Woe to those who think “independently” and honorably for and with their country men and women – they might find themselves shockingly under house arrest or behind the prison bars overnight
GERRY LOBO OFM
Seventy five years ago the Father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, wrought for millions the long awaited Independence from the British Raj by way of ‘peaceful sathyagraha’, a non-violent movement history has ever recorded in its annals. Ironically, also shamefully, what the seventy five year old national freedom is offering to its citizens is nothing but the gift of a bulldozer: bulldozing hate and hate bulldozer by spreading bigotry, rioting and literally grounding houses, shops and perhaps innocent people even, whose names and their ‘person’ are being buried under the rubble. Not only the structures are being bulldozed triumphantly and hatefully, even the spirit of common humanity has been bulldozed by hate speeches leading to senseless anger and violence. At the seventy-five years of freedom, the war-mongers have only created a corridor of hatred in India while the world is looking on with amazement at a nation of great integrity and enormous multifaceted culture. This seems to be the outstanding gift the ruling dispensation of the majoritarian mite placing on the open palms and awaiting spirits of a mature, dignified and expansive-hearted Indians!
When the country is in utter disarray because of a muscular nationalism being exercised by politicians of profit and legislators of venom, when spread of hate for votes and communal flare up is creating anguish, when volcano lava is being fumed through disrespectful and hurting statements by prominent personalities of high ranking positions, when lion-mouthed leaders mouth the fiery slogans to infuse hate, intolerance and division, when even persons supposed to be neutral in their political stand utter partisan slogans and perpetuate an ill-becoming environment, when coloured by the ruling party’s ideological agenda governments are communalizing school curriculum and thus igniting emotions across the country through the innocent minds of children and illiterate adults, when an authoritarian streak of the government is pervading the human space of a free nation, when the truth is replaced by a string of convincing lies at the economic and political forums, can Seventy fifth Independence Year of our nation rise up to the Preamble of the Constitution in all honesty assuring every individual equality, liberty and fraternity that it professes?
Seventy five years of an “independent” nation! Woe to those who think “independently” and honorably for and with their country men and women – they might find themselves shockingly under house arrest or behind the prison bars overnight! Free and open thinking for a friendly environment in the country might be quickly brandished as terrorism and FIR lodged against their activities! Independent India, but a dependent Judiciary, a dependent Election Commission and a dependent Enforcement Directorate – these independent departments being so dependent on a government which alone has the imperial supremacy over all! (However, it must be noted that with the incumbent, the Honourable Chief Justice of India, whose term of office is going to be ended in another few weeks sadly enough, the effort of the judiciary at the apex level in particular, has been to work independently of any powers outside of it, in order to protect the demands of the Constitution.) Journalists have been targeted and communication channels have been served notices about their independent mind and voices in this independent nation. On the other hand, free speech with as many scandalous and hurting statements as possible against other religions has been permitted per se, and no Prime Minister or the Home Minister has intervened to curb such an inimical attack by any independent tongue. Perhaps, it all goes well with the majoritarian strength.
Where is the Independence of 1947? The outstanding names of freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaralal Nehru, in particular, have been almost erased not only from the school text-books but also from the minds of ordinary citizens, replacing such stalwarts with Nathuram Godse. What sense does it make when the Prime Minister and all those states ruled by communal parties have ordered hoisting of the Indian flag on each and every house as a mark of celebrating seventy five years of Independence? Is this the sort of Independence that men and women are longing for at the present juncture of history of this nation? Eight years of democracy-murdered autocratic rule by the government with the Hindutva platform has perturbed the independent nation with legislations that hit hard the common citizen down the lane. By letting the unbridled spiraling prices of daily commodities the managers of our economic affairs have led the commoners to fend for themselves through darkest days, eliminating their independent manner of developing themselves and their families toward a healthy and integrative human life. The Independence seems to be appropriated by those at the helm of affairs, whose benevolence the dependent citizen must wait for, if he or she intends to live in her or his Motherland. How ridiculous is this arrogation!
Due to the inclusion of Hindutva, particularly into the political system of our Independent nation in the recent past, it has paved the way towards violence, disharmony, unrest, discomfort and fear among people. The Hindutva miscreants have legitimacy from the ruling government. Hence taking absolute liberty at blatant hate speeches and inflicting pain upon people’s religious faith and practices has become the normal. These miscreants lean heavily on the political party that promotes bigotry and division. Condemning, labeling and propagating falsehood in public forums has become a licensed form of hate arousing passions. Not only the great Prophet Mohammad has been mocked upon by unbecoming statements blurted out by learned and informed leaders, but also certain sectarian leaders at public meetings in certain places of our country in the recent past have denounced Islam as terrorism and not to be considered as a sacred monotheistic religion. This is how the Independence of our nation has been de-sacralized, vandalized and erased by the so called ‘nationalist patriots.’ How well does this arrogant attitude correspond to truth, justice and integration found in the flag of this nation? Hoisting the flag on the Independence Day is certainly a sanctimonious rite which the citizens perform dutifully to express their love and commitment to the nation they belong to. However, deliberate forgetful memory of the first Independence Day by a hate-ridden bulldozing mind is a scandal, a sham and utter dishonor to the magnificent Independence.
To the great dismay of millions living in the Seventy fifth year of Independence of Bharat Matha it has been an experience of living in a world of escalating religious extremism, of furtherance of hate, and of destabilizing of legitimately elected governments by the power hungry cronies who do not want their voters to live and enjoy the gift of Independence. The independent civilization in our independent nation has not yet seen the light of day in spite of education, technology, resources and a scientific mind. The Independence does not correspond to slavery, fear, uncertainty in the every-day journey of life. Any day the bulldozer may be around the corner awaiting you and me. Rule of anarchy and unrest pervading the nation has badly hurt its Independence. Moreover, the latest “Agnipath” hand-out projected by the government in consonance with the Defense department with sweet promises has crushed the dreams of a million youth. The Farmers’ agitation, unheeded and unresolved fully by the government has, again, shown the ugly side of Independence instead of a prosperous and hope-ridden dimension of Independence for which valiant leaders struggled with non-violent postures.
∎
