We are infected with the virus of extremism. It is beyond comprehension to call one engaged in such hate and violence ‘human’. One must stand shoulder to shoulder with the people fighting the menace of hatred and violence. When flames of hatred are fanned, people are demonised on the basis of their faith, and people’s fears are played on rather than addressed, the consequences are disastrous.
Considering the current poisoned socio-political climate prevailing in the country, it would not be wrong to say that we are practising the politics of division and polarisation. We are getting drilled slowly but steadily into wanting victory and triumph at all costs. Success is seen only in the other’s defeat, accomplishment in the other’s failure. Peace is pious, victory exciting. Reconciliation is found in dead texts, revenge in living media. Three Vs drive us now; vengeance, vanquishing, victory. Humanism inspired many to help the victims of violence. But the ‘rasa’ of our times in India is ‘vira rasa’ (sentiment of heroism) which must be achieved by force and violence if required.
Where does the soul of India lie? In philosophy, the soul may have an abstract dimension. In politics, the manifestations of a nation’s soul lie in its foundational ideas. Inclusion, pluralism, secularism, freedom and equality are some of the building blocks of the Indian Republic. Unfortunately, these values, synonymous with a civilized, democratic polity, have come under severe strain with the ascendancy of the vision adhered to by some political parties. It must be acknowledged that since 2014, the attack on rational and humane values has certainly been swift and sure. Fringe elements of right-wing organisations continue to get a free rein to practise “business as usual” despite being linked with murders and killings of scholars, rationalists and outspoken journalists. Those true nationalists and patriots must be murdered, while ‘’urban- Naxals” – activists, teachers, writers, fighting for the rights of the oppressed – can be imprisoned by government agencies.
The attack on reason is fundamental to such rogue elements in society. Reason, rationality and a scientific spirit would bust the myths of ‘gau-raksha’ and ‘love jihad’. The fake and false ideas about religion and history are designed to attack and kill people from the depressed classes and minority groups. Mob violence gives free play to unreasoning hatred and silences people by a continuous assault on their rights. But the repetition of catch-words and labels was not enough to contain the misery of large segments of people, especially farmers, and the underprivileged, minorities and the jobless.
Maintaining and perpetuating social divisions for domination and mobilising hatred is part of a well thought out agenda. This strategy is expected to distract attention from the way institutions are changing, and the routes through which the wealth of the nation is vanishing. It is appalling to see so many ordinary people murdered publicly for no fault, except that they belonged to a particular religion. How many of their killers are in jail? With bloodshed and fear coexisting with glittering spectacle and vengeful, triumphal rhetoric, the government seems to resemble the proverbial Roman Emperor Nero who played the fiddle while Rome burnt.
A carefully crafted campaign on social media was executed to send out a message that nationalism and patriotism can’t rest on narrow partisan politics and the leadership’s strength should be judged on facts instead of hollow rhetoric. Patriotism is nothing if not an unconditional devotion towards our fellow beings. Isn’t prioritising the needs of the people the purpose of democracy? Isn’t ensuring their safety, security and prosperity the essence of true nationalism? Isn’t serving fellow citizens with true devotion and dedication an essential quality of real patriots? Now the question arises as to how many of the above-quoted features are found in our politicians especially those associated with the ruling party. Can our current political leadership that occupy the seat of power project any of the aforementioned qualities by their words, particularly by their deeds? No reasonable person, even after hard thinking, can be certain in this respect.
It is but an irony that when the farmers broke through the Singhu border, the ruling class reacted in the typical style, claiming that Khalistanis and Naxalites had invaded and infiltrated the farmers’ movement. The farmers by definition became ‘anti-nationals’ to a regime, which idolises the cow but treats agriculture and farming with contempt.
The ruling class appears to borrow a leaf from the renowned Chanakya, who helped establish the rule of Chandra Gupta Maurya and taught political strategy to the rulers. Chanakya advised the rulers to act upon four principles to consolidate their rule. They are – Saam, Daam, Dand and Bhed. Undertaking the first principle, rulers are required to make full use of cheating /deception and false promises. Daam signifies purchasing of influential persons through bribery and/or other tactical methods. Dand is an imposition of unjust penalty/fine, torture and intimidation to change one’s mind and thinking. The fourth advice circles round gathering information about someone’s weakness and trouble the opponent through various means. A good example of Bhed is deploying the ED, CBI and IT sleuths against those who raise their voice against the unjust deeds of the rulers.
Nationalism has now taken the form of the persecution of religious minorities. Innocent people are lynched in the name of ‘gau-mata’ and Ram? National symbols are used to divide society and to terrorise opponents and critics? Can such wanton violations of the constitutional scheme be called nationalism? Unfortunately, the right-wing’s formulations on nationalism and patriotism have not been scrutinised seriously by the mainstream media.