who represents the total Bengali community by saying “Didi O Didi”, made a reverse impression in the mind of people.

People are creative and romantic in Bengal:

The soil of Bengal offers romanticism and creativity and these qualities are being nurtured here. Tons of artists, singers, designers, painters are born in Bengal and they gradually set their target and career in the field of creativity. People of Bengal are romantic and compassionate by nature. They celebrate the occasion of ‘Saraswati Puja’ by offering prayer to Goddess Sarawati. The younger generation of Bengal also celebrates that particular day in their own way. The day is called Valentines Day of the Bengali people.

Bengal is the land of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an Avatar of Lord Krishna. He initiated the mode of worshipping Krishna with ecstatic song and dance and spread the wave of love. So, love and affair are the different essences of Bengal.

Now, one of the BJP leaders came to address people before the election in Bengal and told them that BJP will form ‘Anti-Romeo Squad’ after coming to power. The people from the land of art, culture, and love were really shocked at his announcement. What is possible in Uttar Pradesh, is that possible in Bengal? Ultimately, Bharatiya Janata Party got its result.

Awareness in Politics:

People of Bengal are much more politically aware than any other state in India. Bengal has contributed to India with many great leaders in the past during and after the movement of India’s independence. Bengalis never gave indulgence in political polarization on the basis of religion. By and large, they are secular-minded; and their first priority always remains to protect Bengal from all communal forces.

There are many issues prevailing against the ruling government in Bengal, but people settled their minds not to vote for Bharatiya Janata Party because they wanted a secular state government. It is absolutely not that Trinamool Congress has made a huge development in industrialization, job, healthcare, technology, and various other sectors. But, the people of Bengal rejected BJP’s Hindutva agenda backed by RSS. That was the main reason for the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Assembly Election 2021 in Bengal. A huge number of people joined the hashtag #NoVoteToBJP or #NoVoteForBJP on social media.

The other point is also true that BJP could not project any face to lead Bengal in the way they want. They could not project a single leader who can match the Bengali culture with candid behaviour and who can at least convince the people.

The BJP leaders have failed to understand the mentality of Bengali people:

…

This is Bengal…

Here the pen moves, not the bullets

Arrogance by thumping on the chests does not accepted here

Here song goes by singing together

This is Bengal…

Ambani, Adani and Dhokla is not preferable here

Fish, Meat and Old Monk is preferable

Books, Dances, Songs and Dramas are played here

Politics in Coffeehouse is the trend here

Love goes up at the stairs of Nandan