A Look at Minorities through the Sentiment called ‘Bharat’
Hindus dominate the geography of India but everyone knows Bharat is home to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Jains as well. It houses individuals from sub-classes of diverse religions−whether males, females, or from any other gender.
Being the largest democracy−and on top of that a multi-secular society−intent of this country should be to provide respite to all. There may be disputes every now and then but the motto should not change. In fact, it cannot change. Irrespective of cultural, gender, or religious differences, all institutions −whether private or government−educate and hire people for overall development of the country. Thus, it all comes down to how social security of an individual par religion, caste, gender, or ethnicity is maintained. And this how is worthwhile to ask.
India, as Hindustan, was never bounded by hatred.People, whether Hindu or Muslim or from any other religion, lived in harmony. However, repeatedly criticizing one’s integrity and faith is a huge blow to secularism. We have examples of Muslim lynching, cow protection force, love jihad squad, and many others.
Adding spice to this mix, let’s talk about the Citizen Amendment Act. With this, people−who just yesterday were our equally loyal brothers and patriotic sisters −wereforced to experience partition-like situations. It clearly implied the country’s rulers deem this nation fit for just one religion. They uphold virtue of the majority in opposition to all others. Keeping minorities ceaselessly oppressed, and making sure minorities remain minorities, what this secular state did was shred democracy to smithereens. This is a huge deterrent to the collaboration that is India.
What also started to emerge with time is blatant disregard of female counterparts in various office or business setups. Though disparity was prevalent before industrialization −and to state the truth, even more than what it is today −yet what’s baffling is that after being provided equal rights on paper, the act is subsequently lost in practical life.
It exemplifiescowardice and treachery from one’s own country, from this Bharat of ours. This can’t be called a democracy. Rather a skeleton of a democratic setup inside which sentiments are torn and hatred is brewed. Petitions signed and agreed by a couple thousand people cannot dismantle this establishment. It can’t preventspread of this terrible anti-human epidemic.
India, as Hindustan,was crowned a conglomerate of varied cultures, rituals, traditions, religions, and societies. And it hadcarried this status for a long time. However now,because of these recurrent issues, this status is plunging rapidly.
Responsible individuals, both citizens and administrators, have to consider that a country progresses only by true commitment towards its inhabitants. All of them. Without any discrimination or unfair denomination.
Leaders have to unite and work to abolish this association that conjures favoritism amongst its creed. Everyone must recognize that these unethical issues, about any religion or race or gender, are bent upon segregating the Indian society. Because it is people, as a whole soulful mix,who help carve a niche for any nation in this competitive world.
On the other hand, what macho-patriarchs should reconsider is that women, too, act as a stronghold to uplift a nation. They have abilities and responsibilities like every other man. They are not less, nor more important than men but have equal standing, in all respects.
A country is recognized by its people and people by their unity. A famous quote proclaims,
“Unity in diversity may seem an old fashioned quote to use today, but all that’s happening right now and everything this country might face in the future, people may require a little old fashion”
After all when the dust settles around issues that divide a country, people will surely recognize who worked more for this Bharat to be great again.
(Originally published on Feminism in India and re-published here with their permission)
