IDEOLOGY IN MARXIST THEORY OF SOCIAL CHANGE 19 minority separatism is based not on imaginary grievances, but on real and burning grievances, violation and denial of democratic rights. But it is given a religious and communal twist by the fundamentalists and communalists. Hindu communalism led by the RSS is an example of separatist outlook not based on any grievance. It is a wanton appeal to incite communal antagonism. But the fact that thousands fall victims to it is a measure of the damage done by the ruling classes. The Constitution itself, by including cow protection among directive principles, makes a damning concession to Hindu orthodoxy. The compromise inherent in the bourgeois-landlord alliance, the refusal to undertake radical land reforms, and the slow progress of industry—all have combined to keep in existence the ideologies, influence of outlooks, which the anti-imperialist movement had to fight to lay the foundation of national unity. Today these same influences are waging a fight for ascendency. New challenges of divisive forces have also arisen leading to secessionist demands. Assam, Khalistan, once more reveal the incapacity of the alliance to keep the various linguistic national units together. The American plans for Balkanisation of India rest on the spadcwork being done by these ideologies. Is it correct to state: "It should also be borne in mind that in a number of Afro-Asian countries a purely secular ideology, including anti-imperialist nationalism, ordinarily cannot, with the speed required by history, replace the traditionally communalist, clan, caste, estate, tribal, semi-feudal, religious-fanatic ideology as the day-to-day philosophy of tens of millions of small owners who want to become 'masters' and businessmen. Hence their srong adherence to the tribal, caste, and religious, ethical standards"?16 This of course is true to an extent. But the point is that practice is ahead of consciousness. The deed comes first. This is already what is happening in India. There is no need to underestimate the danger from these divisive forces — the forces of communalism, casteism, religion, etc. The weakness of the opposing forces, especially the consciousness of the working class, has already been pointed out. But the worsening economic situation, the mass destitution of the peasantry, the high price regime and its effects, the complex and the growing collapse of law and order in India have set the masses in motion. Side by side with their caste-consciousness, their religiosity, their superstitious belief, they are together overcoming in practice these limitations, to bring down ruling parties, to combine in millions to give a defeat to the Congress (I), to turn away from a party which betrays them, and to renew their faith in the left led by the CPI (M), once they give it. 16 Ul^anovsky and Pavlov, op cit, p 131.