Politics of Identity in West Bengal-Analysis of Two Identities: Caste and Class

This paper is aimed at enquiring the different modes of political demonstration/expression underpinned by caste hierarchical structure of the society living in the west Bengal. Naxalite movement has curtained the internal diverse structure of the society in the West Bengal. Inter-tribal relations and divergences in their visions of society and socio-political objectives make the societal trajectory more complex. In addition the contradiction of ideological, political, cultural/tribal and caste identities boggles the mind of keen outsider observer and compels him/her to think about Naxalites beyond the class identity and stimulate him/her to unearth the internal socio-political structure Naxal society which is actually diverse, different, complex and folded. For example how being a Santhali or being Oaransi contradict with caste identity or being naxalites? How identity of peasant and socio-political interests attached to it confronts with tribal identity? How this internal contradiction is impacting the overall sociopolitical structure and variation of political woes? To answer such questions, the fact that societies involved in the Naxalite Movement are not confined to West Bengal rather it is spilled over to various districts of India will not be unnoticed but state of West Bengal is selected as a place for analysis. The main question which will tend to envelop all of the above questions is how varying identities or habitats of West Bengal society effects/varies the socio-political practices of the society in West Bengal? However as multiple identities and its perceived contestation has been pointed out but class-caste contest in West Bengal with its consequent contradictions in society of West Bengal will be the core focus of this paper.