Digging up past grievances against Muslims can unravel Hindu unity as well
It is time for India to confront the past in its entirety, absorb the good and reject the bad
Chase future glory, not ghosts from the past
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Chase future glory, not ghosts from the past
This is not behind a paywall
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Dear Political-Economist Editor,
The opinion stands out like #MonaLisa painting, 'super realistic, authentic & priceless work that speaks' of all the age old & modern practices that violate human dignity in the world i.e.; dehumanisation, humiliation, degradation & non-recognition of this savage practice by Modi-Shah duo's current regime/BJP stated clearly in the paragraph,"The selective digging up of the past to locate Muslim rulers’ sins against Hindus is bigotry, not truth-seeking. But bigotry is not the only problem with the excavation of endless grievance. It can not just put India at odds with the Muslim world and pit Hindus against Muslims, but also send India’s subaltern castes on a wholly destructive, rather than redemptive, quest for contemporary retribution for past oppression, which spills over into the present".
Thus, the political & social catastrophes came without warning, rather continuous rejection for eight years with Modi-Shah duo walking open-eyed creating well-planned catastrophic disasters for the minorities & subaltern. The writing examines dangers in the paragraph, "It would also prevent India from owning its unique heritage that could potentially help spread the nation’s wings over much of the world, drawing on shared histories in Southeast Asia, Africa, Arabia and Persia, including the regions we now call Central Asia, apart from South Asia".
Repetitive violations of dignity & uncreative work of Modi-Shah duo & their boot lickers have done this greatest disservice to the nation respected & known for ethical, cultural & moral evolution with positive transformation since time immemorial.
The current regime must remind itself, "India's freedom struggle stands tall with a prime illustration of 'Unity in Diversity".
The opinion seeks to redraw & reaffirm the inhuman within Modi's regime & beyond India's constitutional democracy," But in no society was the social organisation as oppressive and dehumanising as in India. The hierarchical caste system, with the Brahmin at the top — lord of all creation, according to the Manusmriti — and the performers of assorted manual labour at the bottom, not just enabled material exploitation but also ingrained human degradation, some castes being deemed untouchable, even unseeable. Caste encouraged specialised skills and their transfer as tradition, but denied the toilers access to education and barred social mobility even across generations — all legitimised by a theology centred on the sins of past births. And this was wholly disingenuous because the core philosophy of Advaita preaches the essential unity of all things animate and inanimate".
The vivid descriptions with most appropriate & historically true examples quoted in paragraphs under all important sub-heads elucidate the central question - the dangerous poison that has been strong enough to addle the middle class brains yet it stands contested by India's oldest political party & formidable opposition, the Indian National Congress & we citizens. When most of these unacknowledged poison of unjust & inequitable social & economic, degrading inhuman treatment meted out to minorities & subaltern, and holds ordinary citizens' brains with fear.
The way specific paragraphs collate reflections on such inhuman concepts & a range of practices, deepening our understanding of human dignity and its violation, evasion of responsibility with no accountability from the 'Union Govt' puts the country to utter shame & disgrace stated in the statement,"These take India down a path that is dangerous, not just for the Muslim minority but for the majority and for the nation, as a whole".
The opinion brilliantly brings to the surface a fresh & focused perspective most relevant to this significant recurring discussion & debates across the globe - How the current regime is mirrored & stands exposed having crossed boundaries of legal, democratic & participatory constitutionalism long foretold by you in your opinions/columns related to Modi prior to 2014 & thereafter with unique perspectives, other impartial & respectable social activists, educationists, handful of democratic, progressive & impartial senior journalists, & other prominent protestors like farmers, legal & human rights theorists, practitioners, women leaders/social groups & feisty students of JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia & AMU etc. The protests and Modi's inactions and catastrophes in India has been acknowledged and objected by the international world with no fear of retribution ie; Arab world & the USA.
All the Protests & Satyagrah March organised in India against the dictatorship of Modi's regime breaching the democratic public process indicate the absence of law, morality, human values & ethical beliefs to the international world. Of course, factually correct examples quoted by you puts a stamp to your unique pov ie; French Revolution, Kublai Khan, Pythagoras theorem, Pyramids, Plato's Dialogues, Wounded Knee Massacre, The European Peasant & The Conquest of America.
Huge thanks for this disciplined, accurately correct and very best opinion with mind-boggling examples of crimes & injustices of the past suggesting for a concrete positive action by the Modi government. "Do we turn our back on everyone’s unalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, or is that one small step for a man and a giant leap for mankind? '' and "Eradicating caste is implicit in the democratic agenda. Building inclusive democracy, of which a cultural renewal minus caste hegemony is a vital part, is the way forward. Excluding Muslims harms not just Muslims and India’s democracy-in-the-making, but also the transition of Hindus to a cohesive community of equals".
Your opinion dated March 5, 2013 proves the blunder committed by BJP & RSS, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/cursor/why-does-the-bjp-not-declare-modi-as-its-pm-candidate-hint-wharton-cancels-modi-address1/
Your writings carry weight.
All the protests and Satyagrah March organised by social activists, muslim community, women, students and Congress Party indicate an absence of law, morality, human values & ethical beliefs under Modi's regime, acknowledged and objected by the international world with no fear of retribution ie; Arab world & the USA.
Your cursor column dated December 10, 2012 also speaks abt your journalistic acumen, truth & democratic ethics. The introductory paragraph said, "Narendra Modi should not become the prime minister, because that would destroy the idea of India as a nation that celebrates unity in diversity, where multiple identities prosper in harmony and dignity. Equally, democracy and the rule of law would be casualties under Modi. For the BJP, Modi’s ascent to the top would mean a hasty end to any hope of evolving into a centre-right party minus a Hindu majoritarian agenda" https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/cursor/why-narendra-modi-should-not-become-prime-minister/?val=3728
An ordinary and well-informed reader,
Vandana