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Is India turning into something likethe 'Nazi Germany'?
Highlights
A nationalist Government. Opposition that was accused of decades of minority appeasement.Two neighbouring countries full of extremists that were split from the parent nation, based on religion. An almost wiped out Indian majority community in these two countries – the fact reiterated by nationalists. Does it not sound like a perfect recipe for a repetition of something that had happened in Nazi Germany?
A nationalist Government. Opposition that was accused of decades of minority appeasement.Two neighbouring countries full of extremists that were split from the parent nation, based on religion. An almost wiped out Indian majority community in these two countries – the fact reiterated by nationalists. Does it not sound like a perfect recipe for a repetition of something that had happened in Nazi Germany?
It is easier to deduce that India can easily go the way Germany had gone nearly a century earlier. In retrospect, the world finalised that whatever Hitler had done was inhumane and should never have happened. Did the world learnt something or anything from the genocide that happened in Germany? Are, at least, have the Jews learnt? One may ask Palestinians for answers.
The answer is a big NO. Neither Jews, nor the world at large have learned anything from the massacre orchestrated by Hitler. However, unlike in Germany, none of Indian leaders who requested the partition, nor who accepted were held responsible for the mayhem that followed. Neither the British were held accountable for leaving the country they looted for two centuries in such a dastardly fashion. Simply, the world didn't care for the lives of a country full of snake charmers and fakirs!
Why blame others? Even the native philosophy texts were wrongly interpreted and finally Indian philosophy had concluded that human life has no value. What can one say of the people who need to be reminded twice in a year to administer 'two drops of life' – polio vaccin to their kids. What can be told of those metros where 'ethical treatment for animals' was campaigned while few miles away, forest dwellers were dying of malnutrition? Yes, there may be many other nations who were worse than us, but what's the point of comparing with someone inferior to us.
So, the developed world considered India, as another market place for modern armament, while domestic rulers were amassing wealth and finding ways to keep themselves in power, by means of vote-bank politics. All is well, except for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction! The deeds of minority appeasement had in fact, consolidated majority that claimed to be the nationalism.
Did it only happen in India?
No, even in the so called powerful democracy, the United States, most of the blacks vote for Democrats and majority of rednecks vote for Republicans. So, what's the big deal if Indian voters exercises their franchise based on the caste.
Coming to the main discussion, will the rise of nationalists in India will have adverseeffect on the minorities, jeopardising their lives and livelihoods? Nay.. It can never happen.
First, those in power always will look what is advantageous (frankly, useful would be more appropriate term) to them. Remember the Americans who castigated Modi for his failure to contain riots in his state, where in even people from majority died. All the while, Americans were killing Iraqis, Afghans, and so many others.
In fact, most of the rogue nations were actively supported by America and without the brains and schemes of America, neither Taliban nor ISIS would have come into existence. Still, America had the guts to preach morality and castigated Modi. But, everything changed when he became the Prime Minister.
Even the nationalist Government will act the same way. They might have come to power with the support of majority religion. But, the Government could never risk of turning India into a Hindu version of Pakistan.
Second, the current Prime minister is more of a businessman, though is a nationalist. Long period of instability in the country is detrimental to business, though some businesses thrive in these periods; like prostitution, kidnappings and terrorism.
This could never be allowed in the larger sections of the country. Will the Government ensure there would be no attacks on minorities? No, any Government, especially a democratic one can never ensure safety to all persons, in a so heterogeneous society like India. Forget minorities, it is impossible for the Government to ensure safety of people, given the size of Indian population. And, Government had to deal with deaths due to non-availability of food before turning their attention to fanatical actions.
Third, many voices that came out opposing the Government's inability or proactive support to the intolerance in the country. Sure, they may be settling old scores against the current ruling coalition. May be they got it bestowed by previous administrations and so are returning a favour to the old administrations, by pressurizing the current one.
Inadvertently, by their actions, they are affirming what India really was, is and will be. If the Government is behind the rising intolerance, even covertly, it would have ensured that their voices were muted. By allowing them rant against the Government, Government had proved a point: that freedom of speech is not a scarce thing in India. The more they rant, they are supporting the logic of the Government, apart from strengthening other intellectuals, who support the current establishment.
Finally, Hindus in India are the reason, why Muslims need not take the threat seriously. Despite geographic distances, Muslims in India feel they are one – the bond that minorities share in any country. On the other hand, Hindus are a divided class. Unlike Germans, Hindus are not a homogeneous population. Hindus are divided based on castes, regions and languages.
It is humanly impossible to coerce them to work in tandem, unless there is a common external threat. So, unless Indian Muslims do some dastardly act, may be with external assistance, Hindus of this country would never come together to fight them.
So, India will remain a place where people and live and die, not only in the natural way due to aging, but also due to road accidents, lack of food, of diseases, man created pollution, terrorist attacks, riots based on caste, region and religion. Nothing more and nothing lesss.
Kannan
Kannan ([email protected]) is the author of ‘Fizz…”
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