Intellectuals can play an important role in eliminating religious intolerance in the country. They must realise their role in strengthening ties between people of diverse persuasions and call out vested interests in minority communities
Once the Bihar Assembly election result was out, the award wapsi tirade evaporated quietly. Many heaved a sigh of relief. There were better options pending before the luminaries whose creative talents could be used more profitably in their pursuit of excellence. The Sahitya Akademi found no provisions in its rules and regulations to take back the award once conferred on a luminary and informed the anguished returnees accordingly. It’s indeed heartening to note that one of the outstanding and highly respected of authors of Hindi, Kashi Nath Singh, is now ready to take back pahle wapas kiya gaya award. Media reports suggest that this transformation among several awardees is a consequence of their conviction that the ‘purpose is served’. That is fine with the common citizen.
Shall one now conclude that most of those like-minded luminaries who joined the award wapsi bandwagon shall henceforth be concentrating on spreading the message of tolerance and acceptance of diversity, without political and ideological compulsionsIJ And to achieve social cohesion and religious amity, they will shun their personal prejudices towards individuals and political partiesIJ Every word and sentence could make a big difference. It is a tough task and highly sensitive.
Maybe Aamir Khan realised it a bit too late. The former brand ambassador of the Incredible India campaign has, once again, attempted to contain the damage he had inflicted on his own image by recalling, in a TV interview, a personal conversation with his wife. His recent reiteration that, he is in “deep love with India, cannot stay abroad for more than a fortnight”, and that he shall “always speak the truth”, may make many non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin sit up. A tolerant society that India has been for ages, Khan can rest assured that Indians, in India and abroad, shall continue to love him, and adore him, even if some select ones may call this trait a historical weakness.
There are, however, several learning experiences of the recent times, and of not so recent times, which can help in changing the outlook and widening of the canvas for those who are, genuinely, contributing towards the elimination of intolerance. Mere inheritance of great traditions and social practices is no guarantee that these shall not be dented, through persistent machinations by vested interests. Far-sight and eternal vigilance are the roots of growth for every society. Slackness in this regard can be fatal. India has to persistently guard against fissiparous tendencies and isolated spots of intolerance that do exist and are exploited by anti-social and anti-national elements.
The murders of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi shocked and shamed Indians irrespective of their religious persuasions, political inclinations or ideological leanings. Every Indian in his right sense was pained by Mohammad Akhlaq’s tragedy. What should be the role of award-winning intellectuals in such occasionsIJ They themselves are the best judges. Isn’t it an obvious choice between putting out the fire or fuelling it furtherIJ Are these the times to settle ideological scores and act on hints of ‘frustrated’ political mastersIJ
Some Indian politicians don’t even hesitate to utilise the most tragic of moments for political gains, and have been doing so in the last couple of months. They are shamelessly exploiting the suicide of Rohith Vemula who would have certainly lived if Indian universities had retained an empathetic relationship between the teachers and the taught. Intellectuals of India must realise their role in strengthening ties between people of diverse persuasions.
The Republic of India celebrated its 67th Republic Day under serious threats from terrorist groups from outside India. That the celebrations happened without any untoward incident is a tribute to our security forces. Yet, only days some fringe elements threatened not to allow the hoisting of the National Flag in a school in Dankaur, Uttar Pradesh.
The local administration ensured that the flag hoisting took place without any untoward incident. But is this really sufficientIJ Will a rebuff deter such elements from indulging in nefarious activitiesIJ These elements had also opposed teaching of Hindi and English in the school and wanted only Urdu. They are keen to cut the very branch on which they are perched upon. It is these elements which, apart from other factors, have slowed the march of Muslim community towards progress and growth.
The community must realise how internal elements are sabotaging everything that could bring the Muslim majority out of ignorance and poverty. No community can progress simply by blaming Governments and taking recourse to being a minority for all its ills.
Take, for example, the Shah Bano case. Those were certainly not ‘fringe elements’ that forced the Government of India to change the Constitution. But the Muslim community also rejoiced as the widow became destitute, denied the pension granted to her by the apex court. Recently, the Government of Uttar Pradesh when recruiting Urdu teachers sought to bar men with two wives. When the powers that be protested, the Government buckled and announced that polygamous men were eligible as well.
Both instances indicate that it is primarily those within the community that prevent it from moving with the times and being part of the eternal dynamism that is essential for the growth of every civilisation. It impedes not only the progress of a community but of the entire nation. Intolerance cannot be eliminated if the intellectuals do not take note of such happenings.