Labelization!
This India trip was a series of arguments. I felt like a inept solitary ninja wielding my sword against a huge group of fighters closing in on me. The arguments centered around whether the Muslims in India are radicals/terrorists and what should be their fate. Indians i met, (read middle class educated Hindus) are convinced that all Indian Muslims are jihadis or on their way to become one!
Most of the arguments are something which one has heard since the time of ramjanmabhomi movement (they cheer for pakistan in cricket matches, fundamentalist etc) and heard from the hardliners of BJP/VHP/Bajrang Dal/modi etc (all are terrorists and out to get us). While the former is plain silly the latter is both unfounded and a generalization.
But this time what is scary is that more middle class common Indians seem to be agreeing. Fewer liberal voices are protesting! But the clinching argument often comes from the news of another bomb blast done by some radical group.
Another worrisome point is that this kind of fear mongering generally coincides with elections when the Indian politicians are at their finest (sic); but the election fever has yet to begin in India and public statements against any particular community have been missing. Thus such drawing room discussions are snowballing on their own. Undoubtedly as the general election of 2009 come nearer these voices will reach a higher pitch in a bid to gather votes. and that will be worse.
In my opinion there are a few reasons for this phenomenon:
1-the series of bomb blasts in India in the past 3 months are the most India has ever seen.
2-the fear among the common man has grown. an example being that a few days before Diwali malls and shopping areas were mostly empty. True that the poor economy may have some to do with it. but the cautionary warning by relatives not to go to markets were v real.
2-The world and western perception propounded mainly post 9/11 of radical Islamists has penetrated down to the common Indian as well.
One wonders where the Muslim moderates and the enlightened leaders are. Why isn't anybody strtegising against how to get rid of this kind of labeling.
The only resistance, funily enough, seems to be coming from Bollywood with films like 'wednesday' 'aamir' 'dhokha' which potray the innocent Indian Muslim caught between the fundamentalists. However Bollywood can merely do so much..it is not an instrument of social change.
India, with its rising economic clout, further class divides scares me more this time. For as students of genocide very well know a general labelization of a community is the first step into the blackhole of ethnic violence and genocide.__________.
For we cannot allow another Gujarat to happen.
Most of the arguments are something which one has heard since the time of ramjanmabhomi movement (they cheer for pakistan in cricket matches, fundamentalist etc) and heard from the hardliners of BJP/VHP/Bajrang Dal/modi etc (all are terrorists and out to get us). While the former is plain silly the latter is both unfounded and a generalization.
But this time what is scary is that more middle class common Indians seem to be agreeing. Fewer liberal voices are protesting! But the clinching argument often comes from the news of another bomb blast done by some radical group.
Another worrisome point is that this kind of fear mongering generally coincides with elections when the Indian politicians are at their finest (sic); but the election fever has yet to begin in India and public statements against any particular community have been missing. Thus such drawing room discussions are snowballing on their own. Undoubtedly as the general election of 2009 come nearer these voices will reach a higher pitch in a bid to gather votes. and that will be worse.
In my opinion there are a few reasons for this phenomenon:
1-the series of bomb blasts in India in the past 3 months are the most India has ever seen.
2-the fear among the common man has grown. an example being that a few days before Diwali malls and shopping areas were mostly empty. True that the poor economy may have some to do with it. but the cautionary warning by relatives not to go to markets were v real.
2-The world and western perception propounded mainly post 9/11 of radical Islamists has penetrated down to the common Indian as well.
One wonders where the Muslim moderates and the enlightened leaders are. Why isn't anybody strtegising against how to get rid of this kind of labeling.
The only resistance, funily enough, seems to be coming from Bollywood with films like 'wednesday' 'aamir' 'dhokha' which potray the innocent Indian Muslim caught between the fundamentalists. However Bollywood can merely do so much..it is not an instrument of social change.
India, with its rising economic clout, further class divides scares me more this time. For as students of genocide very well know a general labelization of a community is the first step into the blackhole of ethnic violence and genocide.__________.
For we cannot allow another Gujarat to happen.
Comments
its one of d most real articles i've come across on this topic, which till now, has mostly been conceived by various writers thru their own point of view, which unfortunately has been far away from reality.
but i must applaude for u on being so honest n sincere in your approach on such a topic.
its very well written, keeps its pace with d reader, until u finish reading till d end.
i must say something here, dat being a Muslim, born n lived all my life in India, I have now come across with people having this point of view of labelling Muslims as terrorists. but d world around me, my friends, social circle, old mates (all non muslims), are all d same vid me as they've been since d beginning. i find myself fortunate to have all of them in my life, who are also playing an integral role, directly or indirectly, in my life.
so what u have said here is pretty true, but people like me have never lacked good, sincere, loving well wishers & friends (even my best friends), all of whom r non muslims.
so, being an indian living with such people around, i dont feel that there can ever be another gujrat again in india.