Yoga Day was celebrated everywhere around the world with much fanfare. Rajpath turned into Yogpath as stated by PM Narendra Modi,who conceptualized the idea of Yoga day and made it possible in the global front. Amidst the celebrations, people took pride in their culture with few linking it with 'nationalism' and those who were slightly against this ideology were considered 'anti-nationalists'.But they failed to get the bigger picture. Didn't Mr. Modi tell them that Yoga is about creating self-awareness and detoxifying your negative thoughts. Isn't it about peaceful living with nature(and that includes fellow human beings too). And that reminded me that how judgmental we Indians are and how easily we tend to create a divide whenever someone goes against populist views. Singling-out someone with different views persists all over the world but we Indians are experts in turning that singling-out into a much more violent form.Despite being a democratic country, different views are hardly heard,let be accepted. We have created many divide in our common identity as Indian, we are divided by religion,caste,gotras,states,languages,gender,economic classes and what not. We find the concept of unity appeasing but hardly does we follow it. Its like our education system where theory holds much importance than practicality.Not straying much from the subject, I want younger generation(that is us) to imagine the other way around... nah not really that is a real cliche nowadays,but try and imagine being an Indian Minority.
Imagine you were an Indian Muslim,born in a Muslim ghetto or a good neighborhood(if u were lucky enough),having friends but still doubting your friendship by the special treatment given to you at their homes(we all had friends who were treated differently by our moms),marking minority in various forms filled for school,or college,or job(again if u were lucky enough) and facing the eyes filled with prejudices.Sometimes finding it difficult to wear a skullcap or burqa because trust me you wouldn't like people's gaze towards you. Turning reticent when your friends were discussing riots or Islamic terrorism(as they name it). Doubting your identity when various Hindu groups declare you Pakistani and you hear the atrocities faced by your own community in your own country.
Now imagine you belong to a much better religious class, Christianity, and your churches being vandalized, a selfless soul criticized for her services to poor people which they see were motivated by a desire to convert them. Now how do you feel about 'nationalism'?? but wait there's more, religious discrimination is just the tip of iceberg.
Have you ever wondered about caste divide,one of the most important ingredient of our divisiveness. You may say it is an extinct notion, but not really. We may not be aware but we ourselves are keeping this caste divide alive and it takes a violent turn in backward places.Now again imagine you were from a low caste, your whole life struggle is subservient to higher castes wishes who make their best efforts to ensure that you may not rise above your place at any point of time, your friend being killed because he dared to fall in love with someone from higher caste.Higher castes warily maintain caste equilibrium by killing anyone who tries to disturb this equilibrium.
And worse yet, if you were a female, you will have to deal with a whole different set of prejudices, Burdened with heavy terms like 'Ghar Ki Izzat' and many more. And soon after you were born,you would become a liability for your father without you even realizing that.Encountering a different set of rules and responsibilities (designed for superhuman), you will still be given a second class citizen treatment. I don't think i further need to state the plight of an Indian woman because if you aren't aware of that you are definitely not living on this planet.
We criticize Pakistan for frequent attacks on minority,west for racism, but are we any good? We are more divided than any other country can be and yet we thrive on 'Superficial Unity'.
Imagine you were an Indian Muslim,born in a Muslim ghetto or a good neighborhood(if u were lucky enough),having friends but still doubting your friendship by the special treatment given to you at their homes(we all had friends who were treated differently by our moms),marking minority in various forms filled for school,or college,or job(again if u were lucky enough) and facing the eyes filled with prejudices.Sometimes finding it difficult to wear a skullcap or burqa because trust me you wouldn't like people's gaze towards you. Turning reticent when your friends were discussing riots or Islamic terrorism(as they name it). Doubting your identity when various Hindu groups declare you Pakistani and you hear the atrocities faced by your own community in your own country.
Now imagine you belong to a much better religious class, Christianity, and your churches being vandalized, a selfless soul criticized for her services to poor people which they see were motivated by a desire to convert them. Now how do you feel about 'nationalism'?? but wait there's more, religious discrimination is just the tip of iceberg.
Have you ever wondered about caste divide,one of the most important ingredient of our divisiveness. You may say it is an extinct notion, but not really. We may not be aware but we ourselves are keeping this caste divide alive and it takes a violent turn in backward places.Now again imagine you were from a low caste, your whole life struggle is subservient to higher castes wishes who make their best efforts to ensure that you may not rise above your place at any point of time, your friend being killed because he dared to fall in love with someone from higher caste.Higher castes warily maintain caste equilibrium by killing anyone who tries to disturb this equilibrium.
And worse yet, if you were a female, you will have to deal with a whole different set of prejudices, Burdened with heavy terms like 'Ghar Ki Izzat' and many more. And soon after you were born,you would become a liability for your father without you even realizing that.Encountering a different set of rules and responsibilities (designed for superhuman), you will still be given a second class citizen treatment. I don't think i further need to state the plight of an Indian woman because if you aren't aware of that you are definitely not living on this planet.
We criticize Pakistan for frequent attacks on minority,west for racism, but are we any good? We are more divided than any other country can be and yet we thrive on 'Superficial Unity'.
