Sir,
In the last few days different parts of the country witnessed a different kind of politics : The ‘Statue politics.’ What followed immediately after the declaration of election results in Tripura and other North Eastern States is not new in this country. The pulling down of the statues of Valdimir Lenin in Tripura started a chain reaction and was followed by damaging the statues of Shayama Prasad Mukherjee, Periyar, B R Ambedkar and the Father of the Nation. What does it means to a common Indian ? It shows growing intolerance among masses towards the pluralistic society. This is not good for a healthy democracy. In a democratic set up various political parties having different idealogies is a healthy feature of vibrancy and dynamism. The narrative of nationalism has to be supreme. Vandalism is not acceptable in a civil society. Destroying a statue is not going to alter someone’s ideology. All the political figures whose statues were damaged beling to the category of belong the tallest leaders of their own clan. I am sure none of them would have desired to have their statues, made when they were alive. It is not only the demonstration of reverence but also sycophancy of their followers. These statues and busts are symbols of identity and pride. I do not think creating statues is the best way to pay tribute to them and damaging the already erected one is certainly not.
Follow their ideology and respect the dissenting one also if the Nation really wants to pay tribute to their contribution.
Yours etc..
S N Raina
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