by Dr. Maguni Charan Behera
India is a country of diversity. But do we celebrate diversity in a true spirit or try to judge the diversity with our acquired ‘rational thinking’? Does evaluation of diversity fall into the domain of an individual or a group’s scrutiny for a homogenised presentation? Do behavioral contradictions fall into the domain of diversity? Does the sense of appreciation to diversity accommodate contradictions with which we live in? In this essay I will try to understand the implications of the self-formulated questions with empirical events and events based-narratives.
The essay has its origin in a statement made by Justice Sanjay Karol, the Judge in the Supreme Court of India. While narrating a story of a woman who was forced to stay outside her house during her menstrual cycle the Judge remarked, ‘This is the India we live in’.
Understandably, the Judge pointed out the alleged discrimination against women and lamented over its existence in the 21st century by presenting the case with the help of a photograph and stating, ‘This is the India we live in’.
Was the woman forced? Did the woman object to her stay outside in a shanty house made for the purpose? Can it be generalised that a man gets different treatment under similar conditions with the given example of menstruation cycle unique to woman only?
The remark of the Judge marks a difference between the knowledge one acquires in the formal system of education and traditional knowledge and practice. Judging a traditional practice through the lens of formal education amounts to a colonial way of looking at ‘others’. The opinion reflects a superior-inferior sense and tendency to standardise knowledge and practices based on one’s acquired knowledge. It lacks sense of respect to differences.
In contemporary time, the practice of segregation of women on the basis of menstruation cycle, upholding the traditional concept of purity and pollution, contradicts rational thinking. Segregation of menstruating women is not unique to tribes, an example which the Judge cited, but it is widespread in Indian communities though with a declining stint. Inter-and intra-culture conflicts between rationality and traditional belief exist in different degrees in the pluralistic Indian society. On the one hand we celebrate scientific temper, and on the other we emotionally adhere to cultural practices and ready to die for the sack of cultural (religious?) identity! Obviously, we live in India with such contradictions. In cultural sphere, contradictions are natural as people have to adjust centuries’ old habit and familiarity with currently acquired knowledge. A doubt persists for some time and the old guards remain powerful to execute tradition in one way or the other. But the wall of belief crumbles in course when it stands contradictory to logic. Continuity of a tradition is conformity between belief and logic, and its discard is a mark of non-conformity.
But the remark ‘this is the India we leave in’ has serious implications beyond the issue of contradictions between belief and logic. The contradiction reflects in misguiding the people by selfish leaders to acquire power, interpreting wrong as right by taking advantage of people’s belief in them, and placing personal interest above national interest through mere power of language which people understand as it is presented. The irony is that we live in this India and are powerless to correct the wrong. We claim we are in Hindu Rashtra, question some Hindus celebrating Christian festivals and Christians not celebrating Hindu festivals , question Hindu leaders joining or organising iftar and Muslims calling Hindus kafer and their festivals evil; but we take pride in basudeva kutumbakam. The ideology was relevant when Hinduism was not susceptible to conversion or jihad. We recognise the danger but ignore it by invoking the traditional knowledge and wisdom.
The democracy and the constitution have given us power, but have made us weak against the wrong doers’ power which they use in the name of the sources of power, i.e. democracy, constitutional provisions, etc. Money power, political power, physical power, education power, constitutional power, bureaucratic power, all combined together and called as a system, have made us weak to utilise our power against the wrong doer who do illegal things legally in the system! Is not it a contradiction we live in? There is another contradiction. We say ‘this should be done’, ‘that should be done’, but ‘we do not do anything’ and expect others to do!
In social media posting a few Hindu persons urge the Hindu community to unite, not to employ Muslim labours, and not to purchase from Muslim shops. But what’s about an alternative? Where would one get non-Muslim labours for the growing construction works? Where would one get items if not purchased from Muslim shops? Why a section of Hindus convert to alien religions? Why a section of Hindus do not have equal rights to enter a temple? There is no solution or reply for these issues. But still there is an urge from a section and there is no response from the sections addressed.
The Congress has ruled for a long time. There are good things and bad things for the interest of the nation. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi label charges, for example poverty employment, etc. whose roots underlie i the Congress rule also. Present government also has some very good policies which are eye sore of the enemy countries like China and Pakistan, or of anti-groups of the present government. Unfortunately, opposition leaders speak the language of the enemy countries or international anti-government groups. These leaders claim loyalty to the country and the Constitution, but oppose the Constitution by opposing particular individuals who are in the government by virtue of the same Constitution. Where does nation’s interest stand when nation’s interest is seen, criticised and opposed through enemy’s lens? Rahul Gandhi vows to be a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, made pilgrimage to Kailash, often claims to be a Brahmin, and offer prayers in many Hindu temples. Did he condemn the carnage of Hindus in Bangladesh? It is another question how Rahul Gandhi is Hindu. Still some of us support his claim and others criticise. Is not it a contradiction we live in?
Political parties claim social justice, but leaders at the apex of some of these political parties like RJD, SP, DMK have amassed so much wealth that others do not find themselves at levelling play ground to compete them to win elections. The common people and these leaders were at an equal social level before the latter led the former by showing them the dream of ‘social justice’! In the name of democracy, and with the wealth they have amassed, others are deprived of equal opportunity and as a result of which the leaders have established parivarvad (dynasty rule) as a new avatar of monarchy!
At one side the leaders show their concern for people, use the language of messiah acceptable to them; and at the other side they do the opposite. Crocodile tear in deed! Kejriwal’s concern for the common people and his luxurious life are so contradictory that his concern has become a synonym for ‘crocodile’s tear’. No doubt, any gap between words and deeds may be known as Kejriwal syndrome in future!. But people still buy the words of such leaders!
The strength of the economy depends on production. Decentralised production ensures social justice and equality. But freebie culture has destroyed rural production base with concentration of fewer hands. The tax payers, mainly middle class, have expressed their concern over the issue of freebies as they feel their money is used unproductively, for such a use is not of nation’s interest but political party’s interest.
The religious tradition in India is ancient and a collective manifestation; it has been existing long before the dominant religions took birth, and entered into India. Entry into India in most cases had the intention of aggression, domination, and exploitation. People of new traditions, after settling in India for centuries, show the same mentality with deliberate efforts by way of opposing and attacking ancient traditions of collective expressions. There are ‘secular’ forces in their support also, and these defenders of the nation’s unity and under the plea of protecting the constitution, actually have created a favourable condition for the rule of forces which had invaded India to dominate and rule the land and its people and destroy the culture. The nation is pushed towards the edge further falling apart. When the situation is ripe for retaliation, as in case of Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Maldives, we showed /show restraints and use non- aggressive ways to settle the dispute. This is a truth in India only. Still we live in this India with the dream of a better future.
The representation of higher social categories in jobs, politics, etc. is a bone of contention and the data are published as evidence of deprivation of lower social categories. Given the human character of presenting the self in terms of others it is a natural aspiration/instinct of achieving and excel. The former came to the fore because of the advantage they got in the process of the history of governance. The same data is ignored in the claim of creamy-layer based reservation policy to uplift those in the concerned social group who are deprived. There is reservation for the marginalised communities, mulled for 10 years after Independence, but still continuing in the plea that it has not achieved its objective. But why? Is the policy wrong or is its implication faulty?
We call ourselves secular, politicians claim dying to maintain secularism, the soul of conservation, but views on particular religions are never missed. Dayanidhi is an example; and Jamiya Miliya University , Aligarh Muslim University in no way hide their religious sentiments.
When religion is at the helm of affairs at every front, they Why not admitting it as a driving force? After Pakistan on religious basis why India is secular on a western coloured ideology, why not in terms of India’s universal sense of equality?
Why not calling a spade a spade and why interpretation of the past in terms of contemporary logic? In India Hindus worship female as goddess. Are not there rapists from among them? Are not there thieves from among them to loot temple treasures? Do not we see the emerging tradition of demeaning India’s soft power tradition by glorifying aggressors’ hard power mentality at various quarters? Do not political parties give tickets to criminals? Then where is the possibility of crime free India? NO DOUBT WE LIVE IN THIS INDIA of contradictions and inequalities but never hesitate to blame THE OTHER or hide our darker side which get support at one or the other front of our time.
