Book review: Middle class, media and Modi; the making of new electoral politics
The new research book “Middle Class, Media and Modi – The Making of A New Electoral Politics”, by Nagesh Prabhu, senior journalist, published by SAGE (2020), digs into the implications of the Indian middle class growth, and uncovers its role in electoral politics, media and the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since the 1980s.
The author examined the political developments from a clear-eyed and unbiased look at how the middle class transformed the political landscape in the post-liberalization India. Today’s middle class has always been at the centre of narrative around the country’s economic growth. It craved for its own economic well-being.
After debating the growth of the middle class under various Congress governments, the author discusses the role of the Indian middle class in shaping the economy and reasons for its support for the BJP in 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections.
The book, which runs into over 400 pages, provided insights into the middle class politics and has thrown light on the use of traditional and new media by political parties, including the BJP and Prime Minister Modi.
Unlike other books in the field, this book has analyzed the politics from the class perspective and not from a traditional caste angle, though the caste plays a major role in politics. Dr Prabhu argues that education, income, occupation and class played a significant role in voting pattern in 2014 and 2019.
The author noted the growth of the Muslim and Dalit middle class and argues that the size of the middle class was different in different states owing to variations in growth/ development.
Using his journalist skills to seriously narrate the country’s political developments from the middle class perspective, the book highlighted the role of the middle class in nation building activities during the Nehru and Indira Gandhi regimes.
The author argues that the middle class, which used distanced itself from mainstream politics thinking that politics as a major cause of distraction for growth of their careers, are now negotiating the political frame and penalizing those who are seen as halting their growth and prosperity in the globalized economy.
Dr. Prabhu defended the arguments by providing answers to questions such as why have the Indian middle class, and upper caste who have always found comfort in social security and stability embraced Modi’s brand of Hindutva?
Noting the reform process, the author develops a theoretical approach to the nature of politics and class formation in the era of liberal economy. Besides tracing programmes launched by the Modi government during the last six years, the author discusses the impact of demonetization, GST, and Ayushman Bharat and many welfare schemes on the poor and the middle class.
The book has eight chapters. In the present context, the subject matter of the book is important and the ease with which it written make it a worthwhile read.
Book reviewer is Chartered Accountant in Bengaluru.
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Food delivery agent intervenes to stop street fight in Delhi's Dwarka, stabbed to death
New Delhi (PTI): A 32-year-old food delivery executive was stabbed to death when he allegedly intervened in a violent altercation between two groups in southwest Delhi's Dwarka, police said on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as Govind Jha, a resident of Mohan Garden.
Three others sustained stab injuries in the incident and are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, they said.
Authorities also cautioned against attempts to give the incident a communal colour.
According to the police, Jha was on his way to work on Sunday night when he noticed a street fight taking place at Rajapuri in Madhu Vihar area of Dwarka. The altercation involved two men pitted against three others, who were later identified as Parvesh, Anish and Rohit.
"Jha stopped at the spot and attempted to intervene. During the scuffle, the two men allegedly pulled out knives and began stabbing Parvesh, Anish and Rohit. When Jha tried to intervene, he was also attacked," a police officer said.
All four injured persons were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Jha succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The other three men are under medical observation.
Police said the accused fled the spot after the incident, and multiple teams have been formed to identify and apprehend them.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh, in a statement, said that some messages circulating on social media are attempting to give a communal angle to the incident.
"In the incident, four people suffered stab injuries and were admitted to the hospital. One person died at the hospital, and the remaining three are undergoing treatment. The victims belong to two different communities. The accused stabbed all four victims. Dwarka Police is conducting a search for the accused," the DCP said.
"There is no communal angle to the incident. Strict action will be taken against those spreading false information," he said.
