Failing economy doesn’t turn society rational or make people shed biases: Can’t checkmate communalism with this bogus theory
In wake of a man who was lynched, a ‘maha panchayat’ or huge gathering in support of the accused, was convened and participants gave objectionable speeches at this event.
This is not the first such incident of open support to people accused of dastardly crimes. However, what I want to say is that the belief that recession, unemployment and failing economy can make people shed their biases, open their eyes, make them see reason, turn ‘humane’ again or become secular, is not correct. Ideological turn is not easy to come despite financial hardships.
Remember, hate speeches were openly given at this conclave, and they were reported too. This shocking episode was followed by silence of leaders and lack of coverage in TV channels and ‘mainstream’ newspapers. A few points to ponder:
1. Who propounded the ‘theory’ that when people are suffering or they are in a financially bad situation, they’ll become wise and humane and stop reacting to propaganda? It’s a bogus and false theory that has no basis. At best, it’s pure optimism and a section just derives false hope out of it.
2. What do we learn from history, similar situations else where? Is it that you just don’t want to accept the level of ideological shift and radicalisation in the society and hence make it up! Spare us the ‘gyan’ that ‘economic crisis’ or unemployment will change situation.
3. It’s not about poor or rich. People can be manipulated by the constant false narrative that they are superior to others. Or through circulation of divisive beliefs blaming sections of own society, ideas like ‘certain groups are encroaching or gaining strength, our misery is due to them’.
4. Daily dose of hate & bigotry, poison spread by their men on the ground and through many other mediums like WhatsApp, is an addiction. Pitting people against another section been witnessed, so many times!
5. Polls or no polls, this never stops. Just because you don’t want to see the mirror, don’t want to accept the reality, the level of bigotry, you try to give yourself and others a false hope that, ‘people would get tired of this communalism one day, that when they don’t have jobs they will realise’.
6. Despite restrictions, tens of thousands gather in support of those who lynched a man, and listened to such hateful speeches. After Asif was lynched, people arrived in this Maha Panchayat, defying Coronavirus restrictions, in support of the lynching accused. How many editorials were written about this gathering and the speeches made in the event in Haryana?
7. Most of the TV channels, newspapers avoid reporting, but to ignore this level of support for bigotry on ground, hate speeches shows the horrific situation in the media. Clearly, this is because they do not accept the rot. Either conceal or give spin.
8. It’s now understood well. To say that these are ‘diversions’ or ‘eye on elections’ is nothing but an attempt to hide, your inability to speak on it. That’s not diversion because elections or no elections, lynchings and forcing youth to raise certain slogans, beating them or targeting, continues.
9. It’s cowardice — politicians, intellectuals, journalists who are all silent on this. As if they don’t know the extent of the real project and its aims. As far as many centrist and liberal journalists in India. How they whitewash, it’s going to be the next and last point.
10. Many of them always divert by saying, ‘oh, that’s a fringe’. When it’s not possible to ignore as too many fanatics are seen around, they keep mum or act like ‘sages’, giving advice — ignore. Or write by balancing, bringing other examples from faraway countries. Unfortunately, no question of ‘acceptance’, that a major problem exists.
Without hard work on ground or real movement, society can’t change on its own. Once there is ideological shift to such an extent due to propaganda for decades, it can’t be ‘humanized’ on its own. Either a big leader is needed or a social revolution against communalism and bigotry.
We are well aware how a comedian who did not even utter a joke was arrested and jailed because cops felt he ‘might crack a joke’ after a right-wing group reached the venue. However, those who deliver extremely inflammatory speeches, threaten and lynch, don’t face prompt or harsh action.
So it all depends on the side of the fence — whether action will be taken or not. Those who spread false information and rumours on social media or share fake info that has potential to damage harmony are not touched due to their links in the ecosystem.
It has reached the stage where it’s really hard to expect a transformation on its own. A slogan that was never made can send youths to jails under harsh sections. But hate speeches that are recorded in gatherings and aired, don’t lead to action. Cops later say, ‘we are verifying’.
