The past few years have seen the incessant growth of the doctrine of apoliticism among a large number of social media users. Apoliticism is characterised by a lack of interest in politics. According to the Collins Dictionary, apolitical is defined as being “politically neutral; without political attitudes, content, or bias”.
However, in my opinion, in this era of widespread polarisation, not just in India, but all over the world, being apolitical is a political choice, and more so, one that portrays a sense of privilege, security and well-being in the status quo.
The very society we live in was built on political engagement. Had it not been for continuous political participation by the populace, Indian independence would have been a distant dream. Similarly, universal suffrage, the abolition of slavery and the movement for civil rights are all results of people raising their voice for what they believed was right.
Every aspect of a person’s life is based on politics, and it is foolish to think that the larger political discourse plays little to no role in our everyday life.
Being apolitical comes with a heavy cost for the state of the nation, as well as the world. Choosing to be silent on politics is an individual choice and yet speaks volumes about the person and their politics, as not speaking up against the injustices faced by their fellow citizens is simply complicity and support of a system that engages in oppression.
Being apolitical is not a choice for more than 200 million Muslims currently living in India, as they face a barrage of hate speech, violence and discrimination as part of official government policy.
The recent acts of discrimination against Muslim students who choose to wear the hijab, which we see in Karnataka, is one such example of how xenophobia and oppression have become an inseparable part of our bureaucratic, government and even educational institutions.
Similarly, Dalits cannot be apolitical as they cannot turn a blind eye towards the discrimination they and the members of their community face on a daily basis and the system that enables it.
Being apolitical is a viable choice only for those who are privileged enough to not be severely affected by what is happening in our country, and they are largely comfortable living in a bubble. However, those who face the brunt of erroneous policy, discriminatory practices and unjust laws cannot afford to be apolitical in the present scenario.
#THREAD: Many young people claim to be “apolitical” when questioned about their political affiliations.
However, politics is not limited to aligning with a particular political party.
It also plays out in our everyday life and relationships.
Here’s how?#politics #apolitical
— Youth Ki Awaaz (@YouthKiAwaaz) September 21, 2021
It is no secret that Indian society is becoming increasingly polarised and research has shown that contemporary news coverage can elevate levels of stress in human beings. However, staying silent on matters of such grave importance only strengthens those who stand to benefit from the increasing level of hatred against minorities and the oppressed.
The very essence of democracy is the participation of citizens in political decision making. Without it, democracy ceases to exist. The collective conscience of the nations needs to be awakened now more than ever, and unless there is popular participation in the political discourse on a national level, India will become the world’s next autocratic state.
Surely, we are well on the way towards it. Even if you think that issues that stem from political decisions do not affect you, they surely have an effect on those around you. It might be difficult for you to engage in political discourse, but your silence on these issues makes it even harder for those affected by them.
Each one of us has a moral and ethical responsibility to advocate for a better and just society, and our silence merely enables oppression.
“The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” – Dante Alighieri, Canto 3: Inferno.