What constitutes the idea for India for us? Well, the answer may not be easy to pinpoint but is supposedly based on the claims of our interrogations. How do we situate our roles, rights and responsibilities as dutiful citizens of the state? Because the state is mandated by constitutional provisions to secure and safeguard individual interests against any form of exploitation and tyranny. But has the Indian state lived up to its commitments in protecting the rights and dignity of the individual?
Why is the condition of our people in stark contrast to what is projected by our policymakers? Who is to blame for such a complex web of circumstances leading to such a sorry state of affairs? I think that we as a nation did a great disservice by dissociating ourselves from Gandhian socialism. Satya (truth) and ahimsa (non-violence) could have guided our path and destiny but we chose to abandon it.
What happened to all our terms and talks on pluralism, secularism and diversity? The Indian project requires us to appreciate and acknowledge the broadness of our heterogeneity. It is in this backdrop that an attempt to understand and acquire modernity should be made. We can’t afford to rationally justify modernity; we also have to morally justify it. Scientific outlook, orientation and temper no doubt form the backbone of modernity.
But we shouldn’t become its pawns as for our care and compassion towards our brethren. I am not for social conservatism but for a consensus on making our life self fulfilling, worthy and dignified. After all, we have been a society giving primacy to samvad (dialogue) and vichar (thought) and have still co-existed peacefully. But why is it that we are now becoming so disenchanted with opposing views and ideas? Instead of tackling it intelligently, is it important to prove our point every time?
I leave this question to us all believing that we will make some introspection.