Neo-social group as master identity

The issue is: how important is neo-social-group identity among multiple identities in contemporary India? Olson (2009) argues that rational people maximizing “their personal welfare” may not act to support or contribute to large organizations which work in their interest and groups composed of altruistic and irrational members may act in common group interest. There are several reasons: they may feel that the organization anyway will work for all and they will also be benefited; they may feel that it is rational for them to sacrifice time and money to support the organization; and organizations must provide some sanction (incentive or deterrent) to support the organization goals.

In the case of neo-social groups the sanctions to act in the interest of the groups can be in the form of: social capital to look for educational and economic opportunities; marriage and family formation; participation in social life; promised support in cases of crisis and harassment by government and non-government forces; friendship and identity; rituals and religious activities; and political support. In absence of other forms of solidarity and strong all-castes organizations at various levels neo-social-groups (consisting of castes) are emerging as strong nationalities. In the present milieu people can more easily fall prey to neo-social group nationalism than to religious, cultural, regional and linguistic nationalisms, leading to more neo-social group based prejudices and conflicts. After all, religious, cultural, regional and linguistic identities are more abstract than caste which is part of the immediate life world. Politicians understand this well and there is has always been a close connection between caste and politics. In a recent article, sociologist Andre Beteille (2009), referring to the identity of caste and community, said: “Identity politics, which brings different communities into confrontation with each other, may have made people more conspicuous of their rights, but has also made social prejudice more difficult to control.” It is notable that among these prejudices neo-social groups based prejudices are certainly more risky as they are presented as vertical, historical, structural, all pervading, most exploitative of all known systems of exploitation, and global. Once enshrined in the Constitution they are everywhere.