King lear of Shakespeare lamented,“I am a man more sinned against than sinning”! Terrorists, including ‘Islamists’ or of whatever hue would perhaps be in this frame of mind while defending ‘avenging the wrongs’, purported to have been committed against ‘their community’. Such elements cannot stand the might of the state and would meet their nemesis sooner or later.
Faced with the determined strength of the world and backed by global public revulsion against their misdeeds, their neurotic ambition has to end. So while we are concerned and even angry, worry should be limited to the apprehension of any further loss of human lives, but not about the eventual defeat of these misguided anarchists.
Our concern must also be about the deep fissures taking place in the global inter-cultural and inter-religious bonds that generally existed till recently. There is no doubt that sporadic terror attacks in the past and the recent mindless violence have been provocative. Keeping balance and composure in such a charged atmosphere is not easy. But that is precisely the test that Europe is called upon to handle today.
The radicalisation of a tiny section of Muslims, as asserted by the authorities in the wake of news of some joining ISIS etc. — hailing from the regions other than the zone of conflict— because an entirely different paradigm will apply on inhabitants of the conflict zone, is a matter of concern.
This trend, howsoever miniscule, perhaps in decimal percentage, must stop totally. It is ironical that while their family live in poverty and deprivation, some young fellows instead of struggling to improve their lot have chosen to follow the destructive utopian path presented by the ISIS and various assorted groups of ‘Islamists’. Since the number of radicalised Muslim youth is very small and it is a new trend among them, their social reintegration would not be difficult. This needs thoughtful, deft and professional handling by the law enforcers and equally determined vigilance and support from families and the community at large.
Democracy provides processes for resolution of disputes through legitimate means, better if the misguided persons know this the easier way. The wisdom is not to play in the hands of agent provocateurs and not to fall for the diktat of the self-serving leaders — political or religious.
A lead comes from the writings of Khaled Ahmed, political analyst and consulting editor of the Newsweek in Pakistan. Writing from a dangerous place, he constantly attacks the negative preaching and misguidance being spread by orthodox sections. In his recent article, ‘The enemy within’ in The Indian Express, he refers to the existence of ‘supra-individuals’ in Pakistan who highjack both the State and the non-State agencies.
Clearly they would be doing this through manipulative and vitriolic campaigns carried out with the aid of demagogy and commandeering mesmerising hypnotic power. Khaled Ahmed categorises them as ‘supra-individuals’ — essentially creation of their own Government agencies; we need more courageous writers like him.
As for the cartoons, they are not as much satirical as often, nasty, offensive and insulting. Deliberate insult of others is neither creative nor the best literary expression. However, the opposition to or disagreement with insult, ridicule or unfair criticism cannot be met by violence — the only option for a civilised world is rebuttal, counter-criticism or at best peaceful protest. This prudence, if not realism, must down on those who instigate, train and unleash some gullible young men from the community to the path of self-destruction.
The West has always prided itself about their openness, humanism, democracy, innovations, scientific discoveries and technological advancement that has catapulted them to such eminence vis-a-vis the rest of the world. Many modern social, economic and political institutions that we have today are gift from the West.
Their modernism, therefore, should not be sullied now by surrendering to the jingoism of the fringe elements among them as that has been the trouble across the divide. It cannot be the turn of the democratic world to cause social breach. There is apparent need on the part of the civilised world to show continued restraint and responsibility.
Back home as well, there are of late some discordant voices aired regularly — divisive, venomous and disturbing. This cantankerous behaviour is sought to be matched by some lunatic fringe of Muslim leadership from UP and Hyderabad. Fortunately there is a strong body of liberals in the country from both the communities who do not subscribe to extremist declarations. We also hear and read several mature, sagacious, logical voices like Arundhati Roy, Vasundhara Sirnet, Shiv Visvanathan etc. from India and Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, David Harvey, David Brooks and several others abroad to name a few.
The risky replication of divisive narrative by some in India must be guarded against. Equally the Muslim intelligentsia and the community at large must watch against leaders who try to take the mantle of ‘supra-individuals’. Humanism and harmonious co-existence has to be the mantra, and the guiding principles by which material progress and freedom from the vicious cycle of ignorance and poverty can be obtained. If nothing else let enlightened self-interest and basic human intuitive intelligence guide all.