When passions desperately needed cooling : Part I
Monday 4 February 2013
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The Indian society is characterised by an environment that sustains
conflicting and competing views, where the differences are resolved through the
medium of reasoned debate and prudence prevails before a decision is reached.
However, such dialogue is not possible if some intolerant groups try to silence
differing views through outrage or some malicious forces try to create unrest
by appealing to the sentiments of innocent citizens. In either case, a slight
provocation causes the emotions to manifest themselves in the form of vehement
protests which lead to disastrous consequences – from straining the social
fabric of the nation to widening the chasm between different communities.
This is a fictitious story that brings out how communal passions were aroused to add fuel to the fire at a time when they
desperately need cooling. The story attempts to unfold the causes that led to
the exodus of a community and turned another marginalised community into a
lynch mob after a hatemonger managed to finagle the mike at a political
conclave and spilled venom on the masses through his hate speech.
13 July 2012: It was a hot sunny afternoon. A large crowd had
gathered in the Ramlila Maidan in the
scorching heat to catch a glimpse of their cherished leader. The stage was
adorned with garlands, posters and flags of the political party. The entire
ground echoed with the chorus of slogans raised by the people in respect of
their leader. Each and every individual present there could be seen cheering
and fluttering the flag with a great sense of pride and enthusiasm. As the
electrician continued to examine the audio amplifier system, speaking hello…mike check…hello… to decimate the
cacophony, the leader along with other members of his political party arrived
in his helicopter. A team of security officers rushed to escort the VIPs,
gesticulating wildly at each other and barking orders into their hand-held
phones. The entire ground was covered by a blanket of dust. As the leader
stepped out of his helicopter, he was greeted warmly with sweets and garlands
by his supporters. In a few minutes, the VIPs occupied their respective
positions on stage and the leader waved his hands passionately at his legion of
supporters, indicating them to initiate the ‘extravaganza’.
After a brief round of discussion on various political and social
issues came the much awaited moment – when the leader had to deliver his
speech, The King’s Speech.
“Hum na jaati phechaante hai na
dharma, hum keval hindustan phechaante hai (I have no other religion than
being an Indian!)”, the leader proclaimed with great pride. A spirit of
patriotism descended on the crowd that had gathered in the ground. Following
this, he conveyed his gratitude for the hospitality shown to him and then
expressed his ‘deep’ and ‘genuine’ concern for the plight of aam aadmi whom he felt, was being
victimised and butchered at the hands of the demon of corruption, inflation et
cetera. But then, his ‘wise’ words came as a bolt from the blue.
“My dear citizens, lend me your
years”, he roared in a highly commanding voice. The crowd clapped rapturously
and the entire ground started vibrating with cheers.
“I feel”, he asserted, “Equality in India has become synonymous to
appeasing the elite at the cost of the interests of the marginalised sections
of the society. I take this opportunity to remind you that our community was
liberated not by arms, but by unleashing the voice of our people. They [referring
to the community of the party in power] fought
with weapons, but we fought with non-violence and voice. It was because of the
efforts of none other but ours that the communities could come closer to each
other and sort out the differences”.
He took a pause to wipe off the saliva that had oozed out of his throat
to his lips with his handkerchief.
Continue reading : When passions desperately needed cooling : Part II
Categories:
common man,
corruption,
discrimination,
political,
poverty,
The King's Speech
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