Hate is a powerful emotion. It has driven people to great heights err... depths, I mean. Serious crimes of passion are committed by people, overpowered by hatred. The Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare, is credited with these words, “love me or hate me, both are in my favour... if you love me, I’ll always be in your heart... if you hate me, I’ll always be in your mind.”
That means, pretty huge amount of time and energy is wasted by humans in nurturing deleterious feelings that do no good to its possessor but keep him/herpreoccupied with the thoughts of the person who is the recipient of their resentment. Sadly, neither natural disasters nor wild animals have done so much harm to humanity as humans themselves. From ancient times to the beginning of 21st century, worst offences have been perpetrated by man against man. Animals do not attack each other in hatred but because of hunger or fear. Humans have this unique distinction of causing harm to others without any provocation.
The kind of animosity that is rampant all around is appalling. But let us have a different take on this grotesque human attribute. Shall we say that economic disparity and inequality cause resentment, heartburns, revulsion and encourage many social crimesIJ
The existence of gated communities and ghettoisation of human settlements are indicators of tensions within the cities. There may be communal or caste-based identities fanning such trends to some extent but the root cause is the inequitable distribution of nation’s resources and deprivations that are largely perceived as the direct result of machinations by powerful moneyed people. Nothing is more irksome than exploitation. The inadequacy, powerlessness, subjection to apparent injustice and the resultant frustration become a breeding ground for antipathy that erupts at slightest trigger of social upheaval.
Many acts of violence the world over are committed by sections, which were tormented by denials, especially in times of weak administrative and poor law enforcement. It must, however, be stated clearly that it is not at all a suggestion that poor are prone to commit offences because they are not. left to themselves they are more the law-abiding than the rich and they have more empathy. It is the realisation of relative adversity and painful comparisons that kindle resentment and the outbursts sit at an emotive tinderbox. This feeling of being denied the due because the system is corrupt, inefficient, unresponsive, and heavily balanced against the weak and the poor, reinforces the perceived or real grievances, aggravating the social tensions.
Greed and mindless conspicuous consumption is perpetuating the contrast between various sections. Already different centuries coexist in our country, from bullock cart to lamborghini. Consumerism at its height may be commercially profitable but it has a huge social cost until the returns of enlarging economy percolate down. Those who are left behind are losing their patience and it has to be a matter of serious concern for the planners. Urban sprawls cannot be safe havens without catering to the rightful aspirations of multitudes that play their role in the economic activities that sustain the comfort levels of better-offs.
Generation of wealth is a prerequisite for the country to grow beyond the tag of emerging economy. But that also means affording opportunity to the youth to get some reward of his hard work, to realise his potential and above all experience some sensitivity in the system, which is willing to take him along. Platitudes and freebies would increasingly be inadequate to address this issue. The public policies have to foster them and include them through sustainable developmental planning. The feeling of neglect and injustice cannot be eradicated by cosmetic sweet nothingness. Substantive upliftment would happen only through strong commitments. It should also be considered a matter of self-preservation for the rising middle classes; alone they cannot move without the peril of serious fallouts.
A sensitive poet like Sahir penned his gut-wrenching poem, jinhe naaz hai Hind pe vo kahaan hain!’ and more disturbingly in these lines, “Sansaar kee harek besharmi, ghurbat (poverty) kee gode me palti hai/chaklon (brothels) me hee aakar rukti hai, faqon (starvations) me joraah nikalti hai.” The pride in our country and the idea of India is incomplete without an inclusive agenda that moves beyond the clichés of disguised doles. Though a scientist, Einstein made a social science statement when he said, “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” We need a visualiser who can imagine and build an India of our dreams.