I will be lying if I say that I am not a worried person today. However, I look at civilization and the actions of leaders and people, as a larger element that has to be viewed at a Macro Level or using the modern jargon, Holistically. Though, I admit, it is difficult to discuss Macro views when you feel you are getting hurt at the Micro Level.
India is currently passing through a phase where there is going to be psychological and physical damage to many in the population. It will be up to the powers that be to decide how much of both they can afford to inflict on those who will suffer. I say this because history teaches us that no ruling dispensation, whether they be in the form of Monarchies, Dictatorships, Communist Governments or Democracies, have the ability to clearly see the extent of collateral damage that will occur, on any course of action they permit to happen on their people.
Over the last few days, based on the electoral success that has come about on the back of a largely polarized campaign, the victors have thought it right to push their aggressive agenda on the country as a whole. Currently, it is a film that is making waves. We see visuals and read social media posts where damaging remarks are being made on a section of the population.
Cinema and visual art along with social media, in it’s various forms, are powerful tools of communication. A good director of a movie film or an influencer on Social Media can tilt the view of the audience pretty easily. Going back to my younger days, Francis Ford Coppola, who created The God Father movies based on the books of Mario Puzo, made many of us love Sunny Corleone as much as we admired Don and later Michael Corleone.
Think about it – these were a bunch of thugs who operated outside the law. They were / are the dregs of society and people who think nothing of killing, maiming or destroying families, to earn money in truck loads. Did we not get upset when Sonny was being pumped with bullets? Don Corleone’s reaction on hearing of the death of Sonny, made tears well up in our eyes. Did we feel sorry for Sonny’s wife while he went around making out with other women? The scene where Michael as God Father is taking vows on behalf of a child while his mob are massacring people wowed us, didn’t it? Power of the Director, who slants us to his view.
I watched ‘ Peaky Blinders’ on OTT. Didn’t our hearts not go out to Polly, the Aunt? Didn’t we admire Tommy for his clear mind and ruthless attitude. In the midst of our mundane life we often lived the lives we see on the screen. Good Directors can mold your thoughts.
Now, in India, we watch speeches, shrill Television ‘news’, read Social Media posts and movies that are tailored to hit a spot in us and triggers emotions which can then lead to anger, fear , loathing or joy and a macho delight , depending on who you are. Mob reactions, shrill shouts of revenge and latent threats shake people in some way or the other. We see that words and speeches that were earlier not permitted or frowned upon have become calls to action. What is frightening is when you complain about this to people you considered sober, among the majority community and you get answers such as – They had it coming, Karma is a bitch, What goes around comes around, tough luck etc. Rarely do you hear words assuring you that they too believe that this is not right.
While these attitudes are understandable in the current context, it does make you feel defensive and worried. Would this person you thought you knew, just say ‘Tough Luck’, if you are attacked? They would, right? Will they save you from a mob? Neither you or I know.
Sadly, history, as we have been taught, is being questioned now. I know that there is a saying that History is written by the Winners. Today, the noisier lot are not willing to pause and ask if there was another view to what they are being fed . We have started to think that the leaders who got us our freedom, our constitution and many things we admire so much were wimps and made mistakes. We think of the days preceding and during Independence and early freedom like they are today. No one wants to study both sides of the story. Today it appears is as if you hear only what you want to hear. This is true at all levels of communication.
Friendships are being torn apart. Debate has been silenced, humour is dying, a false sense of nationalism is rising. The Fourth Estate has abdicated it’s role in society. Does all this ring a bell for those of us who have read world history? is there a precedent to such happenings? Or are only a few thinking so?
While there is doom and gloom around us in many areas such as these terrible feelings of communal passion, one must not despair. There are many who disagree, in fact, the majority do not agree with what is happening. The only reason we worry today is that we are not seeing the friendly faces among those of anger, hatred and bigotry. Don’t worry too much, the mist that appears thick and all enveloping, will have to pass. The light will break through. We must believe that it will. Else, we will lose hope and not recognise that the light will shine eventually.
Even the greatest tyrant of our immediate past shrouded the world with evil for less than a decade. Yes, in that decade he and his gang destroyed so many lives and families. However, that is a way of nature. Every act of nature happens for a reason. I believe that what we are seeing in India is a churning. We have to put our heads up and walk with dignity. If a stone is thrown at you, try and avoid it and walk on. If it hits you, think that it was thrown by someone who didn’t know better. Don’t throw a stone back.
This is the time to remember the words of the Father of our Nation – An eye for an eye makes the world go blind. Debate, talk, move away but do not take it upon yourself to do anything that your own conscience will not permit.
The famous saying ‘This too shall Pass’ is actually often used incorrectly. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/does-the-bible-say-this-too-shall-pass.html Please know that while I have taken the link from a Bible Study page, it has no Biblical connotation. It is based on a story that is apocryphal. However, it has never been more applicable than it is today.
As we all know, it is always the darkest before the first dawn. India and it’s people are resilient and eventually, yes, it may take a while, but eventually people will purge themselves of the negativity and maturity will make a comeback. This ancient civilization where so many beliefs, ways of life, languages, eating habits, festivals, art forms and sport have mixed well for centuries cannot vanish in a short time of darkness.
Stay safe. Hold your peace. Soon we will see the light, much sooner than we imagine, I pray.
Enjoy Holi and see how beautiful various colours can be instead of just one.
Thanks for this amazing piece as usual Koshy. You have a strong penchant for authorship and writing that you could develop into a second calling. Best wishes!
The author has brought to light the fears that many people have about the growing intolerance towards a section of society based on religion. This is indeed a dangerous trend and, if unchecked, will prove disastrous for our country and break the very soul of India.