Majority’s ‘tyrannical impulses’ threaten Indian democracy,warns historian
Hindu right's rise leads to indifference towards Muslims, says Kumar
New Delhi: Renowned historian Aishwary Kumar has warned that the real threat to Indian democracy lies not with minorities, but with the “tyrannical impulses of the majority.”
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a media interview, Kumar expressed concerns about the rise of the Hindu right and the majoritarian appropriation of the Constitution and democratic processes, leading to a popular indifference towards atrocities committed against Muslims and other minorities.
He emphasized that the faith in democracy is being threatened by the temptation of tyranny, rooted in caste and perpetuated through the numerical preponderance of the majority. Kumar called for a return to Ambedkar’s thinking, which highlighted the risk of democracy and the need for a responsible democratic majority.
He also stressed the importance of recognizing the relationship between democracy and constitutionalism and the potential for the Constitution to be used to achieve right-wing goals.
Kumar described the current state of India as a “neo-democratic condition,” where democracy is being reshaped to prioritize majoritarian rule over the sovereignty and freedom of the people. He urged a shift in focus from the minority to the majority and its role in perpetuating political violence and cruelty.
