Development agenda versus identity

I just now saw a punchline in the editorial of Business Standard which says" Why can't the political issues be development, instead of identity?"

It was written in the context of the Manipur blockade which has continued since April 12. I asked myself this question- does development supersedes identity.

My mind said something- a firm no and maybe yes. Yes because in todays world it may be possible to survive without having an identity of our own. No, because if you have an identity then the definition of development changes.

I am writing this in Tribalog so let me make myself clear. Adivasis have their own distinct identity and therefore there concept of development is quite different from what an 'upper middle class non tribal India' thinks it is. Let me take an example: A tribal farmer just takes two important decision in a year- when to sow and when to reap. Most of his other activities are casual. He does not plan for them and faces the challenges as they come. On the other hand an upwardly mobile conscious Indian plans for every day, nay every hour which he lives. "Two decisions a year- you must be kidding, dude. I multi task. I take multiple decisions in a split second"- he says.

When two minds work in different fashion then we cannot impose the same development agenda on both of them. One man's food maybe another man's poison. So better be careful. I agree that the agenda must include development but not at the cost of identity.