The Intolerant Incredible India!

I was out of country for some time. When I came back and put on TV, I am hearing lot of talks about intolerance! It seems my 10k-years old peaceful country, has suddenly become intolerant!

I asked my old pal and journalist Anup Kumar about it. He is a leftist. He said: “There is a growing intolerance in India. It’s a fascist tendency. It began with…”

“Anup, I do not need a lecture or a pep talk – let politicians and religious leaders take care of it. We are journalists, and should go by facts…I just wanted to know why you are telling my mother land is intolerant…”

“It started with attacks on Christian churches in New Delhi. It appeared that Hindus turn intolerant towards Churches there”

“The fact is – There are only 24 Churches in Washington. 70 Churches in London. There are 67 Churches in the city of Milan in Italy. But in Delhi (the capital city of India, a country claims less than 3 percent of Christians) alone there are more than 250 churches. That shows, like all religious institutions (including temples or mosques), Churches are also having booming business in India. Attack on Church also later turned to be just fiction. So, your logic does not sync with reality”

“Hmmm…There is intolerance towards Muslims…”

“All my Muslim friends say that, India is the only country in the world where Muslims enjoy absolute freedom. Even in Islamic countries (where you don’t have freedom of expression), Muslims won’t get such freedom so they feel more secure in India. Our Muslims are getting a special status of minority community and also get subsidies in all fields. No other country gives such opportunities to Muslims. There are more than 3 lakh mosques in India. No other country in the world has this number.”

“There are lots of communal violence happening in this country…”

“Two things. 1. Factually, you are wrong. Look at statistics. India had 57 communal incidents per month in the last 4 years and 85% of these incidents happen in just 8 states. In 2014 there were lesser incidents of communal violence than previous years. 2. If a state government cannot contain communal violence, you should vote them down. Are we doing it?”

“It’s not the state government – the government of India has failed…”

“Again, mis-interpretation of facts. The Government of India has no control over a State’s Police forces…”

“Are you supporting Modi’s BJP government?”

“I am neither supporting nor bashing anybody. I don’t follow politics. I go by facts. Factually, Narendra Modi came into power in a democratic general election. Its okay you oppose him for no solid reason or just because you dislike him. But I can go only facts as I don’t have any politics.”

He changed the subject: “What about Dadri incident?”

“Dadri is unfortunate event but, it’s not a national issue like Tsunami, war, drought or riots across the country where national government should start imposing their authority over the states. It’s still a state who needs to quickly fix the situation and avoid any backlash….”

“But how can anybody decide what others should eat or not?”

“Such incidents should be deplorable. PETA India activists attacked by Bhopal residents for campaigning for a “Vegan Eid”. A flower vendor in Karnataka was hacked to death for campaigning on cow slaughter. Yes, such sad things happen – but extremely rare or random. All citizens of this country should be ashamed of it.”

“What about beef ban?”

“I am against any sort of ban. Cow slaughter was banned long ago. Incidentally, what’s was the symbol of today’s Indian National Congress party (Old name Indira Congress), which was founded by Indira Gandhi? Cow and Calf! All political parties are equally responsible when it comes to cow”, I told him, “But I don’t understand the logic – why animals can be killed, at the same time you shouldn’t light crackers in Diwali, it scares poor pets, domestic and other animals.”

“Hindus fundamentalists attack Christian missionaries who do mass conversions. Also they attack Muslims branding them jihad activists…”

“You have the answers in your statement. If people dislike mass conversion, why should you insist on converting them? All good Christians in this country are against such forceful conversions… And you mean to say violence in the name of Jihad should be supported? I don’t think even Muslims would support it…So, what is your intention here? And factually no such incidents recently reported in India.”

“Intolerance is confined to a specific segment…”

“Factual error again. Can you host our national flag in Kashmir, a state, for which most of our tax money is spent? Can you eat cow meat in Hindu dominated areas? Can you eat pork in Muslim dominated area? Can you even have your lunch in such areas in India during Ramadan fasting? Can your daughter or mother walk through red streets during night time? Can you write an article criticizing Prophet Muhammad? Can you talk against Babas, Mathas or Gurus in their stronghold? Can you talk against criminals in the guise of Christian priests? Can you talk about Communist atrocities in ‘Party Villages’? Can Police arrest the Imam in Delhi despite lot of arrest warrants? Can you tease any languages, for instance can you tease Tamil in Tamil Nadu? All these things should be legally and theoretically possible in a democratic free country, right? We don’t do such things, not because we are tolerant, but out of fear.”

“Hmm…But there is a general perception is that Indians are becoming intolerant…”

“India was a country where atheists can talk against gods sitting inside a temple eating temple food. From that situation, how come we deteriorate into this sort of intolerance? So, we have to find out the basic reason for it…FInd the reason you will get remedy. Instead, you are involving in mudslinging”

“I means, Hindus in India turning intolerant…”

“Factual error again. Hindus are supposed to be followers of Sanatan Dharma. The very foundation of Sanatan Dharma is based on the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is one Family). The first prayer of a Dharmi is “Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu” (let everybody in the world live peacefully). It’s NOT Hindu only Sukhino Bhavanthu. Still why some Hindus are become intolerant as you say? On the contrary, all Semitic religions say it is OK to kill non-believer (infidel) and that’s incentivized by ensuring seat in the heaven. Still, why our Christian and Muslim brothers are tolerant towards Hindus? It shows people with awareness will have compassion….”

“Okay, I can put it this way, fringe elements among Hindus…”

“People turn intolerant when they become insecure. So you have to find the real reason as to why born-tolerant Hindus become intolerant and address it instead of blaming them. So let’s create awareness about real Hinduism rather than blaming them…”

“I am a communist, not a Hindu, though I am born as Hindu…I cannot follow outdated culture…I am against all religions…”

“Be Indian first. Be Communist second. Even the origin of the word “communist” is from a Sanskrit word ‘Samooha nishta” meaning a “community person” which changed into communist by Indo-German as letter “S” and “C” are interchageably used in many cases…Please go through history and origin of communism first…”

“Whatever the origin, communists will fight intolerance in India…”

“That’s funny. The most intolerant people in this earth were communists. (See http://udaypai.in/?p=974) Try to find out the relation between communism and Jewish bankers who owned the company popularly called as “East India Company”. Find out how they could loot in their colonies without any resistance from the majority local population and why communists didn’t want to join quit India movement against British. So don’t sell me your cock-and-bull stories of commies love to tolerance and Bharat…”

“You talk as if you support BJP government…”

“Don’t act like a Cuttlefish”

“What do you mean?”

“Cuttlefish has a dark pigment released into water, as an escape mechanism. It creates darkness in the water. It’s similar to a typical communist reaction who throw mud into others face. You know very well that I have no politics. I am not in anybody’s payroll. Neither do I need any support from any political party. And I don’t support any.”

“Hmmm… still there is intolerance in India…Can’t you see lot of writers and artists are protesting against intolerance through award-wapsi…Can’t you see it?”

“You know background of those writers/artists and their political ideology better than me. You know the greed, desire, ulterior motives and intention behind it. So, let’s don’t delve into that. With their “award-wapsi” actions, they want to reclaim their privileged status. This is real intolerance. If they had even little bit of social commitment, they should step forward and seek dialogue with others in the society, all in the framework of tolerance. Instead, they have opted for media based propaganda actions. It is unhealthy. It generates intolerance.”

“They have the freedom to do whatever they like…” Anup said in a weak voice.

“There are lot of people defecate in the public. Is that your concept of freedom? Why should we promote freedom without self-discipline and self-respect? When you blame your country-men are intolerant, even if it is true, you are losing your self-respect and running away from the responsibility. But you shouldn’t forget that an ordinary Indian (who may not be as affluent as writers or artists) is also contributing to the society with his honest job and of taking care of his family. You should not mislead them by wrong propaganda. That’s intolerance.”

“Uday, seriously, you don’t believe there is growing intolerance in India?”

“I am travelling around. I talk to people on the street. They are my gurus of life. I don’t see any intolerance among common ordinary man other than injected by wily politicians and religious leaders and gurus. Intolerance is 100% media created hype. You know why is the media ‘manufacturing’ these stories of so called intolerance?”

“Hmmm…Some people are scared of living in India so they want to leave…”

“If there is an illness in your house, what should you do? When you see your parents or siblings (remember the oath – all Indians are my brothers and sisters) are ill, you want to leave them to death and get the hell out of the house for selfish enjoyment. Is it ethical? Is it morally right? What about your commitment to your nation? Why can’t you tolerate your own kith and kin? Or are you seeing them as your enemy?”

Anup didn’t answer that question. Then he said: “Its high time politicians and the government teach civility is basis of tolerance…”

“It’s the other way round. Tolerance is basis of civility. Tolerance is basic thing… Animals tolerate each other….without learning civility… You have to be tolerant first. Then create awareness instead of blaming others for intolerance.”

“Is that your view on intolerance in India?”

“India nurtures free thinking and practice of a variety of ideas and ideologies. There should be space for everyone. India’s strength is its diversity and multiculturalism. Countries want to standardize thinking as they standardize products. Media-market planting stories to sell their standardized version of tolerance. Let’s be real tolerant in our own way, not the way market projects. ”

“But you need to have lot of political will…”

“Let us not bother about Governments and Politicians. We are born free in India and let us stay free. The religion, region, state or language he or she belongs to is immaterial. We are all Indians. We stand together and face any rough weather. Only petty minded intolerant people can blame others for the situation. They should at least understand this is our country. We should take up the responsibility and should not run away from it blaming everything on others…Be tolerant – because the very meaning of INDIA is tolerance.”

“We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true.” – Swami Vivekananda

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Epilogue: A dialogue from the Hollywood movie The Terminal (2004) by Steven Spielberg

Frank Dixon (US Immigration Officer. Acted by Stanley Tucci): “I’m talking about human dignity. I’m talking about human rights. Viktor, please don’t be afraid to tell me that you’re afraid of Krakhozia.”
Viktor Navorski (a Krakozhia citizen. Acted by Tom Hanks): “Is home. I am not afraid from my home. I’m afraid from ghosts. I’m afraid from, uh… Dracula! Afraid from Wolfmens, afraid from sharks! ”

But he is NOT afraid of his country, even when country is faced with very dangerous situation. BTW, if you don’t know, that’s something known as patriotism!