The world is in turmoil. The violence and terror we are witnessing today is the result of the hatred we harbour, the intolerance we preach, the divisive politics we play and the religious, caste and race discrimination we practice. If India is among the many nations which are victims of the menace, we can not absolve ourselves of having often supported, if not patronised the evils that have caused such grave unrests. We rightly felt outraged at the cruel shooting and murder of a young Indian Engineer in Kansas in the USA in an obvious racist attack, which everyone attributes to President Trump’s controversial immigration policy. Some more similar attacks followed, which forced Trump to have a rethink of his decisions on his “America first” policy.
But let us pause for a moment and forget some of our justified prejudices against Trump. He might have overdone it but he was surely not wrong in trying to curb immigration so as to prevent some potentially dangerous people from entering his country and hurting his people. In the process, he might have harmed some genuine people. But often it can’t be helped. Trump had been written off not only by almost the whole world but by his own people, but it is these very people who eventually got him elected perhaps for the very reason why most felt he would or ought to be rejected.
The world is changing rapidly. Brexit too took the world by surprise. France may follow suit if far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen gets elected, though her chances do not seem very bright. She has already announced that she would close French borders, have own currency and leave the EU. She praised Brexit as the greatest event after the fall of Berlin Wall and also hailed Trump’s victory. She is the daughter of Jean Marie Le Pen, an anti-immigration extremist who lost five presidential elections, including one where people rallied behind Jacques Chirac with shouts of “rather a crook than a fascist” – a slogan surely more appropriate today for India and for Goa. But besides France, we may see Geert Wilders an anti-Islam leader coming to power in Netherlands promising to close country’s borders, shut down mosques and leave Euro and the European Union. Everyone wants, to put his/her own country first. This may not be very palatable to us, but surely it is the right attitude. No self-respecting country would tolerate preferential treatment to immigrants over their own citizens. If several developing countries must take note that immigrants may no longer be welcome in developed countries like USA, Britain, Germany, France, etc, as they were before, it is India in particular that has to be apprehensive. And more than anyone else it is Prime Minister Modi and his acolytes who need to worry, if their claims of “patriotism” encompass the welfare and interests of all Indians, by birth or origin, and not only the protection of the borders of the country. Surely no other country in the world has as many millions in America, Europe, Australia and in the Gulf as India does. It ought to be a matter of grave concern to us if large numbers of Indians are forced to return to India.
Governments in India, both past and present, have shown little concern about our growing population and consequent increased unemployment. People have been leaving the country – obviously only those who can afford or are qualified – not always in search of employment but also out of discontentment and frustration over the deteriorating situation in the country, which incidentally is also partly a result of increasing population. Migration, in future, may not be as easy as it has been so far. India must not think that it has the right to populate other countries, without taking steps to prevent the prevailing exodus. PM Modi uses his lung power for calls of “Make in India”, which is indeed a good slogan, but can he afford to ask Indians to “Return to India”? While racists or anti-immigrant attacks in foreign countries are detestable, such stray incidents cannot be avoided altogether, but the fear is of their increase, putting our innocent people at risk. However, what we need to ponder is how tolerant are we towards our own people in India, particularly in the present set up. And, regrettably, the intolerance being witnessed is either state sponsored or state protected. The BJP Government at the Centre cannot absolve itself of being indirectly responsible for the various acts of violence, even resulting in deaths, particularly against the Muslim community. The intolerance is not alone against religious communities who do not partake of their Hindutva ideology but also against those who do not share their narrow connotation of “nationalism”, as was seen earlier in JNU and lately in Delhi University.
The BJP is waiting for the results of recently held elections, particularly in UP, to consolidate its position in Rajya Sabha and thereafter go ahead with its fascist policies on education, development and even Hindutva.
Among such disconcerting events, there are, at times, edifying examples of tolerance which stand out and need to be emulated. Fr Eremito Rebello’s timely intervention in the recent incident at Rachol, where two students of the prestigious BITS Pillani Institute were involved, and his decision not to pursue the matter to avoid damage to the boys’ careers were indeed commendable and in true Christian spirit.
With a large Indian diaspora, the BJP needs to tread cautiously and avoid fanaticism just to attract votes. Incorrect decisions may attract retaliatory measures either in India itself or abroad. And this may prove costly for the country…
(The author is a retired banker)
