THE POLITICS OF HATE
DARK AGES!
WE HAVE ENTERED THE
DARK AGES!
No, that’s not what I
believe, I got that from the social media. While the majority of India exulted
in NDA’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections, a TSUNAMO, most called it, there
is a percentage of Indians who were plunged into mourning at the tragedy that
had befallen them.
Now, normally, I
refrain from commenting or posting anything related to politics. How can I participate
in debates and discussions about the said subject when I don’t know much about
politics, politicians, governments, their policies except for what I read in
the newspapers and hear on media? I have never even met a politician and don’t
follow any one of them on social media or otherwise. More and more, as I
advance in age and hopefully wisdom, I realise I know nothing and understand
even less.
However, my newly acquired wisdom has made me
privy to one very obvious fact. I – we are surrounded by hate, resentment,
hostility, ill-will – whatever name you wish to give it. The biggest, grandest
spectacle of democracy, elections, are meant to unite and empower us and lead
us forward into a world of equality and hope and out of a world filled with
conflict, prejudice, and despair. But hatred mars this political national
marvel and unfortunately turns it into an extravaganza a lot many don’t want to
be a part of.
‘The Hindu nationalist party ran a hate-filled
campaign and now seems poised to return to power with a terrifying mandate’
‘Why Indian leader Modi’s big win is an
‘absolute tragedy’ for minorities’
‘Modi the 'Hindu Messiah' Manipulated Hope and
Hate to Win India's Election’
‘Bad For India’s Soul'
‘Divider in chief, racist, right-wing
authoritarian, a dictator, an uneducated chaiwalla’
While the international media dubbed the PM many names and abused him in
their opinion pieces, at home too he has not escaped harsh criticism and wrath
from many sections of society. This constitutes hatred from the common man who not
only loves to spew rhetoric completely based on what the media feeds him but forgets
that he has no inside information or evidence, to base his opinions on.
Doesn’t hating and being intolerant of a man or a government you feel is
bad for India and then openly denouncing them in public lead to more
hatred. You hate the hater – you become the hater.
Hate is a feeling of intense dislike or aversion and the alarming thing
is it is accepted as normal today. Online hatred is now a big part of the game and the one thing that spurred me to write this piece.
Do you hate because you want to make the world a better place? Do you
express your convictions and criticisms because you feel you can make a
difference? Or do you do it because you want to silence dissent and opposing
thoughts, because you know better and because your ideology is superior, or even because you are blinded by your own beliefs? By taking sides aren’t you playing
divisive games and fuelling hatred too?
Hatred promotes many actions that are not carefully planned. They are
highly spontaneous, resulting in a lack of analysis of the consequences. Going
on to hate only tells more about you than about the person you hate. And
remember hate and intolerance are a personal choice. Hating is playing a
blame-game, because somewhere maybe you don’t understand what is going on.
“Any person capable of angering you becomes
your master.” — Epictetus
While I desist from sharing opinions on our polity and its participants
there are others who don’t hold themselves back. It’s not for lack of views or
judgement that I do so but because well, what do I actually know about any of
it. It is also because there is no point to it. Am I going to make a difference
either way? But I know one thing, hating will certainly affect me and my
well-being.
I don’t know if the BJP and its leaders are liked by you or hated by you,
but if you are one of those who choose to offer commentary, opinions, point of
views, or dissent readily on social media, you are giving in to the powerful
emotion of hate.
“I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my
soul by making me hate him.”
— Booker T. Washington
Does it then augur well for me or for that matter the people of this
country to form opinions and share them so freely without considering the
repercussions of doing so? I don’t know, because that is something you need to
think about and decide for yourself. But what I am sure of is that nothing good can ever come of hate.
Agree 100%
ReplyDeleteHate is a very strong word. Often I find myself correcting my children for loosely using it, " I hate my xyz class, I hate this t shirt....". What can be so wrong that you ' hate' it? And in case there is, we need to learn to get over it, change it, rethink about it because ultimately it is affecting us only. Unfortunately hate mongers are aplenty on both sides of the massive NDA mandate. Let's hope for winds of change.
Loved reading your piece.
Absolutely! Thank you for commenting Bani! Let's all hope for a better tomorrow.
DeleteWell said Nirja. We are now in a state of change freeing ourselves from the clutches of the British trained (brainwashed?) intellectual elite who were allowed to smother our heritage and who pandered to a make believe legacy distorted by Western minds with evil intent. An intent to keep us as a work force for their industries. That is why we see so many Indians heading Corporations abroad. They are merely well paid workers while Their Masters enjoy the fruits of their labour. It's a workforce and has no bearing on our heritage of a life well lived, not for oneself but others. Hatred, according to me is of two kinds. Political and religious. Political hatred comes from people who have led themselves to believe that it is their Devine right to rule over the ignorant masses who toil day and night to make them rich. Religious hatred comes from the the thought that my religion is the only true one and all who do not share my belief system have no right to exist. Whereas, our wise ones have taught that all religions are but a different path to the same goal and none is superior to the other, you choose what suits you best. (Though do we really choose or do we follow what has been ingrained into us from childhood by our parents, by accident of birth). As far as political hatred is concerned, we need to throw it away and render constructive help to the duly elected Government and actively participate in making India a better place to live in. Bharat has always taught acceptance of all and not merely tolerance of all. Acceptance is love, tolerance is suppressed hatred.
ReplyDeleteSo well put! Let's hope for the best and contribute to a better society.
Delete