What’s in an identity?

By Shruti Ambavat (zippy3)

What is an identity according to you? I tried to look up for the definition on the net but got thoroughly confused. There are various forms of identity; gender identity, cultural identity, national identity and the latest, digital identity.

As far as acknowledging my own identity is concerned, I only realised I was a Maharashtrian when I came to Chennai. In Mumbai, my identity was that of a Marwari (a community from Rajasthan). Though I haven’t travelled abroad yet, my friends and relatives staying there made me realise that an Indian Hindu or Muslim share the same identity that of being an Indian.

When these people return to India, they come with a distinct identity of NRI (Non-Residential Indian). Sarah Jacob, a student in Chennai says, “I have never been to Delhi but from what other people have told me, it certainly colours my perception of the city.”

The maximum number of times, a person must have encountered the question of his identity is when bio-data for matrimonial proposals is prepared. What is your gotra? Are you from the same caste? And many more such questions.

When a Hindu and a Muslim from India stay in London, they form a group of their own due to the similar identity of one motherland. But back in India, that same Hindu or Muslim will make his own group based on similar religion, caste etc. Or if not make friends based on religion at least hold prejudices and have slight contempt for the other religion. As Navya, a student recalled, “My cousin Sachit stays in Mumbai, he once mistakenly dashed his motorcycle on a group of Muslim boys standing nearby. The boys immediately asked him his name. His name sounded like Urdu to them so, they left him saying apni hi biradari ka aadmi hai (he is from our religion).”

I wonder whether this trouble with identity arises only in metropolitan cities. Few of my friends who hail from rural or small town areas say that only big cities have clashes and riots based on religion or place. In Mumbai, MNS and previously Shiv Sena have created problems for people from outside Maharashtra and for non-Hindus. In Delhi, soon after the Sikh riots there were tensions between Hindus and Sikhs.

In villages, one does not encounter such a friction between two religious identities because the place will generally have people belonging to a same religion. E.g. most of the small towns and villages in Haryana have Hindu population. The distinction between identities in villages is based on caste or work. In Haryana, people differentiate between a Brahmin and a Jat for instance. A person from upper caste will attach more respect than a lower caste farmer. The Sarpanch (Head of the village) will command fear and respect even when he walks in others’ homes.

So clashes between different identities occur in all places whether developed or underdeveloped. And political parties with strong religious identities take full advantage of the clashes between them. If BJP has his Hindutva identity against Muslims and Christians then Congress has the identity for lower caste against the upper caste. However the question is ‘is it really necessary to have so many identities? I feel identities are the root cause for all wars in the world. What do you think?’

change thename of blog plz

kindly change the name of our blog from intro to sumthng else. I am sorry for the delay in my submission of the article here. I will do it within the next week. U guys also contribute. thank you.

Intro

Seems like nothing new is happening over here. Lets get started ..
आज करे सो अब कर कल करे सो आज।
Zippy2
Rika

hello friends

It is good to write blogs espcially as it enhances our writing skills, a must have for every journalist. I was thinking of writing articles and feature stories on this blog. I guess even you guys are gonna do that.hmm.. Let's see. My first article after this post will be a feature, "How I feel Chennai is different from Mumbai?" (I'm not sure of the punctuations here, kindly correct me) Also is sri already a member or sum1 has to still invite her. And btw, am I zippy 3 or sumthing? :)
Regards,
SHRUTI AMBAVAT
Zippy 3