Another day, on an august Whatsapp forum comprising of stalwarts
in India Inc., Valley, and Wall Street, and others
all tied by an Almamater. The discussion was CAA /NRC, Delhi Riots, Trump and
of course eventually as every road leads to Rome (coincidentally an Italian
city) all the conversations lead to Modi. The similar discussion happened in
a US group and you can guess who was the target equivalent of Modi.
Being an elite educated and liberal group no stone was spared to
render a valuable opinion about how Modi is detrimental to the country internally
and throughout the world. Forget about all hoopla and bugbear created by secular
mafia about CAA NRC. Forget unjustified opposition to CAA which has nothing to
do against Indian Muslim Citizen or NPR/NRC which is just a registry of
citizens. Forget about media which is creating an atmosphere that the whole of India is opposing CAA. Forget International media which is
misreporting issues concerning India and India liberal media false reporting
Delhi riots (causes and effects). Forget the conspiracy as obvious as its
timing to exactly portray Indian in a bad light. End of the India’s images
tarnished, Valuable lives lost across the divide and property damaged. Very sad
indeed but discussion finally ended up as competition to who sounded as most
profound philosopher by criticizing everything right of the center while
hypocritically silent on what I term as ‘elephant in the room’ that is: The international pattern of inhuman and uncivil practices in the name of religion resulting in terror on another
side of the political divide. It’s very high time for all sensible and humane/civil
heads across the divide to sit and correct the wrong philosophies and belief
while being tolerant and follow old philosophy of 'live and let live' as well as
“Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”( Global citizenship) which India and Hinduism stood for
as described effectively by Swami Vivekananda( forget the pronunciation). But
that’s a point beyond this discussion.
Point of discussion is the eternal drive of a human being to “Be
Popular”. Now being a father of a teenager that too in the US
education system now and the Indian system earlier, I know the term of being
popular in the school. Even we as teenagers in school had that notion. I still
remember my own hanging out with a group of ‘popular’ friends in and outside
school hours. I have learned that in my daughter’s school cafe there is a
reserved place for popular students. If anyone transgresses that designation
reservation, the person does so at his/her own risk of being either bullied or
insulted for doing that. Sounds crazy, isn’t it? This popularity is a result of
either looks or personality or sports/cheerleading proficiency or academics
(bottom of the food chain). I have seen
teenagers continuously striving to be part of that elite popular group and
suffer greatly in psychological health as well as physical health. They have to conform to the patterns and
symbolism: one needs to have a boyfriend/girlfriend to be looked upon as
normal. This was told to me by my young friends during a Himalayan trek where I
was the most senior citizens with around 20 odd college students. But then why single out teenagers when all of us at
whatever stage of life strive to confirm to popular mainstream. Social media
adds to those pressures. Thus this drive to
be popular needs to be something we need to inspect.
This drive is something I can compare to the liberal elites in
India and the US to conform to the ideology promoted by a mob that constituted
the elites in the past and which rules the mainstream opinion-making even in the
present. You need to criticize India as a country and its
government especially after 2014 to confirm to ‘elite’, ‘educated’, ‘liberal’,
‘global’ image. You need to quote fancy author unheard in India after every
third comment. While if you see someone quote Vedas or something inherent to
India, label that person as intolerant and racist. If you hear someone supporting
Indian cause you term him as someone brainwashed by Hindu fascists. If any
journo takes stand supporting India label him as an agent of BJP. You need to
post links about India published in International media which is bent to prove
that India has lost the plot after 2014. Your argument should end with views of
a ‘Pulitzer’ winning journo about India. You need to challenge India’s position
on Kashmir citing human rights while ignoring the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus. If
you debate on CAA ignore the plight of persecuted point of view and ignore
realities of Partition imposed on India. While reporting Delhi riots, be silent
on the plight of Constable Ratanlal (along with others) and Ankit Sharma. Blame
the central government for inaction. Doubt Balakot strikes
and make Indian claims to be the mouthpiece of jingoism. I am sure while I write all this, I already know
predicament on my profile to be just a Bhakt or Fascist by the popular gang.
But I assure I value all that central to human civil cause. Let’s
try to celebrate harmony and respect everyone’s beliefs while introspecting
their own fallacies. I am critical of the existing government for its handling
of economic issues. As a Hindu, I should identify the caste system, sati, and female infanticide as social evils and correct these
fallacies while other religions should really evolve into the more human face while
denouncing expansionist beliefs. But then that has to come internally which is
not seen anywhere and no one is trying to address this “Elephant in the
Room”.
It is
the time for all those who think to avoid the temptation to ‘Be Popular’ and have
balanced opinions about issues from both sides. But this balance and middle of the road approach is missing in these days of polarization across the globe.
I am
tired of one-sided narration by media/elites that control opinion-making. This
I have seen even here in the US. What is needed is to challenge the popular
beliefs…
1 comment:
Well articulated Nayakji
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