Analysing current levels of Hindu representation in Politics

Think Policy

“Have looked to create a Hindu focused initiative concerned with gathering opinion data on key policy matters and providing a platform for informed opinion”

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What is our id, super ego and ego?

“Sigmund Freud created a structural model of the psyche”. The first day at the second Abhyas Varg involved a talk given by Sachinji Nanda on the psychological aspect of the mind rather than the brain. So we have an id, which stimulates our desires but is part of our unconscious mind. The super ego works to prevent these desires getting to our conscious state and mind, which then allows us to behave in a socially acceptable manner. Through childhood our super ego is built up through our parents influence, the lifestyle we live and the environment we are surrounded by. The ego is both conscious and unconscious and this is where our decisions are made by separating what is real and unreal.

Democracy in the spotlight

Having spent the last week, as one MP in the commons put it, ‘the Westminster bubble’ I felt it would be good to write a short reflection to look back on my short stint in the crazy world of politics.

The week began through attending a meeting held in parliament to welcome the BJP delegation which consisted of; President Nitin Godkari, President of the women wing Smriti Irani, Leader of opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Vasundhra Scindia and many other prominent figures in the party. It was great to see that there was some degree of support from English and Indian parliamentarians for the BJP, along with a genuine interest to enquire about their fundamental ideas and policy. It showed that, especially in Britain we are more likely to take them for what they are rather than what the media portrays of them. Nitinji on several occasions stated something along the line of ‘judge us for what we do and not on how we are portrayed’. Of course, Narendra Modi’s supposed part in the Gujarat riot has created a stigma of the BJP with the usual “far right Hindu Party”. Yet, the party which controls 9 states in Bharat and has been involved in national government has never advocated any action which discriminates against minorities. As well as successfully putting this point across Nitinji succinctly laid out some of his parties key priorities, which was rural and agricultural development along with improving waterways.

Is Gujarati really that important to our society and us?

Is Gujarati really that important to our society and us? 

Why do we speak in Gujarati? Is it because our grandparents can’t understand English very well? Is it because when at home our parents insist we speak in Gujarati to them? Or do you feel as though it’s part of who we are?

The future is our youth?!

Last Sunday I attended an event called, “You Choose”, this is an initiative which allows local residents of Tameside to have a say on the projects that they wish to see take place in their respective communities. Each project had to advertise themselves to the residents for 3 minutes and it is their vote that decides the distribution of funds given by the local council.

Some facts about Hindu's in the British political system

1. The Hindu population in Britain is approximately 623,000

2. Harrow (19%), Brent (17%), Leicester (15%) have the highest population of Hindu’s

3. 52% of the Hindu population reside in London

Bhajans: Boring or bonding?

Beginning SIP (Sangh Internship Program) has made me become more aware of the environments that I am in. The 1^st Abhyas Varg (development workshops) taught us to observe our surroundings, engage in conversations by actively listening and influencing the context of the discussion. This may seem simple and straightforward but taking that step back and noting how you react in these situations is very intriguing.

As part of SIP, we are to visit a different swayamsevak’s house each week. The swayamsevak I visited wasn’t exactly different, as am always at their house every so often and the enticement of idli sambhar was too much to resist!

The world – as we don’t know it

At the start of my Abhyas varg I was given the task of “Paying it forward” with £30 in Birmingham city centre. The whole context of this task made me look at the world in a different way. Instead of thinking “what do I want to do next?” my thought process changed to “Who can I help next?”

Have we become desensitised?

What happens when we see a situation but do not react in a positive, helpful manner? Is it because we have become desensitised?

This is something I experienced when at the first Abhyas Varg last weekend. The story written by Ursula LeGuin is one that evokes great feeling and imagery and makes us to question deeply our personal morality. "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" is a short story that allows us to feel changing emotions because of the twist. It starts off as a wonderfully described city, with bright colours and happy feelings, but as we read on we are told there is one child who suffers to ensure the happiness of others. The citizens have taken it upon themselves to visit and see this child and witness the squalor is lives in. Some feel anger, others feel sympathetic and there are the few who carry on with life as though they have not seen anything. Is this because they are now desensitised to the situation? There are very few who are unable to handle knowing something that terrible is happening but rather than finding a solution to change it, they simply walk away, leaving behind society and family, walking away alone. But then is it any less immoral to walk away, despite knowing this continued evil is occurring?

The Art of Listening

Communication is undoubtedly a skill we need to master in order to do well in any field we choose whether it is verbal or written. We will go through our education careers developing our own writing style and we will still be learning through our working careers, the art of writing is something we all consciously feel the need to improve. The same goes for spoken communication – we accept the importance of clear and concise verbal communication and even Sangh goes in some way to help individuals develop this.

So what is my point?