A blast is a blast is a blast. Let's not forget this fundamental premise when we get into a post-encounter discussion on the Delhi blasts. The facts are too cold, too bloody to be ignored. The death toll stands at close to thirty; we don't have a definite calculation of how many have been maimed or crippled. A blast goes against the very essence of life and the living. It's a lust for blood for reasons that are worse than obscurantist.
Neither should we arrive at a conclusion on the police encounter. We don't have the wherewithal to crosscheck the police story and, therefore, we don't have the right to jump to conclusions. There are a few gray areas which we can talk about later; but definitely, not now. We are all aware of the kind of voices on the streets, depending on the neighborhood where we are. And that ominous geography of varying opinions is seriously worrying.
As an individual residing in probably the world's most vibrant democracy, I am proud that we question everything; it's my fundamental right to do so and I am glad that I am being able to exercise that right. But should we be carried away by hearsay and what each of us would like to believe? There are moments in history when the real picture gets blurred because strong opinions come in the way. It's difficult to see beyond the immediate smokescreen. Truth, as always, hurts and hurts badly. Do we need to make a fair assessment just now and judge the police harshly?
We don't even have to step out on the streets to feel how badly divided our battered society is. It's almost split down the middle and our respective belief depends on what our surnames are and which religion or community we have been born in to. We know faith carries with it the extraordinary power of kinship, where the mind of a mob takes over and colors our reasoning. Let me reassert that it's possible to drill holes in the police story, which, I admit, appears to be extremely fluid and simple with everything falling in place with considerable ease. To the incredulous, my plea is just hold on to those thoughts. Don't let that disbelief become disillusionment.
Why do I repeatedly say let's not dissect every story told to us just now? It's because I am trying to read the pulse of the country; and I can feel the two distinct beats, which creates a shockingly violent rhythm. We are sitting on a powder keg that won't even need a fuse to erupt. The slightest of tremors will be enough to start a fratricidal war. We need to talk, to listen to each other before communal sensitivities revive that old theme of "us and them". This time it's dangerous that even the rich and the successful of both communities, who generally subscribe to the one-dimensional religion of money, have taken hardened positions.
It's a countrywide confrontation. Ask the young man in Jamia Nagar in Delhi or Muhammed Ali Road in Mumbai, the verdict is the same; the views are equally harsh and strident. It's similarly rabid in the malls and the markets where a majority condemn blasts, as they should. But they don't stop there; they extend the culpability to an entire community; which prays daily during the holy month to extend the blessings of life to whomever they can. It is time we realized that minority-ism doesn't give us a right to insecurity, to a persecution complex. It is time we also realized that majority-ism isn't an easy responsibility; it doesn't hand over the license to brutally impose one's will on those who are fewer in number. In fact, it is the sacred duty of the majority to instill a sense of confidence in the minority.
These are difficult times; these are also exciting times. We are a world power. Let there be no minorities in this country; let us all be a unified majority. India deserves that unique togetherness.
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My heart bleeds for the poor 13 year old kid who was blown to pieces! My heart also bleeds for the poor children who get maimed in Afghanistan by accidentally setting off land mines while at play! The Governments who sell weapons to impoverished countries to wage war are the most despicable on earth! the great USA and Britain do indulge in this heinous trade and people like Adnan Koshigi become billionaires!But the Muslim fanatics (Unfortunately the Hindus are seduced by Taliban and have started their own version of Moral policing) have no qualms about blowing up any one any where including Shiites Ahmadias and of course Jews and Hindus!It is this narroe hate filled world view we have to counter! ...Reply
Great Article, after all a positive voice, something very rare in this era. carry on Diptosh. If all of us just read this Artice carefully without identifying ourselves with or relegious identities, we shall reach the same conclusion.
Religions are essentially different thoughts which came about at different places at different times and all of them have been invariably influenced by the places where they originated. This has happened in case of all religions regardless of the place where they originated. However, one common strain between all of them is: They all want us to be good human beings and at the same time all the religions try to provide a path to salvation. The differences were are there but they are more because of their place of origin, the circumstances, the geography and social milieu in which they originated. In an era where they were working separately in different geographies, it was fine. Conflicts arose when two or three major religions came together. Like in India. However, this challenge was also dealt by people in one way or the other. People evolved their own local processes by which they could leave peacefully with each other.
Globalisation and the instant transfer of news now places a major challenge to all the religions. The local balances created by the local communities are now falling apart. The different religions have not yet evolved a common milieu. This is resulting in conflicts at global level. This can be finished very quickly if interfaith understanding is fostered ad developed at global level. We all need to understand that essentially all the religions are same at macro level and differences can only be at micro level. We need to understand to interact at macro level. Essentially we are all citizens of same universe and to all of us the same global laws are applicable.
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I totally agree with what you have said. I have not seen a single muslim leader criticising the atrocities on minority in bangladesh and pakistan. Yet when a sadam hussain is tried for his crimes against Kurds, these people raise such a hue and cry and pelt stones on vehicles. Insane isn't it? ...Reply
"I am residing in London for over 4 years now and have met muslims of many nationalities. Most of them including Indians believe that September 11 was a Jewish conspiracy. I was witness to 7/11 train blasts here and most muslims believe that it was an inside job of UK Government. Very recently a lot of my muslim friends said that Modi killed the kar sevaks in Godhra. Basically there is no end to this thought and I do not see it changing as well. A hyderabadi muslim lawyer friend had told me that India has no Human Rights."
Total nonsense. This is the only country where Muslims enjoy total freedom and equality. We have had muslim presidents, vice presidents, cabinet ministers, Cricket players, film stars and so on. So please stop making such ridiculous statements. ...Reply
Please don't give such a Holier than thou picture of the Muslims. If living with members from other religions were a non-issue for Muslims, we would not have had Pakistan. The question is, why is Kashmir an issue at all? Since between Pakistan and India, it is the former that has adopted Islam as its state religion, if Kashmiri Muslims are really that secular, why don't they just be a part of India and let it be.
TO say Muslims are helping is insufficient. In our country, the general junta is helpful in nature in non threatening situations - be they Hindus or Muslims or anyone else. Kashmiri Pandits have left lock, stock and barrel out of FEAR. Just because you have a different version - a really fancy one at that - does not change the reality. ...Reply
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