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| Illustration by Copilot |
Hatred is what dominates the social media in India. It
has been going on for many years now. A lot of violence is perpetrated by the
ruling party’s own men. One of the most recent instances of venom spewed out by none other
than Mithun Chakraborty would shake any sensible person. But the right wing
of India is celebrating it. Seventy-four-year-old Chakraborty threatened to
chop the people of a particular minority community into pieces. The Home
Minister Amit Shah was sitting on the stage with a smile when the threat was
issued openly.
A few days back, a video clip showing
a right-winger denying food to a Muslim woman because she refused to chant ‘Jai
Sri Ram’ dominated the social media. What kind of charity is it that is founded
on hatred?
If you go through the social media
for a while, you will be astounded by the surfeit of hatred there. Why do a people
who form the vast majority of a country hate a small minority so much? Hatred
usually comes from some form of insecurity. Why would 80% of the population
feel threatened by the other 20%? That too, when the entire political power,
government organisations and agencies, judiciary, education system… all are in
the majority community’s control! Most perplexingly, why would a government
itself support violence against a particular community?
There are a lot of images on the
social media now which show similarities between Modi and Hitler. The implied
connection is that like Hitler Modi is driven by hatred of a particular religious
community. There are ample utterances made by Modi in the past to justify that
implication. But the question still remains: why such hatred, especially since
Modi and his party are driven by religion primarily?
What use is any religion if it engenders
so much hatred and violence? Isn’t religion supposed to make us gentle, kind,
humane? At least basically ethical?
I have been observing a lot of
right-wing people in India in the past few years. Some of these people call
themselves Yogis, Godmen, Gurus, and so on. But their actions [Karma] are far
more venal than those of some hardcore criminals. Their hearts are devilishly
wicked. Why has it come to this? This is what I am trying to understand. Why
are villains being glorified and angels being vilified?
By ‘angels’ I mean certain good
people who died or are dying in custody – like Prof G N Saibaba and Fr Stan
Swamy.
I have no answers to that question and will be obliged to anyone who can help me with answers. Why does a whole nation support a bunch of villainous people who pretend to be saintly heroes? In the meanwhile, as I wait for answers, I shall be reading Saibaba’s poems: Why Do You Fear My Way So Much? Poems and Letters from Prison.
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteAll good questions and concerns. I am no more able to provide an answer than you...YAM xx
Answers are difficult. Or maybe they're too obvious.
DeleteThat seems to be the way of late. Did the rise of social media bring out the right wing? Or is this just part of the normal cycle of civilization? By that, I mean that it seems like this fear-mongering and scapegoating of groups seems to bubble up every so often (like 100 years ago), and a new generation has to throw it off. Or attempt to. We've got similar issues, and it's like these people who follow that viewpoint just revel in being terrible.
ReplyDeleteSocial media brings the hatred as well as protests against it to the public. But you're right, this sort of hatred and violence always existed. Some reformation happens once in a while.
DeleteTo the power crazy politicians religion is nothing but a means to achieve/retain power at the cost of humanity. Right wingers are on the rise all over the world as it is much easier to bait people on the issue of religion than any practical reason.
ReplyDeleteRight-wingism has become a fad now. Ironically, however, there's more migration and miscegenation. There's hope, it means.
DeleteVery timely post. Tolerance is out of religious scriptures now and politics is gory.
ReplyDeleteReligion is a weapon now!
Delete