https://analista.in/10.71182/aijmr.2512.0302.2002

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Abstract

Identity Politics plays a significant role in shaping political dynamics in diverse societies like India. Identity politics has become a prominent subject of politics and political activities all over the world today. Identity politics, as an aspect of movements and struggles for recognition, is an important part of the contemporary period. The paper contains a detailed explication of Major Turning Episodes of Identity Politics in Post-Independent India and its development process through an analytical overview in present scenario. The present paper tries to explain how different approaches define the process of identity formation. This research paper explores the profound impact of identity politics on the socio-political landscape of post- independent India. Since gaining independence in 1947, India has navigated the complex terrain of identity politics, which has significantly influenced its democratic process, governance, social harmony, and development. By examining the theoretical framework, historical context, key developments, and the multifaceted outcomes of identity politics, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of its role and repercussions in contemporary Indian society. This research paper explores how identity politics in terms of caste, religion, language, and ethnicity created a challenge to unity and integrity in post-independent India.
Objectives:The primary objective of this paper is to analyze how India's post-independence identity has been shaped by caste, religion, language, and ethnicity. It proposes a conceptual framework for understanding identity politics in India. It analyses major turning episodes that reshaped identity politics. Also, it investigates contemporary trends and transformations in identity politics.
Methodology:The study uses a qualitative, historical-analytical research design to investigate how significant episodes of identity politics impacted post-independence India. Identity politics entails socio-political processes, collective mobilization, and narrative production, which necessitate interpretive analysis rather than numerical measurement. The study is descriptive, interpretative, and contextual. Since the topic is historical and socio-political, secondary sources constitute the primary data base. In this paper, secondary data is generally taken as a source from various books, research papers, articles, newspapers, and government reports. In this paper, identify and analyze the existing literature based on the diversity of Indian identity issue since independence. For secondary sources, purposive sampling is used. Sources are selected based on the relevance to identity politics, credibility and scholarly depth, coverage of different ideological perspectives and representation of major identity categories like caste, religion, region, language, ethnicity, gender etc., Data is analyzed thematically by identifying recurring patterns relating to identity formation, mobilization strategies, State response, electoral consequences, legal/constitutional shifts, socio-economic outcomes etc., Key turning episodes may include reorganization of states on linguistic lines (1956), mandal commission and OBC mobilization (1990), rise of Hindutva and Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Assam Movement and ethnic assertions, Dalit movements and the BSP’s rise etc., Political speeches, media framing, and parliamentary debates are examined to understand how identity categories were constructed and politically activated.

Keywords: Identity Politics, Multiculturalism, Ethnicity, Indian society.

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