Changing Social Fabric of Maharashtra and Maratha Kranti Morcha: Insights on History, Democracy and Tolerance

Abstract

‘Maratha’, demographically a large community from Maharashtra underwent a huge agitation for its diverse demands from August 7, 2016 to 29^th October, 2017. An extempore reason for the agitation had been ‘A Kopardi Rape Case’, where a school going girl from Maratha community was brutally raped and killed by a group of boys in the village Kopardi from Ahmednagar district of the State of Maharashtra. Both the print and electronic media and then the Government of Maharashtra did not take any cognizance of this case until a group of vigilant whistleblowers from the community brought it to the forefront. The neglect of media and the government were alleged to be perpetual and aroused scourge. The agitation which began with this immediate reason further incorporated several other pendent demands of the community on its agenda and the outburst came in form of district wise huge demonstrations involving of men, women, girls, boys, students, workers, farmers, office goers, business persons and people from every occupation and class. The agitation did not let any political leader to lead these rallies hence it could invite huge response across the political parties. The demonstrations proved phenomenal illustrating their massive size, silence (no oral slogans), self-discipline, maintenance of law and order, self-help, cleanliness etc.  The rallies broke several records and set an example of the peaceful agitation. But looking towards the outcome of these agitations, the government which had a clear rightist orientation, as well as many smaller groups with leftist orientation seem to have treated these agitations clearly as non-issue with equal bigotry attitudes, despite the socio-economic–cultural issues of the agitation being fairly vital.  After almost ten years since these huge agitations have taken place, there is no action on any of the principle demands of the Maratha community in Maharashtra. The article is an attempt to theorize the nature and scope of “Maratha Kranti Morcha”, to discuss the socio-political, cultural, economic reasons of this agitation and to find out reasons for its cold-reception from the leftist and rightist wings in the historical position of the community and a need of positive response to the issue/s in the framework of democratic values, tolerance and social harmony.