“The test of courage comes when we are
in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.” —
Ralph W. Sockman
Several authors are relinquishing
their awards in India to protest against the hostile attitude of a few
hard-line Hindus and the present government. It is reported that 12 filmmakers are
returning their national awards. The
protest is spiraling where the prestigious Padma awards are being returned. It is
a cause for concern for Indians and the world. The issue was elevated India
globally, and put India on the global map for negative reasons. It is time to
address this issue earnestly to set the house in order to present India in a
positive perspective globally.
Returning awards is to protest against
the murder of a prominent atheist scholar in August 2015 — allegedly by
hard-line Hindu fundamentalist groups. It is highly deplorable that a Hindu mob
lynched a Muslim man on suspicion of having consumed beef. All these acts
reflect the growing intolerance in India. The writers, artists, intellectuals
are extremely worried and concerned about the increasing intolerance in India.
Sahitya Akademi award (the National
Academy of Letters) is India’s prestigious coveted literary honour. It is an unprecedented in the history of
India that writers are returning their awards. Hindi writer Uday Prakash was
the first to return this prestigious award. The majority agree with this move while a few
disagree with it. Whatever the reasons are, it is obvious that there is a growing
intolerance under the leadership of Narendra Modi who was elected with
spectacular majority in the May 2014 Indian elections. Supports of Modi criticize
that it is the handwork of the Indian media. But it is a fact known to everyone
that issues like beef ban and religious intolerance divert the attention of
India from development to fundamentalism.
D. Balasubramanian Ex-Director, CCMB
India remarked, “We have reached a stage where intolerant people think their
actions are being endorsed by someone at the top.” Hence, Modi must come out openly to condemn
such attacks to overcome from the present confusion that fundamentalist forces
have a tacit understanding with him.
Modi came from Hindu and RSS
background. He is often accused of not taking action when atrocities occurred
against minority Muslims and communities. He is undergoing several challenges
both within his own party (BJP) and Congress and other opposition parties. There
are some leaders within his own party who are envious of his growing popularity
globally. Hence, he must shed his pro-Hindu image and pioneer the respect and
equality of all communities to grow as a tall leader.
As a Prime Minister, Modi must rise
above petty politics and his RSS ideology. He represents as the Prime Minister
of India. He must be liberal, secular, treat everyone equally and respect all
communities. He must stay away from his personal ideologies and petty politics.
Conclusion
The literary community in India
doesn’t feel safe under the current government. They feel that the freedom of
expression is under a grave threat. If it is so, Indian democracy is under
great threat and equally Indian diversity is at stake.
The surge of violent Hindu nationalism
in India is not only a cause for concern for minorities in India but also to
the very fabric of Indian secularism. India survived as a nation despite beset
with several political, economic and social challenges because of secularism. Hence, it is vital to ensure success of
democracy. Indian democracy is the largest one in the world and it is essential
to make it the healthiest one in the world.
To conclude, India is a secular, tolerant and pluralistic country with
democracy at the grass root level. Hence, we must save democracy by celebrating
diversity to make India as a strong and dignified nation in the world.
“An individual has not started living
until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to
the broader concerns of all humanity.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
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