In the media recently been the news on incidents of Muslim
youths denied employment or residence ; regardless of points of merit , since media
channels have become more entertainment than news channels , this is a juicy
matter for TRPs . These days on TV news
channels you find more ‘ debates ‘ than news --- debates which are uncontrolled shouting
sprees without a purpose or a conclusion
So was this time another aimless debate on this topic which I
happened to watch today . That these channels , in their relentless pursuit of
TRPs , give easy platform to various political dispensations to highjack any
topic to paint the other side black , without any commitment to cause concerns
me ; but what affects me more is the hypocratic , consciously superficial discussions
on topics related to religion ,more so when it is about what gets referred to
as ‘ minorities ‘ …. Instead of grappling with the truth it turns into a competition
to speak ‘ politically correct ‘ language . My concern is that such superficial
talks do not help bridge the gap ; they actually perpetuate the drift .
Here are my heartfelt observations and reflections
# Merit point in this case is very clear & beyond doubt .
Discrimination of any kind is not just unconstitutional for us , but it is
immoral & inhuman …. Whatever be the considerations , there is no
justification & the guilty be punished … Period . It does not even need a
debate to conclude that this is how it should be
# The larger & even worser point is that India is a country
of discriminations across various parameters … caste , creed , religion , skin
colour , language , geography , economic class & the worst monster of all :
Politico – Criminal class v/s the Aam Aadami
. The even larger point is that it seems intrinsic to Human race to
discriminate … seems compulsive and almost genetic characteristic of the human
race …. Take a look around the world , if it is not one kind of discrimination
, it will be another ; the moment you get rid of one cause human mind finds a
new cause to discriminate , because no one wants to be ‘ a part of the crowd ‘ …
everybody wants to be ‘ apart from the crowd ‘ & hence compulsively
searches a new parameter for discrimination . This relentless urge to be ‘ one
up ‘ from others will deter human race from being ‘ one ‘ ; the moment you douse one fire , there is
another eruption .
# Hence to take every opportunity to generalize everything to
religious platform & get into ‘ Hindu Bashing ‘ … because it comes cheap
& sounds politically correct is very unfortunate . It does not help reduce
the divide , it only serves nefarious purpose of antisocial elements and some
zealot religious organizations who have malafide ‘ strategic ‘ agenda against
India . Why play into their hands ?
# While without a question & without a second thought , the
guilty in this case must be punished & every such case be arrested ; we
should not get too carried away with certain political agenda to drift into
superficial exchange of words without addressing the root cause
# In medical treatment , while it is urgent to handle
symptomatic relief for immediate purpose , the disease is cured only when one
treats the root cause , armed with a proper diagnostic analysis . In these
cases of social discrimination against Muslims , unless we ask ourselves as to
what is causing this unacceptable behavior , we will be condemned with speaking
superficially & nothing will fundamentally change even with punishments …
after all how many bodies can we punish , without addressing & cleansing
the minds ?
# Is this happening because Hindus are doing it purposely but
without a reason , are they consciously targeting Muslims , because there is a
generic , wide spread religious agenda in driving away Muslims . Quite honestly
it does not appear to me , there is if at all evidence against such a
hypothesis … other wise the same ( Hindu ) community wouldn’t have madly loved
some of Icons – who were Muslim by religion across field of Art / Music /
Movies / Culture / Sports . Hindus have never had qualms of humming Hindi film
songs with words like Allah or align sounding Urdu words – such things will
never happen in Pakistan , Hindus have had no qualms of worshipping some Muslim
pilgrimage places . In fact , India – with majority Hindus is probably the only
place on Earth where there are instances of non –Hindus occupying highest posts
across fields , with so overwhelming regularity . I do not know a single
country with this magnitude … do you know ?
# It should therefore be important & interesting to ask
& know , when it comes to social transactions that we find instances of
discrimination , because unless we find out why , we will never be able to
resolve it permanently .
# It is important that we scientifically research the factors ,
but for now , based on my exposure & understanding , let me hazard a guess
. I feel it is the deep seated distrust & fear that causes the suspicion
& the divide . At least knowing the psychographics from ‘ this side ‘ I can
say that Hindus have deep fear of Muslims coming from the deeper ‘ memories ‘
of atrocities brutality from the then Muslim invaders . However what adds
suspicion fuel to this is the neo terrorism , claimed to be a religious cause by
their perpetrators . I think Hindus fear & avoid either living around
Muslim localities or passing through ( like how Behrampada in Bandra East
become in riot times ) The fast spreading , religious based terrorism has only
increased the divide and added Suspicion to Fear . And while people involved or
related to terrorism may be a minor % of the total community , since you can
not make out by the looks as to who is linked to terrorism & who is not ,
the mind over simplifies the matter by avoiding a particular community 100 % .
And when Hindus see no attempt being made by Muslim scholars & religious
leaders to turn Muslim youths back from straying on the wrong path , it does
not help to reduce distrust which prompts the mind to the primitive thinking of
avoiding everybody from Muslim community when it comes to close dealing
# If even if a trace of what I’m guessing is true , has anyone
tried to understand & address this issue … which could actually be the core
issue . Has anyone made any attempt to reduce the trust deficit & help cleanse
the minds . Has any body from the Muslim community shown the courage &
character to stand up against terrorism in the name of religion & worked to
turn the tide … How on earth then we expect weak minds of a lay man to show
courage not to discriminate
# And if we do not ( want to ) address the core issue how would
minds transform by punishing more bodies ; we may continue to speak
superficially on this matter , but then nothing will change ; it may just get
worse . The choice is ours !