Vigilantes and so-called fringe elements were running amok with impunity, and then respected film personalities and even scientists started returning their awards. There were also powerful knowledgeable voices like the President, Narayana Murthy, Raghuram Rajan in India and Vikram Seth, Zubin Mehta and other notables with even major global financial Institution Moody noting with concern the unrest and ethnic tensions being created stating that Prime Minister Modi must rein in his intolerant members! But our government’s response was to ridicule and belittle all of them (skirting the President).
RSS joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosbale reportedly labeled them politically motivated, handful of pseudo secularists; intolerant so-called intellectuals desperately wanting publicity “to keep their shop open”. The NDA was bringing in change for the better and these frustrated people cannot tolerate Modi etc. He stated that the Dadri and other incidents took place in non-BJP ruled States. Makes me ponder if Modi is PM of India or only BJP ruled states? Arun Jaitley joined the bandwagon calling them “rabid anti-BJP indulging in electioneering by other means”. When senior ministers and important party members label dissent and intolerance as being manufactured, it not only diminishes the stature of the government but attacks the very core of democracy. Surely all the minorities, intellectuals, writers, scientists and voices that have risen in dignified protest are not imagining things, no matter how much government and their supporters deny it. Even more disturbing than vigilante violence is the vehement polarized response of the government. Our national emblem says “Satye Mayve Jayate”(Truth Shall Prevail).
Right now the sword seems to be mightier than the pen. A cartoon tellingly depicts a couple at a restaurant table. The waiter and a rough looking man with a club approach. The waiter says “Here is the Menu and this person will tell you what to order!” We seem to be becoming a nation of humorless people, very touchy, arrogant and thinking selfishly only of our community or ourselves and intolerant to the sensibilities and opinions of others. A lawyer has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court against the Santa-Banta jokes that Kushwant Singh made famous. The Supreme Court admitted the petition, observing that the Sikh community was known for a great sense of humor also enjoys such jokes. These days nothing seems be taken with good sense and humor! This is evident as mountains are made of molehills and taken to court and non-sensical statements, the senseless arguments and out shouting on these issues at prime time debates on television, not to mention in Parliament. Someone’s religious or social sentiments, ego or reputation are hurt. What about hurting the same of others?
Respected historian Ramchandra Guha has featured Madhav Sadshiv Golwalkar as prominent Indian thinker. Golwalkar formulated the ideological credo of the RSS with the view that India is a Hindu nation. Leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Ambedkar focused on unity, social equality, economic development, linguistic pluralism and religious harmony against the narrow minded divisive agenda of the RSS. He asks “Can Modi who in 2007 wrote a long adulatory profile of Golwalkar distance himself from the bigots in his party and can BJP profitably enforce 19th century politics on a 20th century society?”.
Indian society today has to race forward into new territory and not backward by ossified thinking. Those who question everything must be encouraged and not subjected to vandalism and the nationalism test. The prime minister has a great vision and is a good orator and event manager. This has not worked in Delhi and Bihar where his government has been trounced at the ballot box. The respected old sidelined BJP leaders, now being openly strongly critical, voicing the opinion of many in the party who dare not voice their resentment, hopefully will bring the needed course correction. Isn’t it time the PM makes himself more available in Parliament and in India to firmly help walk all the talk?
Brain-washing is not cleaning the mind but overwhelming it with falsehood or vested beliefs and interests. Long back Goebels proved during the Nazi domination that if a lie is repeated many times, it is taken as the truth! The ISIS is doing a good job of brain-washing to gain recruits to terrorize the world into a Muslim sultanate, although conditions that bred Jihad and Crusades no longer exist. All governments and religious sects seem to be bombarding the minds of people into submission and what they believe is the true path. Drones and robot soldiers are already becoming a reality. Future wars are expected to be fought by remotely controlling or destroying the minds of opponents. What is rammed into the mind can make or break nations. Happiness and misery are creations of the mind. Mahatma Gandhi said “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet”. People are complicated products of where they are born, their genes and subsequent environment. How they act is their karma. How you react is yours! Whither Namaste (I bow to the Divinity in you) and Salaam Alikum (Peace be upon you)?
(The author is a retired naval officer.)
