Understanding Delhi's Marxists.....

Rather than looking at ideologies -- professions of adherence to largely theoretical models of looking at the world -- it is far more instructive to look at the social composition of movements to figure out the politics of ideology.

The Marxist in Delhi displays some unmistakable characteristics. He is on an average more meritorious than his "class enemies". This may make many respect him. But those aware that merit is more a result of socialisation than individual brilliance explore further only to realise that the Marxist is generally from a more elite background than his "class enemy", at least in the national capital. Here I refer to the Marxist leader and not every follower, sympathiser or voter. Many students mistake the slogan of the Marxist leader for sincerity and an egalitarian inclination and support him, at least in JNU.

I studied in the School of Social Sciences, JNU, at a time when there was a fair sprinkling of right-wing and centrist students there. But one thing was remarkably clear: students coming from the most elite colleges -- and also from the most elite backgrounds -- would invariably turn Left. And the Right and Centre would be filled by our sons-of-the-soil from UP, Bihar, Orissa and Haryana. It was as though the proletariat did not want the revolution: only the elite wanted it. Many of my revolutionary friends are now in Europe and America, and the "reactionaries" from "right-wing parties" are generally in Munirka!

So global capitalism is being enriched by our dear old Left. They will abuse the US only to surrender for the slightest crumbs. They will cry hoarse over "what is being done to Iran" without ever desiring to set foot there.

Is it plain hypocrisy? I would say it is a class position; the politics of elitism. And in understanding this politics the social composition of Delhi's Left establishment will again help us. But we will discuss that another day. The Indian Left may be infantile, but it deserves much more than a single blog post!