The social media is full of messages - for and against on each issue - that crave for your attention. By blindly following them one can get into a trap because the veracity is always in doubt or putting it in another way, one must always ask questions and arrive at the conclusion that the message is genuine and not a fake one. Let me put it across through an example.
In my class What'sApp group, a message was circulated by a friend who stays abroad. The message is reproduced verbatim and many of you must have received it by now and here I go.
"I'm a Muslim and I'm Not a Victim"
(A balanced article on current issues by Ahmed Shariff posted on 30 Apr)
"It would be very difficult for people like us to get acclaimed in mainstream media because more than the religious right, the regressive left hates us.We puncture their inflated balloon of self-victimisation and identity politics. They would hate for us to be on the mainstream scene, the left wants Muslim names to be crying about fascism rather than be pragmatic, confident, productive individuals".
India, right now, is like a mother with two kids. Of course, the weaker kid deserves a little more care and nurturing and hence a little more attention is showered on the weaker kid. As for the stronger, bigger kid, the mother would perhaps say, "Well, he can manage".
Understandable, but one should not harbour this mentality to such an extent that the bigger kid gets completely neglected. Owing to that neglect, he would grow up resentful, frustrated and angry. He would start harbouring feelings of toxic jealousy and hate towards the smaller kid. This monster of hate might actually grow to the extent that the bigger kid would end up physically harming and maybe even killing the smaller kid. Is this inconceivable?
You understand how this "too much of a good thing" approach is actually endangering the smaller kid? That's exactly what is happening in India between the majority and the minority. Politicians need to stop appeasement and identity politics because it's not going to end well for anyone. How about equal treatment? The British are gone but "divide-and-rule" is very much alive and active.
The actions of the liberal media lately are disturbing. One has to realise - it is possible for the majority to be oppressed. There is an anti-Hindu bias in the media - and this is not good if you want to maintain peace and 'secularism'. Why are nationalism and Hinduism being dragged into everything? Stories of crime are ALWAYS given a communal angle, can we please not do that?
People ask me, "Why are you sucking up to these 'Sanghis'?
My reply, "And what is your brilliant plan to keep the minorities safe? Doing everything possible to piss off the majority and radicalising even peaceful Hindus? You think that's going to keep me safe? Why don't you save some time and just shoot me right now?"
I am not sucking up to anyone. I don't have the "Stockholm syndrome". I'm just trying to be respectful towards all religions and maintain the fragile peace that we have. Isn't that what secularism is about?
Some of you might say that I'm speaking from a position of privilege. No, I'm not denying the fact that there is a lot of wrong happening in this country, I'm not some chest-thumping, hyper-patriot yelling "India is the best!" I'm just trying to point out that some anti-social elements exploit the news of terrible crimes and tragedies to manipulate the emotions of a gullible public to push their own agenda. Don't fall into their trap, don't play into their hands, they want to keep us divided, they want to keep us fighting. A good example is the recent Kathua case.
"I'm ashamed to be Indian! I'm ashamed to be Hindu!" - read the placards Why? I fail to understand...I mean, you can feel outraged, you can feel frustrated but why feel ashamed to be an Indian? Does Indian culture condone rape? Does Indian Constitution condone rape? Does the Bhagavad Gita instruct you to go rape?
"Hindu rapes Muslim girl".
No...what happened is, "A sick pervert brutally violated a defenceless little girl!"
There has been a very obvious and deliberate attempt by the media here to give this a communal twist and it's scary just how much of a stranglehold the media has over the minds of the people. The power of fear.
The semen-filled balloon story, now busted, was another example of fake news meant to cause a communal divide.
I like India, I like living here. Because you see, my family and I have actually lived in a Muslim country and we know what it's like. This was in the '80s and the early '90s, when India was still socialist, not as developed and hence, Indians had to move to foreign countries to earn well.
We've lived in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade. My mom, like any other woman in the country always had to be in a black burqa. My dad was arrested thrice on trumped up charges and the police released him after a hefty bribe. There were always stern-faced mutawwas - Saudi religious police - patrolling the streets. It was like a prison. We were treated like second class citizens. All the time my family said, "We can't wait to get back to India!" We made our money and got out as soon as we could.
We experienced true equality and dignity and freedom only after we came back to our own country. Staying in Saudi Arabia made us realise the value of the little freedoms others have so taken for granted here. Muslim women, here, need not wear the burqa, nobody cares. There is no fear of mutawwas. India gives us the freedom to practise our religion but more importantly....India also gives us the freedom to NOT practise our religion if we so choose. India is far from the perfect but it is a million times better than most other countries out there. And those who scream day and night on Twitter about how "India is an evil, fascist, Brahmanical, oppressive dictatorship", to them I'd like to say - "If this really was a fascist country, you would be rotting in a Gulag by now".
I love living in India. Despite what you read in the media, I do not feel oppressed and do not live in perennial fear. If there is anything I fear, it is the liberal media who seem hell-bent on dividing us and starting a civil war. Otherwise, I live proud and free, knowing that the Indian Constitution grants me the same rights as it does to a person of any other religion. If we really felt India was an evil fascist oppressive state , trust me, we would not have returned. Our life is here, this is our country - we will obey the law of the land and play by the rules, even though it may not be 100% compatible with our religious beliefs. But that's a sacrifice one has to make.
I think of living in a society as standing at a traffic signal. Yes, you're being made to wait, time is being stolen from your life, you're being violated but what you've to understand is - the people on the other side is also making that sacrifice, they're also waiting and that's the only way things can move. If no one is willing to compromise, it will be utter chaos! To live in society, you have to give a part of your self, no one can be 100% happy, that's just the price you've to pay. The other option is - go live in a cave all by yourself.
Epilogue.
I'd thanked my friend for the enlightening article which brushed aside the different story being spread otherwise in the media and the social media. His retort, however, bowled me over, "Rajeev, how sure are you that it has been written by Ahmed Shariff? It could have also been written by someone with rightist leanings?
I was, too, stunned by the distrust!
Tailpiece.
Adieu Appachi Ammava!
Lekha's ammavan, P Kesava Pillai, passed into the mist of time around 1500 hrs this afternoon. All of 90 years, the fluctuations in his Sodium level took the fight for life out of his hand. His plans to come over to Guruvayur, to be with us, has been left as an unfulfilled dream! My tears and prayers for a nice gentleman who was fond of me and Lekha. May appachi and the children have the strength to tide over these stressful times
In my class What'sApp group, a message was circulated by a friend who stays abroad. The message is reproduced verbatim and many of you must have received it by now and here I go.
"I'm a Muslim and I'm Not a Victim"
(A balanced article on current issues by Ahmed Shariff posted on 30 Apr)
"It would be very difficult for people like us to get acclaimed in mainstream media because more than the religious right, the regressive left hates us.We puncture their inflated balloon of self-victimisation and identity politics. They would hate for us to be on the mainstream scene, the left wants Muslim names to be crying about fascism rather than be pragmatic, confident, productive individuals".
India, right now, is like a mother with two kids. Of course, the weaker kid deserves a little more care and nurturing and hence a little more attention is showered on the weaker kid. As for the stronger, bigger kid, the mother would perhaps say, "Well, he can manage".
Understandable, but one should not harbour this mentality to such an extent that the bigger kid gets completely neglected. Owing to that neglect, he would grow up resentful, frustrated and angry. He would start harbouring feelings of toxic jealousy and hate towards the smaller kid. This monster of hate might actually grow to the extent that the bigger kid would end up physically harming and maybe even killing the smaller kid. Is this inconceivable?
You understand how this "too much of a good thing" approach is actually endangering the smaller kid? That's exactly what is happening in India between the majority and the minority. Politicians need to stop appeasement and identity politics because it's not going to end well for anyone. How about equal treatment? The British are gone but "divide-and-rule" is very much alive and active.
The actions of the liberal media lately are disturbing. One has to realise - it is possible for the majority to be oppressed. There is an anti-Hindu bias in the media - and this is not good if you want to maintain peace and 'secularism'. Why are nationalism and Hinduism being dragged into everything? Stories of crime are ALWAYS given a communal angle, can we please not do that?
People ask me, "Why are you sucking up to these 'Sanghis'?
My reply, "And what is your brilliant plan to keep the minorities safe? Doing everything possible to piss off the majority and radicalising even peaceful Hindus? You think that's going to keep me safe? Why don't you save some time and just shoot me right now?"
I am not sucking up to anyone. I don't have the "Stockholm syndrome". I'm just trying to be respectful towards all religions and maintain the fragile peace that we have. Isn't that what secularism is about?
Some of you might say that I'm speaking from a position of privilege. No, I'm not denying the fact that there is a lot of wrong happening in this country, I'm not some chest-thumping, hyper-patriot yelling "India is the best!" I'm just trying to point out that some anti-social elements exploit the news of terrible crimes and tragedies to manipulate the emotions of a gullible public to push their own agenda. Don't fall into their trap, don't play into their hands, they want to keep us divided, they want to keep us fighting. A good example is the recent Kathua case.
"I'm ashamed to be Indian! I'm ashamed to be Hindu!" - read the placards Why? I fail to understand...I mean, you can feel outraged, you can feel frustrated but why feel ashamed to be an Indian? Does Indian culture condone rape? Does Indian Constitution condone rape? Does the Bhagavad Gita instruct you to go rape?
"Hindu rapes Muslim girl".
No...what happened is, "A sick pervert brutally violated a defenceless little girl!"
There has been a very obvious and deliberate attempt by the media here to give this a communal twist and it's scary just how much of a stranglehold the media has over the minds of the people. The power of fear.
The semen-filled balloon story, now busted, was another example of fake news meant to cause a communal divide.
I like India, I like living here. Because you see, my family and I have actually lived in a Muslim country and we know what it's like. This was in the '80s and the early '90s, when India was still socialist, not as developed and hence, Indians had to move to foreign countries to earn well.
We've lived in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade. My mom, like any other woman in the country always had to be in a black burqa. My dad was arrested thrice on trumped up charges and the police released him after a hefty bribe. There were always stern-faced mutawwas - Saudi religious police - patrolling the streets. It was like a prison. We were treated like second class citizens. All the time my family said, "We can't wait to get back to India!" We made our money and got out as soon as we could.
We experienced true equality and dignity and freedom only after we came back to our own country. Staying in Saudi Arabia made us realise the value of the little freedoms others have so taken for granted here. Muslim women, here, need not wear the burqa, nobody cares. There is no fear of mutawwas. India gives us the freedom to practise our religion but more importantly....India also gives us the freedom to NOT practise our religion if we so choose. India is far from the perfect but it is a million times better than most other countries out there. And those who scream day and night on Twitter about how "India is an evil, fascist, Brahmanical, oppressive dictatorship", to them I'd like to say - "If this really was a fascist country, you would be rotting in a Gulag by now".
I love living in India. Despite what you read in the media, I do not feel oppressed and do not live in perennial fear. If there is anything I fear, it is the liberal media who seem hell-bent on dividing us and starting a civil war. Otherwise, I live proud and free, knowing that the Indian Constitution grants me the same rights as it does to a person of any other religion. If we really felt India was an evil fascist oppressive state , trust me, we would not have returned. Our life is here, this is our country - we will obey the law of the land and play by the rules, even though it may not be 100% compatible with our religious beliefs. But that's a sacrifice one has to make.
I think of living in a society as standing at a traffic signal. Yes, you're being made to wait, time is being stolen from your life, you're being violated but what you've to understand is - the people on the other side is also making that sacrifice, they're also waiting and that's the only way things can move. If no one is willing to compromise, it will be utter chaos! To live in society, you have to give a part of your self, no one can be 100% happy, that's just the price you've to pay. The other option is - go live in a cave all by yourself.
Epilogue.
I'd thanked my friend for the enlightening article which brushed aside the different story being spread otherwise in the media and the social media. His retort, however, bowled me over, "Rajeev, how sure are you that it has been written by Ahmed Shariff? It could have also been written by someone with rightist leanings?
I was, too, stunned by the distrust!
Tailpiece.
Adieu Appachi Ammava!
Lekha's ammavan, P Kesava Pillai, passed into the mist of time around 1500 hrs this afternoon. All of 90 years, the fluctuations in his Sodium level took the fight for life out of his hand. His plans to come over to Guruvayur, to be with us, has been left as an unfulfilled dream! My tears and prayers for a nice gentleman who was fond of me and Lekha. May appachi and the children have the strength to tide over these stressful times
No comments:
Post a Comment