Identity Movements and Its Impact on Indian Politics

Abstract

The identity movements a derivation of social movement that came to fore very recently, are of a different nature, these movements are mainly collective actions or efforts for demands- the defence of interests and the promotion of rights of certain groups of individuals who feel discriminated against, the search for symbolic recognition by a significant others. Some see these movements as the main source of hope for democratization and development, while others look at them with suspicion and as a destabilizing threat. Focussing on the nature of identity movement this paper is an attempt to highlight impacts that it has on India politics.