VII. The Contemporary Period, 1945–2000 > F. South and Southeast Asia, 1945–2000 > 1. South Asia, 1945–2000 > c. The Republic of India > 1981, June
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1981, June
 
Indira's other son, Rajiv Gandhi, won Sanjay's former seat in the Lok Sabha, although he had previously avoided political life.  1
A mass conversion ceremony by Untouchables (to become Muslims, rather than Buddhists, which had generally been their previous preference) in South India provoked riots that killed large numbers. At much the same time, the Mandal Commission Report called for job reservations for a much-increased number of people on the basis of their caste status, rather than individual economic conditions (“Mandalization”). This expansion of the reservations policy reinforced the shift by Congress government to reliance on relationship with communities rather than individuals. Uneasiness about the policy was reinforced by the fact that a number of groups included in the Backward Classes classification actually exercised considerable power in the localities (for example, Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh, Lingayats in Mysore).  2
 
1983, Feb
 
Rajiv Gandhi became general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee.  3
Resurgence of caste and communal feeling led to uncommonly violent rioting, the most notable conflict emerging between low castes and Harijans (Untouchables). Protests focused on Harijans' statutory and constitutional guarantees, and so lower-caste protest had some high-caste backing as well. Additional conflict developed between low-class sections of the Muslims and Hindus.  4
This socioeconomic conflict also translated into political developments. The Backward Classes had supported the Janata Party but became disillusioned with it after Indira Gandhi's victory in the 1980 general election, even though Congress (I) had, to secure their support as a voting bloc, intermittently extended special considerations to buy their loyalty. At the same time, resentment of the economic benefits thus granted to Untouchables began to be expressed in Hindu fundamentalist ideology by other castes.  5
 
1984
 
Civil unrest indicated that civil society was undergoing severe stress. Increasingly broad-scale riots measured the seriousness of Hindu-Muslim confrontation, particularly in Maharashtra. In Assam and northeastern India, feelings against Bengali residents and immigrants were expressed in murders, bomb outrages, strikes, and a campaign of noncooperation. In Punjab, a militant Sikh secessionist movement had been smouldering for some years and now began to find systematic expression in terrorism.  6
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a fundamentalist organization of Hindu religious leaders, organized a march through Uttar Pradesh and on to Delhi to dramatize their campaign at a religious site in Ayodhya, considered the birthplace of the god-avatar, Ram. Under dispute was a small mosque (which came to be known as the Babri Masjid), built in 1556 by the first Mughal, Babur, ostensibly on the site of a temple dedicated to Ram. The VHP campaign demanded that the mosque be torn down to make room for the construction of a new temple. Public opinion mounted quickly in favor of this campaign.  7
 
May
 
Sikh followers of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale, a leader originally supported by the Congress government in opposition to the more militant Sikhs, turned the Golden Temple of Amritsar into a terrorist stronghold. The public was horrified at this politicization of a sacred space, but then turned against the state when the Indian army stormed the temple, killing Bhindrawale and hundreds of supporters. Sacred buildings were damaged.  8
 
Oct. 31
 
Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh members of her personal guard, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh. Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as India's new prime minister.  9
 
Nov. 1–3
 
Massacres of Sikhs were launched in Delhi and other cities; the police and India's army ignored them. By official count, more than 1,000 Sikhs were murdered in Delhi alone.  10
 
Nov
 
Rajiv Gandhi called for national elections.  11
Bhopal tragedy. Defective valves in Union Carbide's insecticide storage tanks let deadly invisible gas escape. Within hours, 2,000 people were dead and hundreds of thousands injured by the worst industrial accident in recent history.  12
 
Dec. 24
 
Landslide victory for Rajiv Gandhi. The national opposition was reduced to 19 seats.  13
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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