Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Hindu : Kerala / Thrissur News : ‘Identity politics more humane'

The Hindu : Kerala / Thrissur News : ‘Identity politics more humane'

Social activist P. Geetha addressing a seminar in Thrissur on Sunday.

Thrissur: A seminar on ‘Identity politics: possibilities and limitations', organised by the Solidarity Youth Movement here on Sunday, said that identity politics was more humane than class politics.

Addressing the seminar, T. Mohammed Velam said that all recent people's struggles in the State, including those at Kinalur, Athirappilly and Chengara, threw light on the CPI(M) and the CITU having served the interests of capitalist forces. “Advocates of identity politics, on the other hand, have sought to empower the oppressed and the marginalised.”

Social activist P. Geetha said that implications of identity and identity construction should be seen in a wider context. She spoke about the role of identity in gender relations and the opportunities and challenges it posed.

Social activist K.C. Varghese said that controversies triggered by the recent debate in the State about identity politics indicated that the CPI(M) was toeing the Hindutva line.

Journalist I. Gopinath said that political activities and theorising in the name of identity politics should not go against the greater goal of establishing individual liberty and freedom in society.

1 comment:

punnodiar said...

there is not such a contrevorsial term such as 'Identity politics', most of the promoters or demoters interfear in the discussion without a proper knowledge. In my point of view, identity politics is a double edges sword. It will deny the struggles kerala led in its past years...