Just one day before the 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invented and gifted to nation “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”. His logic is that millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. Therefore, he argues, that the observance of this day will keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony, and further strengthen the spirit of oneness… harmony and human empowerment.
Observers see this as yet another clever move to play with the sentiments of majority voters and a ploy to polarise the voters to vote for his party in UP elections. The multifarious failures of the BJP have disillusioned its vote bank and sent the alarm bells ringing that the party may lose the UP Assembly elections. It would mean blocking the success in the next general elections. This fear is strengthening day by day. It is to be seen whether this move saves the throne or not.
No denying the horrible fact that at the time of Independence and Partition of the country at least one million innocent men, women and even children had lost their lives and violence and worst crimes against humanity were committed. It was the culmination of decades of hate and belligerent debates on narrow communal lines. It needs to be remembered to avoid its recurrence and communal polarisation which leads to such horrible conflicts. But, unfortunately, it is being used for not so holy objectives. There is a great danger. Due to this India’s atmosphere will get further polarised and communalised. It can be seen that the ruling party clearly suffers from a lack of broad outlook about the multi-dimensional and varied nature of this great country with hundreds of ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious groups. They are not broadminded enough and have been at a loss to sustain, accommodate and evolve into a vibrant and integrated nation which can set an example for other countries.
The main plank of these Hindutva forces, which have clear leanings towards fascism, is using the Muslims first and Christians and Dalits, etc. next as scapegoats who are posed as responsible for all ills and failures. Especially the Muslims are the “others”, the strangers, the aggressors, the progeny of invaders, the enemy within, the jihadis, the love-jihadis, the land-jihadis, the jobs-jihadis, the puncture repairers, those who have eyes on “our” chaste daughters and even wives. This negative image-making has reached its limits. People are fed up with such talks.
The basic good human sentiments can be seen in a number of recent events. Not hundreds but actually lakhs of Hindus sympathised with the cab driver who was mercilessly slapped by a masculine woman in Lucknow. They overwhelmingly disapproved the opposition to building of a Haj House in Dwarka in the national capital. They severely condemned the “Goli Maro….”, “Jab Mulle … Ram Ram Chillayenge”, or forcing to say Jai Shri Ram atrocities or using false accusations of terrorism, cow killing, or love jihad against fellow Muslim Indians.
The fascist forces would soon realise that their ploy to stir sentiments by reminding past horrors are no longer valid. It is time we recognise that all that India needs and values is solution of pressing problems, fellow feelings, amity and peaceful atmosphere in which every Indian can breathe freely and enjoy freedom.