Shiban Khaibri
As if this queer conundrum of ”secular” and ”communal,” ”divisive ” and ”cohesive” , ”fundamentalist ” and ”right winged”, ”left winged” and ”more left winged” , Ganga -Jamuni Tehzeeb like intricate political riddles bugging no country other than our country in the world was anything not sufficient in itself than now the bulldozers too have been compartmentalised into ”secular” bulldozer and ”communal” bulldozer . The one that pulled down a few unauthorised structures in Jehangirpuri and the one that pulled down 300 years old revered Shiv Mandir in Alwar Rajasthan stand increasingly politicised and the environment of the country kept warmly simmering as otherwise we have, very unfortunately, been witnessing chain of uncalled for protests, sit-in-dharnas, violent acts like pelting , even shooting followed by playing victimhood for nothing under a seemingly well orchestrated agenda, active for the last couple of years in this country which reportedly also gets enough oxygen from various anti India lobbies and hate India forums from abroad which keep nursing a trend to propagate an anti India narrative. For anything , there must be built a proper base , a structure, a system, a framework and a sustainable order which , thanks to those who after sitting in the cockpit of the clipped airship of this great country post ”independence” commandeered it . They shaped it politically, culturally and socially as per their whims as they were not elected and duly mandated by the people of the country. They took the reins of the country under an instrument of “transfer of power” and who transferred it – those, who had encroached upon and usurped India in 1757 because invader Mughals had receded into retributive fate of non-entity.
However, it was the time to shape and mould India in a way that would encompass its historical greatness , its rich cultural and spiritual heights as also how it was the seat of learning and of scientific analysis. On the contrary, what is generally known as ”general consensus” and , perhaps willy -nilly if not intentionally , the then dispensation did not think it necessary to dwell upon and vividly project the ethos and core spirit of India . Instead, what was created was on many counts a mess though opposed on many occasions by many visionary leaders . Netaji Subash Bose, who earlier had been eclipsed ignoring his unparalleled contribution to the freedom movement , was reportedly not around at the critical time of shaping the destiny of India due to not surviving an air crash on August 18, 1945 in Taiwan. In short, this led to carving out a scope of appeasement, unwanted preference and special consideration which has now hardened so much , taken roots deep as much and having virtually established so irrevocably that it is seemingly the fait accompli of those people pursuing a faith which is oldest in the world to be pelted at twelve different places recently in as many as seven states of this country on Shoba Yatras on the eve of holy festival of Ramnavmi followed at a few places on Hanuman Jayanti as well.
It may be sincerely realised that those at the helm right from August 1947 for years together did not underline and project what was so special and unique about India and as such what was core India even after it got partitioned on the demand of Jinnah and Muslim League. Indian high ideas were not obsolete but there appeared no willingness shown even perhaps to study them let alone adopt them by these leaders . Those leaders who had studied English, English Law and English literature became our masters who saw in ancient Indian civilization only so called orthodoxy or prevalent poverty ignoring what India was when the British took political control over it to rule for two hundred years . It was incumbent upon the then leadership to tell the world that we were a great civilization and that we would again prove to rise to those levels . True, millions had to be freed from want, hunger, despair and perpetual neglect post partition but the Indian people had also to be kept truly informed about the history and how invasions and then partition had dealt a severe blow to the uniqueness of Indian civilization. It was not done, instead invaders were glorified , history was misinterpreted and prescribed so in the curriculum – Babar the warrior, Akbar the great, etc. Demolished heritage symbols of faith were not rebuilt with state funds , the list is unending. However, past is past but why should the present be unfortunately polluted like that of 1946 or a few years prior thereto, must be seriously thought about.
Should , therefore, in this country. those people have to explain their conduct, their manner, their dare and ”why and what for” they took out Shoba Yatras and thus perhaps “provoke” rioters to pelt them. They are asked by a few opportunist leaders whether they had sought due written permission(s) from ”multiple ” authorities for that and did they have ”some sense” to be very and cautiously very conscious , wary, careful, respectful and subsequently honouring the sensitivities of “sensitive areas” and not passing through such de-facto(ly) declared sensitive areas nor chanting religious slogans. What , in fact, is this sensitive area and how it is identified ? Sensitive in which sense and why it is sensitive? On what basis and which Act of Parliament declared a particular area of partitioned India as “sensitive” and how it became sensitive?
The tragedy is that such questions cannot even be asked in this partitioned India as that would be termed as anti secular and divisive. Jodhpur district administration under secular government of Rajasthan , therefore, issuing directives that particular areas should have uninterrupted electric supply during the Holy month is all secular but the same type of directive cannot be issued in respect of Holy Navratra festival fasts and related rituals lasting a month because that would be grossly anti secular. Why not in principle be uninterrupted power supply to all citizens be ensured looking to how much the country has developed over the years . Issuing such orders and later withdrawing , if any, and commenting upon it looks equally all cheap but why should such littleness not be fairly criticised and stopped forthwith .
Now the other question is equally important . Did Shaheen Bagh agitators seek prior permission and whether the same was granted in December 2019 to agitate indefinitely and for no cause? Did groups of women similarly seek prior permission in February 2020 for protesting at Shajmahal in Aligarh to raise “Aazadi slogans” and the vow to continue anti CAA agitation? Did farm agitators seek prior permission to agitate so ”overwhelmingly ” and on such a big magnitude and scale on Delhi Haryana border ,taking along all paraphernalia sufficient for months together? The list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Since two wrongs, rather many in tandem, cannot make one right and , therefore, every procession – religious , cultural , political and even a mournful one – must, in principle, have prior permission in deference to maintenance of law and order but these Ramnavmi procession(ists) in a few hundred had reportedly already sought due permission and hypothetically assuming they had not, still should they have been subjected to stones rained on them , the worst witnessed in Karauli Congress ruled Rajasthan where the spectacle of violence was horrible and still the main accused and his accomplice are still reported to be underground and not brought to justice.
What happened in Jehangirpuri in New Delhi and who caused it , Chief Minister Kejriwal says Modi is responsible . Ask Ashok Gehlot as to who is responsible for Karauli violene , pat comes the answer – Modi . However, who is responsible for desecrating and pulling down 300 year old Shiv Temple in Alwar Rajasthan – if it is not Modi direct but his BJP councillors in the ULBs must be and can be responsible. What a hopeless narrative and what a ruse explanation and what a scenario of dirtiest politics in the country? However, in protest, not a pebble was thrown by the hurt Hindu devotees of Alwar for which they must be praised and eulogised. The other side of the handling of the problem and full administrative grip over law and order can be seen in Utter Pradesh where seven hundred of such Yatra processions were taken but not a pebble was thrown anywhere and not even a solitary untoward incident of even negligible proportion took place , but how? It is because of the fear of law and nothing else. Unless fear of law is instilled, peace, order and tranquillity cannot be ensured.
Why should at all political patronage and ”other support” be extended to non-Indians like Rohingyas and Bangladeshis who surreptitiously keep entering into this country and are settling in different parts enjoying multi-faceted support ? Why should they not enter Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan , Bangladesh etc and why only this country ? Therefore, why bulldozers should not pull down unauthorised structures and evict encroachers from illegally occupied public land? Uncalled for politicising and always playing religious card and victimhood even after carving out of two separate theocratic countries from this great country in 1947 should neither take place nor be allowed . Looking at things always through the prism of communal angle cannot be allowed , enough of it was done which led to partition. All Indians ,therefore, have to live together , in harmony and tolerant of one another under the law of the land and as per the constitution and make this country a strong military and economic power .
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