Most of the people in
India seem to be in one camp or the other. Everyone from one camp is blaming
the government as if they themselves have done everything they could as a
responsible citizen. And on the other hand, the government and its
supporters are attacking everyone who even remotely appears critical of
the government. The statement coming from the Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh,
who requested all those who are raising the concern of intolerance to come
forward and suggest how to solve the current problem of intolerance, is
commendable. I fail to understand why the statement of the Home Minister had
not been given the same space in the media as much Mr. Jaitley’s comment of
‘manufactured rebellion by intellectuals…’, had received. Have we stopped
finding conciliatory approach attractive than confrontational approach, due to
which media are showing only what we actually want to see? Are we right to put the
entire blame on the government?
Just criticizing the
current government will not help but the problem solving approach would.
Writer's meet on the 1st. Nov. in New Delhi could have been more on
constructive lines than just being used as a platform to criticize the
government. Statements like, "there is no intellectual difference between
ISIS and RSS", would not solve problems, it will widen the valley of
division. RSS choosing the current timing to raise concerns of population
policy to curb the growth of particular minorities can't be made at a worse
time. The statement by the home minister should be responded positively by all those
who want the current environment of intolerance, as perceived, to change.
People like scientist,
historians, industrialist, artists, authors and other creative people who are
raising the concern of intolerance, should not fall in the trap of any
political party who are ready to exploit the situation to their benefit. These
intellectuals should get into the dialogue and discussion with the government
to improve the situation. Our
government needs the collective intelligence of the entire nation.
If India develops, the
benefit goes to all, even to those who had not voted for this government. If
you do not like the present government then wait till 2019 and vote them out.
But it is not wise to stop this government from performing. The current government has the popular
mandate till 2019. No one can take it away from them. The objective should not be to embarrass the
government or India, but to address and solve the issues through dialog and
discussion. I understand, there are many who are not ready to talk, but there
are few who are ready to talk. Both sides need to find those who can discuss
the issues and solve the problems. We are still a poor and a developing nation.
We cannot afford a non functioning government.
Dozens of new schemes
and plans for development had been initiated by the new government. And various
reform bills are pending before the parliament. And there is no doubt in my
mind that the government is sincere in its effort. It will be a disservice to
the nation if anyone obstructs and creates impediments on the way of progress.
If we go back to the
pages of history, it is painful to note how a few terribly minor incidents of
intolerance went on to create an atmosphere of mistrust which had been
exploited by the communal forces that led to the partition, resulting in
thousands of deaths, large-scale suffering and the starting point of a
potentially never-ending state of animosity between two neighboring nations.
The entire subcontinent has been left behind in terms of development. Hope we
learn from the history and understand the background of our current status and
act as appropriate so that the wrongs of the past are corrected to the extent
possible. Divisive politics had hurt India then and it will hurt India now.
Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it, fits very well
here.
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