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Power Politics in Haryana: A View From the Bridge
In the analysis, two personalities emerge as inspiring, Professor Sher Singh and Ch. Devi Lal — the former as a visionary and the latter as a romantic activist. A subtle balance is maintained in their projection: Prof. Sher Singh earns distinction as a somewhat less than assertive individual and Devi Lal as an innocent participant in the political arena. We note also an impressive courage in the author to call things and people by their proper names — indicating commitment to values and ideas. The use of sharp words about persons and things on Page 131 is the case in point. In his projection of the state, Dahiya has made use of the categories of caste and community. For him, it is these that determined the course of events in the tumultuous period of the 1970s and 80s — the divide between the non-Jats and Jats was exploited in ample measure by the leaders to garner votes and grab office. Each political formation, Congress, Lok Dal, BJP, et al. pursued its agenda, little concerned about a policy-based programme of equity and justice. Dahiya explains a number of socio-political developments in Haryana in terms of what he has called assertion of identity. This identity has for a long time enjoyed the linguistic-cultural character of the region. Dahiya finds Prof. Sher Singh’s secular aspirations quite appealing. On the other end of the spectrum stood Sardar Partap Singh Kairon who "used all means of money and muscle power, official machinery as well as private machinations, to ensure the defeat of Professor Sher Singh" and worked persistently to obstruct Sher Singh from performing the "new task" of realising the aspirations of Haryana. In addition to discussing the aforementioned leaders, the book has commented in detail on the policies and attitudes of such tall figures as Bansi Lal, Bhajan Lal and Om Parkash Chautala, all of whom headed the state as chief ministers for long durations. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the present head has also briefly come in for observation. The caste factor continues to prevail and Dahiya concludes that the situation in the state’s "elections of 2010 will be more complicated than it has been ever before". The account is evaluative without being judgmental. Each of these leaders had his preferences with the attendant contribution and limitations. What has emerged from the analysis is a critical viewpoint that emphasises the "seasoned" against "seasonal." A thinker and activist as also a literary scholar, Dahiya offers valuable insights into the complex picture of Haryana politics. His people-oriented expectations from the state have, however, remained unrealised because of the ‘power politics’ that obtains there. Where does the answer lie to the issues faced by this place of farmers, landless labour and heterogeneous middle classes? For Dahiya, the solution is outside the scope of a mere critique of the political scene. We see sarcasm, humour and irony in ample measure where anecdotes and allusions abound to stress that there is little possibility of resolution of the problems in the foreseeable future. A highly readable account, the book only hopes that "intellectualism" of the radical parties such as "the CPM and its allies" would "accommodate activism" to "expand the ground beneath their feet". The statement means more than is said. Emphasis is on the need that the Haryana masses resist narrow politicking and socio-cultural prejudices.
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IN
this a reader-friendly book, Bhim S. Dahiya has offered an intimate
account of the political happenings in Haryana ever since the state came
into existence in the 1960s. ‘Power politics’ in the title denotes
the urge among specific practitioners of politics to earn privilege and
influence of the narrow kind. Thus, it is that from Chapter IV to
Chapter XIII, we see only individual names of leaders occupying space
along with the tendency that each represented during his tenure: ‘long
innings’, ‘populist regime’, ‘short maiden innings’, ‘night
watchman’, etc. Still, the book eschews mere denunciation of the
goings-on in the state and engages seriously with the issues that
Haryana