The Konkani word bhingta was introduced to me a few years ago. It is not the crude word spoken from the mouth of this educated Goan as much as the emotion that went with it that was shocking. I could sense the disparagement, anger against the outsider, and the disappointment, sense of loss and helplessness felt because the Goan could do nothing about the outsider’s influence in the State’s socio-economy.
However, derogatory name calling is not just restricted to Goa. Indians from the North East are called Chini and those from the South are homogeneously labelled Madrasi. India’s vast geography is populated with many languages, cultures and at least two races. It is not the inevitability of a clash of cultures that brings forth this racism against those new to a region. In some instances, it is the unwillingness and general apathy to appreciate and understand others that results in the use of such terms. There is also the ingrained bigotry camouflaged behind the façade of pride which is frequently displayed during religious conflagrations between Indians of different religions or lingual groups. In the everyday, there are stories that some religions are not welcome in housing societies. While politicians suggest their supporters boycott shops owned by those of other religions.
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But the truth is that India has had, and continues to have, a mixed record with this whole Insider-Outsider business. What is interesting is that people of this land have a history of making their own outsiders, the caste system is an ancient example. At the same time there are incidents galore of outsiders being welcomed in.
Even though much is made of the philosophy Atithi Devo Bhava the truth is that Indians are not always comfortable in welcoming those from other parts of the country or those of other religions.
In the last few years this circumspectness has segued. It has developed into an adeptness at converting fellow citizens, whose political and philosophical views differ, into unwelcome suspicious strangers.
Terms like ‘libtard’, ‘sickular’, ‘tukde-tukde gang’, ‘anti-national’ have become part of everyday discourse. These phrases immediately divide people into insiders and outsiders. Insiders are those who believe they have the best interests of the nation; they know they have the support of the government, its agencies, and proxies. Citizens are labelled as Outsiders when their way of being is construed as being against what has become normalised. Thus, religious practice, food habits, clothes, holding contrarian views all become causes for fellow citizens to be cast Outside. Outsiders are perceived as threats.
This proclivity to label fellow citizens as ‘Outsiders’ has now been taken up with great alacrity by the very government sworn to protect them.
There are three occasions when people feel the need to create the bogey of an outsider. The first is when they wish to dominate and subjugate a group of people. The second reason is when one group feels threatened by another’s presence and existence. And finally, the desire to punish one section of people necessitates they be branded as being the ‘Other’. Currently all three reasons function in India.
Creating an outsider provides the rationale for treating one section of people differently. It is a form of dehumanisation which permits, legitimises, normalises and glorifies atrocities. Also, it justifies the use of laws and govt organs, that are for the protection of people, against citizens. At this juncture, the casual manner in which citizens are being charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sedition laws comes as no surprise. Is it a surprise then that India’s world rankings in protecting and promoting democratic freedoms have fallen?
This divide in the country is palpable on social media where people glorify such incarceration baying that Others be similarly hog-tied while a minority voice their dismay and question the state of the nation.
Unfortunately, things have gotten so bad that this chasm has come to exist within professions and pillars of democracy. Take the media for example – especially the electronic media. Today most of the media choose to be megaphones of the government. This is sound survival strategy. Not only because the current dispensation is not the greatest proponents of a free press, but also because a majority of the population are supporters of the government and are interested in hearing affirmations of their choices. There isn’t much one can say about the police and investigative agencies. Their actions are instrumental in cementing the Insider – Outsider divide by becoming an Insider project.
What is surprising is how the judiciary has acted. The lighting speed at which the Supreme Court came to the rescue of Arnab Goswami raised eyebrows when there were 931 pending bail petitions before the Honourable Court. When an erstwhile sitting SC judge did not hide his political leanings on Facebook and spoke of PM Narendra Modi in glowing terms during a public function, using adjectives like “a versatile genius” and “an internationally acclaimed visionary” to describe him, it is natural for many to question the impartiality and independence of the judiciary. Further, the BJP govt nominating a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to the Rajya Sabha does nothing to re-assure citizens about the separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary. Unfortunately, in such a manufactured vitiated environment such conduct can only strengthen the attempts to create more Outsiders as a suppression tactic.
Creating an enemy within maybe the easiest way to come to power and retain it. Though this Insider-Outsider game is bedazzlingly effective, it hides the fact that even those in power can one day become its victims. Unfortunately, in all this, citizens will rotate between being participants, spectators and victims. They can choose to step out of this vicious cycle by promoting respect for all citizens which is enshrined in the Constitution.
(Samir Nazareth writes on socio-economic and environmental issues)
