India recognizes itself as the largest democracy in the world. It is also identified as a secular nation- one where various religions intersperse across the length and breadth of the country and coexist.
However, the fast-forward button to 2015 reveals a different scenario- one where
In today’s India, the minorities live in fear. Fear of getting killed for their religion or for what they consume. They’re at fault for offending sentiments of a particular community by merely existing, and the day isn’t far when a refrigerator check shall be made mandatory.
The question on everyone’s minds is thus a simple one. How did we, as a country get here?
Let’s face it, this transformation is impossible to have been achieved overnight, regardless of the various blood-thirsty fringe outfits at play. It is also unlikely that this could have been successful without the approval or the free-hand of the ruling party.
The Dadri lynching isn’t the first horrific incident that India has witnessed and keeping in mind the increasing level of intolerance seeping into our mindsets, it certainly won’t be the last, but where it stands out when compared to other similar instances is that it was effective in pioneering a raging public discourse regarding the worrying direction in which India is headed.
The leader of the largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers no solace or answers. Neither does the BJP top brass.
His damning silence on the incident and the much bigger problem of intolerance that it represents has been severely analyzed and the widely assumed notion is that Narendra Modi is in favour of allowing such a behavior, if not approving it. It seems to denote an environment where Muslims or any minority community won’t be spared unless they live by the rules.
This transformation of India also comes at a time when our Prime Minister is flying all over the world in a bid to position India as a lucrative option amongst the superpowers and rake in foreign
And, it’d be wrong to admit that Modi hasn’t achieved results. In 2014-2015 alone, India has received $19.78 billion foreign direct investment (
Just yesterday, German chancellor Angela Merkel signed close to 18 MOUs with India. She also stressed on the fact that German companies operating In India should be given the same treatment as Indian companies as they benefit both sides.
Whether Merkel was aware of the cloud of intolerance spreading slowly but steadily throughout the country while signing the agreements is not known, but would her country be willing to stick to their stance had they been briefed about the India’s situation remains a doubt you cannot easily shirk off.
The countries investing in India see the country as progressive, accepting and a breeding ground for new ideas, thoughts accompanied by a freedom of expression but it is far from the country India resembles at the moment.
A beefburger might be the preferred snack in other parts of the world, but in India it is a food item that’s best when it’s banned.
It is thus, upto only one man to restore the reputation of the country, if not for the sake of the family who lost their 50-year old father over rumours of them being beef-eaters but for the future that could await India.
Mr Prime Minister, it's time you spoke.
Image credit: Indiatimes