My 3rd post for this new year and it is not a happy one. Sitting here outside India, the news coming out from my motherland is not good. India is and has always been a land of diversity, and we as a nation, as its people have always found ways to rise beyond our diversity and stand together - united as one nation. The fulcrum of our strength has always been carrying everybody together, but lately that fulcrum is hovering on a razor sharp tip. The balance is shifting and not necessarily for good.
Some of the recent events have deeply disturbed me. My land is falling into chaos and there seems to be no direction, no strength. The JNU episode has left its mark on my thinking. Sitting thousands of miles away I can perhaps objectively think that there are two sides to every story and only one side is being heard right now and loudly at that. The violence that is being left in its wake is more disturbing and saddening.
The law of the land must take its own course, sedition is a punishable offence and must be punished to the harshest, maximum extent, but herd mentality and trial by media should not take place and the innocent until guilty statement applies until the verdict is delivered by the courts. The police, the administration should augment this rather than pandering to political mischief makers and instant popularity seekers.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall said, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
This is something that India needs to be take to heart right now. We need to be more analytical and logical than emotional. Emotions are good, but without logic and intellect backing it up it just becomes a jingoistic thought. Our survival and growth as a nation depends upon it.
We are a country which has enjoyed peace and stability for a long time in region marked by chaos, power struggles and sectarian conflicts. The sub-continent has by and large been peaceful because India has been free of chaotic struggles internally. Yes we have had our problems with militancy in Punjab, Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Naxalite movement in Maharashtra and Andhra, but by and large these have been limited to the states and cooler heads have prevailed in making sure that the disturbance is controlled.
But for the past one year and half the very fabric of our nation has been under attack. The timing is suspicious, these events have been rearing their head since the Modi government have come to power at the center. The standard of politics in India has gone down from bad to worse. Earlier the parties at least used to have a semblance of respect for each other and they used to help strengthen the nation in the times of crisis. But these days the parties are going all out in their attempt to ensure that the people are divided.
The recent caste based agitation in Haryana, the JNU incident, the people of Kashmir attacking soldiers fighting militants, these are all dangerous precedents. We as the people need to rise above these things, cooler heads need to be prevail. Now is the time for all those gung-ho patriots and the freedom of expression lovers to take a step back and reflect on the things around us.
Social media is a powerful tool, lets use it cautiously, spreading/sharing posts dissing one person, an incident or idea without having the complete picture is dangerous. The tipping point of the fulcrum is near, it is better to take a step back than tip over.
Lets remember we are only as strong as our Nation and our Nation is only as strong as us. Fighting each other is not going to help us strengthen our country. We are the cradle of modern civilization, the living proof that it is possible for us to co-exist even if we are from different religion, socioeconomic background or caste. Let us make sure that this example endures.
Jai Hind & God Bless Bharat Mata!!!
Some of the recent events have deeply disturbed me. My land is falling into chaos and there seems to be no direction, no strength. The JNU episode has left its mark on my thinking. Sitting thousands of miles away I can perhaps objectively think that there are two sides to every story and only one side is being heard right now and loudly at that. The violence that is being left in its wake is more disturbing and saddening.
The law of the land must take its own course, sedition is a punishable offence and must be punished to the harshest, maximum extent, but herd mentality and trial by media should not take place and the innocent until guilty statement applies until the verdict is delivered by the courts. The police, the administration should augment this rather than pandering to political mischief makers and instant popularity seekers.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall said, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
This is something that India needs to be take to heart right now. We need to be more analytical and logical than emotional. Emotions are good, but without logic and intellect backing it up it just becomes a jingoistic thought. Our survival and growth as a nation depends upon it.
We are a country which has enjoyed peace and stability for a long time in region marked by chaos, power struggles and sectarian conflicts. The sub-continent has by and large been peaceful because India has been free of chaotic struggles internally. Yes we have had our problems with militancy in Punjab, Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Naxalite movement in Maharashtra and Andhra, but by and large these have been limited to the states and cooler heads have prevailed in making sure that the disturbance is controlled.
But for the past one year and half the very fabric of our nation has been under attack. The timing is suspicious, these events have been rearing their head since the Modi government have come to power at the center. The standard of politics in India has gone down from bad to worse. Earlier the parties at least used to have a semblance of respect for each other and they used to help strengthen the nation in the times of crisis. But these days the parties are going all out in their attempt to ensure that the people are divided.
The recent caste based agitation in Haryana, the JNU incident, the people of Kashmir attacking soldiers fighting militants, these are all dangerous precedents. We as the people need to rise above these things, cooler heads need to be prevail. Now is the time for all those gung-ho patriots and the freedom of expression lovers to take a step back and reflect on the things around us.
Social media is a powerful tool, lets use it cautiously, spreading/sharing posts dissing one person, an incident or idea without having the complete picture is dangerous. The tipping point of the fulcrum is near, it is better to take a step back than tip over.
Lets remember we are only as strong as our Nation and our Nation is only as strong as us. Fighting each other is not going to help us strengthen our country. We are the cradle of modern civilization, the living proof that it is possible for us to co-exist even if we are from different religion, socioeconomic background or caste. Let us make sure that this example endures.
Jai Hind & God Bless Bharat Mata!!!
True, the Thoughts of every Indian living away from Motherland..
ReplyDeleteGreat write up with very well balanced thought! It is high time we keep aside our jingoist thought process away and look objectively at the issue on hand and act accordingly with responsibility.
ReplyDelete