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11/30/2004 - Postcard from the Pink City III: Personal Connections and Political Dynamics by Matthew C.J. Rudolph

ICWA LETTERS Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young professionals outside United States write about international areas issues An exempt operating foundation endowed Charles R Crane Institute supported contributions minded individuals foundations TRUSTEES Bryn Barnard Joseph Battat Mary Lynne Bird Steven Butler Sharon F Doorasamy William F Foote Peter Geithner Gary Hartshorn Kitty Hempstone Katherine Roth Kono Cheng Li Peter Bird Martin Chandler Rosenberger Edmund Sutton HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M Holt Edwin S Munger Richard H Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 U S A MCJR SOUTH ASIA Matthew Rudolph Phillips Talbot Fel Institute studying political economic developments South Asia Postcard Pink City III Personal Connections Political Dynamics By Matthew C J Rudolph FRIDAY NOVEMBER EAST PATEL NAGAR New Delhi India route Jaipur A sharp sensation Had feeling intense I would described My expression surprise I quickly realized shoulder caused stinging sensa deftly administered below threshold order competitive response I because administrator smiling under bushy mustache signature cherubic mischievous The struck leather encased bamboo lathi cudgel I supposed imagine lathi curved scimitar shaped fighting swords favored Rajputs battle Readers earlier newsletter MCJR remember though these swords longer field military battle become important contemporary Indian political conflict The grinning mouth below mustache pointed imaginary world I inhabited moment I would henceforth fighting Then mouth ordered resume starting stance might tinue lesson Rajput swordplay The owner mustache cherubic adminis tering carefully calibrated blows various parts Mohan Singh thakur Kanota Thakur literally means master originally spectful members kshatriya caste princely In hereditary landed aristocrats warriors Kanota landed In India today institutions democratic political sovereignty replaced princely hierarchy Mohan Singh nowadays signs himself Mohan Singh Kanota estate transformed unpretentious surname Journalistic conventions former princely state Rajasthan dropped ceremo titles former rulers nobility But social status Rajput aristocracy persists albeit diminished contested forms Rajput cultural tices today through efforts women Mohan Singh Living neighborhood associated Mohan Singh family I benefiting fondness tural heritage inspired tutor eldest Man Singh Rajput martial swordplay horseback riding At I years nothing pleased In follows I spare casual reader distraction references Those curious follow should please contact cornell I grateful Aditya Singh Manohar Yogesh Wadhwa advice information local history politi details newsletter Any errors misinterpretations tuition Or I thought until began lessons earnest Then I mostly focused avoiding further stinging blows I tried within chalked circles below Standing large before handsome haveli mansion known Narain Niwas Mohan Singh began lesson having boxes front other patio surface Then I would scratch circles corner these boxes Training sists upper stylized thrust parry sequences simultaneous footwork combatants circumscribed circles below Someone graceful waltz might Rajput sword fighter Beside boxes circles patio piece chalk record scored torso I neither grace waltzing skill Mohan Singh invariably marks recorded I The Rajput derived Sanskrit rajaputra meaning In traditional north In custom Rajputs classified kshatriya ruler ascription number Hinduism caste hierarchy As their customs identity their society politics often likened bushido tradition samurai Japanese history Historically Rajput social practice developed mostly north India century C E onward These identities subject challenge politics economy culturally Rajputs believe their ancestors descendants mythical pride themselves which intra caste exclusivity their marriage alliances protected Mohan Singh Champawat trace their lineage Hindu Ram When Dutch Indologist Dirk Kolff years floated thesis Rajput collective adopted century fighting throughout north India regardless caste Rajasthani Rajputs outraged The consumption political leadership traditional distinguishing social elements Rajput identity So veiling women their segre gation women quarters known zenana The warrior element Rajput exemplified glorification ritual sacrifice jauhar which losing Rajput fields suicidal final foray while women perform ritual immolation Not surprisingly these valued customs become focus sharp dispute A literature scholars Katherine Weinberger Thomas Lindsey Harlan argue Rajput women performed these rites often voluntarily pected accumulate merit An equally literature insists execrable result patriar never voluntary always coerced The matter still current contentious recently 1980s profile instances provoked political tests sides issue Many Rajputs negotiated transition aristocratic estate holders urban bourgeoisie grace shrewdness Mohan Singh ested wildlife infested estate developers building Jaipur which Then haveli mansion walls Jaipur converted hotel His hardly attempt economic profit Ab revenue reform couldn afford upkeep haveli large joint family But haveli became hotel modest income could touch paint cover mainte nance while hotel kitchen could serve double family pantry Mohan Singh pioneering conversion tated Rajasthan where charming palaces caying forts rejuvenated advantage Rajputs amusement enthusiastic traffic The Government India Ministry Tourism persuaded Mohan Singh league establish separate category heritage hotels exempt hotel inspection teria swimming pools exercise rooms subject separate standards The glamorous martial aspects Rajput culture provide endless nourishment Indian cinema manticizing stereotyping abusing Rajput thakurs fared hands Bollywood scriptwriters The violent bullying thakur tyrannizes MCJR local peasants blithely exercises anachronistic droit seigneur their women still stock charac Indian silver screen An important exception sympathetic rendering Rajput thakur probably Bollywood famous masala Sholay Masala meaning spice qualifier Hindi refers blend different entertainme spices drama action romance course extravagant dance sequences As descendants powerful rulers Indepen dence India Rajputs enjoyed start Inde pendence politics As large landowners often advocates reform position friends newly egalitarian where groups formerly subservient thakurs Bollywood Goes Global U nlike U S Indian elector former movie national leader However U S political leaders several states Chief Min isters former stars So Members Parliament Tamil Nadu state which competes Bombay situated Bollywood elected Chief Minister great southern Robin Hood style actor MGR M G Ramachandran At death tress player actress Jayalalitha played greatest roles When sought funeral chariot remation ground MGR widow protested persisted ladies Jayalalitha already served secretary MGR party party originally comprising MGR clubs Chief Ministership Tamil Nadu accumulating reputa Oriental despotism great shrewdness India industry largest world measured films duced In 1970s influ American Westerns Italian Spaghetti Westerns shaped production films Sholay which Curry West As Indian diaspora spreads gains prominence abroad rying Indian popular culture diences increasingly shaping Western popular culture The popular Indian music infec tious beats Punjabi bhangra global recognition Indian beauty queens turned stars Aishwaria Rai Miss World today reversing direction influ Indian masala films ginning shape Hollywood sensibili Rai angling Bond Girl offer In recently released Bride Prejudice British NRI Resi Indian director Punjabi extrac Ms Gurinder Chadha Rai leading Chadha splash culture clash comedy manners Bend Like Beckham Chadha Punjabi NRI rendi Jane Austen novel almost follows footsteps Hollywood recent contem porary adaptations Austen novels The hugely successful Clueless paved Replete irresistible rhythms bhangra inspired dance numbers Bride Prejudice follows cessful formula depicting experi NRI U K U S In director Mira Nair pioneered Mississipi Masala starred Denzel Washington Chadha about cross cultural rations In Bride Preju Austen classic story unfolds color dance transport protagonists rural In London Los Angeles Mak fusion point clearly Chadha press Bride Prejudice combination Bollywood Hol lywood British overall sensibility The Bollywood Holly about growing terplay South Asian Anglo Ameri people society increasingly unified globalized world culture Big money there Indian films always market Middle East South East Asia Film producers cinema studios realize achieve greater market scale selling these movies wider audience Americas Europe assuring returns films around world The popularity comedy The Guru based concept Shekhar Kapur another example This shift Holly taking toward Bollywood Mainstream American Magnolia Chicago course Moulin Rouge begun cluding dance With markets driving conver gence global reach Resident Indians across North America Middle East Southeast Asia makes appealing Producers coming overcome language barrier The Portuguese Canadian Fado singing femme fatale Nelly Furtado appear Aamir Khan Rang Basanti Khan attracted international notice producing starring Indian Lagaan which nated Oscar award Rang Basanti being simultaneously filmed Hindi English Continued INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS could mobilize politically De rights provide facto protection power dations thakurs where either opted thakurs Hence Bollywood targeting widely recognizable social character critical portrayal which would popular among audience A tickets Rajputs State National Politics One questions immediate Co lonial period these erstwhile royals would newly democratic politics independent In This important subject research local foreign students Indian politics those early Continued cades How would these princes thakurs enjoyed sovereign status during British Raj institutions parliamentary democracy And equally important would other citizens politi cians confront pervasive traditions favoring Rajput power These would obviously disappear overnight With their longstanding experience political power local networks among their former tenants Rajput inces thakurs became force reckon hustings A common antipathy reform among Rajputs early Independence years Nehru Congress Party In Nehru Brahmin Kashmiri Pandit According stylized released under English Paint Yellow The title reference Indian freedom fighters 1920s 1930s those Bhagat Singh violent Gandhian If power measure Holly Bolly trajectory Johnny Depp signed heroic protagonist Shantaram story addict escapes Australian prison flees Bombay proof trend Russell Crowe declined Indian directors profile forays Hollywood The choice famous Indian director Shekhar Kapur direct bloody royal biography Elizabeth began trend which Ho llywood explicitly ognized profitable talent Indian industry possibility appeal wider global audiences putting Bollywood sensibility director chair It seems LA industry gurus financiers certain genius dramas among Indian directors Nair rendering Thackeray Vanity Fair playing theatres Delhi New York November And chalk block buster rumors approached direct fifth Harry Potter Potter course hugely popular India The other center world Hong Kong cottoned Bollywood trend Jackie Chan finished shooting The Myth among monuments boulder fields Hampi Karnataka Chan popular India right local scooter motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj running ubiquitous adver tisement campaign starring Hong Kong Kung Fu master comical fighting Shaoli riding Bajaj vehicles When interviewed about Chan emphasized consid fitting worked India since elements Kung Fu ticed China famous Shaolin Temple borrowed ancient Kalaripayattu martial originated southern Indian state Kerala Rather chopping wooden blocks Indian female leads accustomed pushing their hands through sleeves numerous outfits manage course single I counted Rai changed attire times course Josh Now these glamorous women training following Hong Kong Michelle Yeoh Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon fighting other forms screen acrobatic Bollywood local attractive young female performers Mallika Sherawat injured herself cently while venturing stunts while shooting Jackie Chan Hampi Readers interested learning about Sholay pelling introduction Indian cinema Indian society through should visit Philip Lutgendorf Philip Fil Notes Indian Popular Cin uiowa incinema MCJR version Indian caste relations eating Rajput Kshatriyas always graciously caste superiority vegetarian Brahmans because someone conduct temple rituals In stylized account Rajput thakurs Brahmans fancy species household servant fixing rituals Nehru Kashmiri pandits general compli cated group supplying administrative class Mughals princely states Nehru respect Rajputs because intel political vision because after Gandhi death undisputed leader nationalist British Congress Party During 1950s Congress first independence newly formed Rajasthan islature narrowest margins framed range policies directed changing structure owner According historical source I encountered recently first Rajasthan state where reform implemented relative success This important historical source found completely accident I Jaipur August following inquiries Rajasthan state politics sitting office youthful scion Rajasthan India prominent Jat families The family presence business politics business though British Masters degree Interna tional Relations Provoked books grand strat occupied shelf discussing Master thesis Kashmir conflict As tattered volume caught Land Reform Rajasthan A Study Evasion Implementation Socio Economic Ef fects Land Reform Its author Dool Singh among books Morgenthau Waltz Bull Dool Singh study sponsored powerful Planning Commission heart Prime Minister Nehru remake India economy society Graciously permitted tocopy frail Dool Singh account seller There stiff competition among India bureaucratically commis sioned texts ability reader But Dool Singh Among technicalities conclusions however remark stood clearly The whole process concluded Dool abolition management intermediaries implementation tenancy nothing short social revolution rural Rajasthan This simple stark remark least partially explains political order battle Rajasthan state country generally Land reform Rajasthan failings swept ancien princely states their jagirdars landed aristocracy turning compensation bearing lands economic basis Rajput power erstwhile tenants Today Rajputs found major north Indian political Indeed occupy positions stratum Indian National Congress Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party BJP But Rajputs active prominent among Congress parties Maharani Gayatri Devi Jaipur helped found opposition Swatantra Party elected Parliament record breaking majority ICWA Newsletter MCJR The current Vice President India Bhairon Singh Shekhawat BJP Chief Minister Rajasthan still affili Hindu nationalist party Jaswant Singh first External Affairs Minister Finance Minister ormer BJP government He Jaisol great Rajput citadel Jodhpur The dynamics between dominant social groups INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Rajasthan profoundly shaped politics state years since Indian independence Rajputs about percent Rajasthan population The state other major collective political actor Jat munity Jats clearly identifiable caste tribe ethnic group attributes those categories Interestingly Indian context there Hindu Muslim Sikh Jats Typically Jats cultivators soldiers profession British ethnography pictured particularly productive But provided princely lineage small states Rajasthan With their largest concentra tions northern Rajasthan Jats account almost percent state million inhabitants Jat cultiva often tenants R ajput estate lands eficiaries Congress policy reform associated social revolution Dool described report reform Rajasthan Consequently years Jats favored Congress Rajputs voted anyone Congress For first years after reform Jat Rajput relationship carried overtones class conflict As Jats become Rajputs prosperous differences moderated although continue animate factional fights Rajasthan Uni versity student hostels Jaipur Then elections Official figures different groups voted entirely reliable However source access informal partisan local campaign professionals suggested state assembly elections percent Jats voted Congress This overwhelming support effort force Congress choose Jat Chief Minister state The Congress leadership oblige decision produced considerable disaffec Congress longtime Jat support In New Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party headed coalition governed center In judged opportunistic others shrewd BJP advantage Jat disaffection Congress Rajasthan enacting legislation classifying Jat community Rajasthan OBCs Other Backward Classes classification eligible reservations Indian equivalent affirmative action government ployment educational admissions scholarships This political maneuver possible policy BJP probably borrowed political India second Rajput Prime Minister V P Singh first S Chandershekar In Singh enacted recommendation called Mandal Commis asked provide criteria identify social groups qualified backward classes category mentioned constitution worthy privileged treatment Singh unconventional Rajput socialist painter moralist etarian The enactment Mandal reservations launched cycle bidding Politicians Mandal OBC reservation compete other reservations allegedly deserving caste groups The motives merits these overtures distinguish between advancing social justice suing political expediency The reservation tactic worked BJP Rajasthan In state assembly elections December Jats abandoned their Congress allegiance percent according campaign professional voted BJP At whopping percent Rajputs voted BJP The BJP proceeded choose Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje woman might characterized fusion candidate She daughter rincely house Gwalior royal family known Scindia Jaipur Rajput friends dismissively consider Rajputs married Jat princely house Rajasthan As Jat friend commented about assembly sults sweet revenge Jats Congress glect Jat wishes Major Jat leaders Congress Ram Niwas Mirdha Arjun Singh Natwar Singh failed deliver Jat December Rajasthan state assembly elections months later May general election Mirdha suffered being removed chairmanship national Congress party commit In effort Congress ruling coalition center handed prominent portfolios Jats Arjun Singh close Con gress Party President Sonia Gandhi He became Minister Human Resources Development fancy ministry handling education A tireless antagonist BJP Hindutv Hinduness agenda launched campaign Hindu introduced school level books remove Hindutva oriented persons leadership educational cultural institu tions implanted BJP ministerial predecessor Murli Manohar Joshi Natwar Singh scion Jat dynasty ruled Bharatpur eastern Rajasthan holds External Affairs brief Finally Labor Minister Sis Ram Ola Jat It years before Congress effort redress errors succeed The source reported percent Rajputs voted Congress incumbency backlash against years Bharatiya Janata Party under Rajput Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat MCJR INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Fellows their Activities Alexander Brenner June CHINA With B A History Yale M A China Studies Johns Hopkins School Advanced International Studies Alex China examining country adapting economic cultural globalization following accession World Trade Organization Richard D Connerney January INDIA A lecturer Philosophy Asian Religions Philosophy Rutgers Iona College University Hawaii Manoa Rick Connerney spend years Phillips Talbot Fellow studying writing about intertwining religion culture politics India described former U S Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith functioning anarchy Rick B A M A religion Wheaton College University Hawaii respectively Cristina Merrill ROMANIA Born Bucharest Cristina moved Romania United States mother father Learning English retaining Romanian majored American History Harvard College there became captain women tennis She received Master degree Journalism New York University worked several U S publications Adweek New York Times spend years Romania watching emerge darkness Ceauscescu regime presumed light membership European Union NATO Matthew Rudolph January INDIA Having completed Cornell Ph D International Relations Matt spending years Phillips Talbot South Asia Fellow looking politics culture economy India Andrew J Tabler January SYRIA LEBANON Andrew lived studied worked Middle East since Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellowship enabled begin Arabic language studies toward Master degree American University Cairo Following Master editorships Cairo Times Middle East Times before moving Lebanon Syria correspondent Economist Intelligence Unit Senior Editor Oxford Business Group His ICWA fellowship Damascus Beirut where report Lebanese reconstruction Syrian reform Matthew Z Wheeler October SOUTHEAST ASIA A former research assistant Rand Corporation Matt spent years looking proposals plans realities regional integration disintegration along Mekong River China Vietnam With B A liberal Sarah Lawrence M A Harvard East Asian studies Blakemore Fellowship Thai language studies Matt examined short conflicts Burma Thailand Laos Cambodia Jill Winder July GERMANY With B A politics Whitman College Walla Walla WA Master degree Art Curating Bard College Annandale Hudson NY Jill ICWA Donors Fellow looking Germany through ideas viewpoints contemporary artists Be months intensive study German language Berlin Thomas J Watson Fellow looking communist practice cultural politics transition former Soviet Czech Republic Slovakia Poland Croatia Hungary Latvia Romania Slovenia Ukraine Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment interna tional events issues Author Rudolph Matthew C J Title ICWA Letters South Asia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia The Americas Europe Russia Mideast North Africa Sub Saharan Africa ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries profes sional researchers subscription Phone Fax E Mail valley Web address Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Administrator Brent Jacobson Publications Design Management Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Af fairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The information contained lication reproduced writer permission