Moral Dictators- We Don't Need Them
A few conservative and parochial elements are maligning the free spirit of Indian democracy. They tend to dictate the rule of morality while they themselves violate the basic human rights.
INDIA OCCUPIES a prominent position on the world stage for its amazing unity in diversity and the remarkable sustenance of democracy. There exist various differences in our land in terms of religion, caste, regions that in term dictate ones' traditions, customs and outlook, in general.
Despite the numerous variations, all the citizens tend to feel proud to be recognized as Indians. Our freedom fighters also collectively strived for India's independence and subsequently organized the liberated India as a single unit by dividing states as per administrative and regional needs.
Unfortunately, present day India seems to be reversing the glorious trend, as today we stand divided on issues like regional extremism, statehood, moral policing etc. Ironically, the demagogue politicians seem to be less concerned about spiraling food prices, degrading environment, deadly terrorism and crass tactics of Maoism, than about closing Mumbai to North Indians, declaring Telangana to be a separate state or simply harassing people on Valentine's Day. Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and their ilk are raising the inimical regional rhetoric over Mumbai on the pretext of excess influx of migrants in the city.
In sheer violation of Article 19(1) (d & e), the non-Marathis, specially the poor labour class are often assaulted and forced to get back. The Mumbai manoos raised a huge hue and cry and coerced a leading film director to apologize for using Bombay, instead of Mumbai, in one of his films. One wonders if this is the tolerance level expected of the public leaders. They recently targeted the right of expression of one of the celebrities of the nation for allegedly showing sympathy for Pakistan. We generally condemn the fanatic Taliban in our neighbouring countries on the western border, but seem to have done little to tame our domestic conservative groups. Last year, the country indifferently watched as vigilante volunteers brashly beat up women in a pub in Mangalore.
Every year, the groups like Sri Ram Sene, Bajrang Dal etc. issue diktats against Valentine's Day celebrations and force the dating couples to get married instantly or harass their families in public. St. Valantine was an epitome of selfless love and the day is celebrated to honour him by expressing love for our dear ones. Love, in fact is a divine feeling and exists in every relation whether of husband- wife, parents and their kids, brother- sister or simply between friends. So there is no logic in harassing the couples, making social decency the scapegoat because decency demands the regard for other's personal choice.
They aver that February 14 and Friendship day revelries are the symbols of westernization and hence should be shunned. Would it not be more realistic if we portray this western culture in the spirit of our highly esteemed Indian values? This was well exhibited by a devotee who believes the day to be for Lord Krishna's love for his devotees. R Jagannath, founder of a 'Valentine Krishna' Temple in Tamil Nadu said that the temple was meant especially for couples in love to seek the Lord's blessings as HE Himself is considered to be the symbol of love. So how can expressing love be anti cultural, when it is the essential principle of every religion? Love is truly the purest when it is for GOD and celebrating this day would only endorse the same universal theme. Currently, there is an active campaign of 'love Jihad' in south India and the self acclaimed Khap Panchayats in Haryana.
The former terrorizes every youngster who is seen interacting with a friend of another religion. If a boy and a girl belonging to different religions, are seen together, vigilante groups immediately take hold of them and all the misfortune and doom breaks over the two families. Incidentally, this moral policing once drove a 15 year old girl to commit suicide as she was humiliated for standing with her Muslim girlfriend's brother whom she ran into just by chance. Worse, the boy was booked for abetment of suicide.
How can our laws turn a blind eye when young lives are being ruined for the sake of so called morality? Khap panchayats are unpopular for issuing fatwas to the couples who have married within the same gotra. The modern techno savvy generation would wonder what gotra means while the young are being boycotted and fatally assaulted for defying their orders.
Recently, parents of a ten month old baby were asked to live as brother and sister for the fault which no legal postulate would edify. It is really high time the authorities, leaving aside their political game plans, put such anti social vigilante groups on leash. Morality has got much more to do with one's honesty and integrity, rather than alienating one social group from another. It would be far better if we teach our youth about causeless love, selfless service and a fair conduct.
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