Freedom & Social Justice: A perspective shift.
Exactly ten years ago, on the Republic day, I wrote an article titled ‘Are we free?’ I don’t have that yet (perhaps, it was written on a paper I can’t find now). So now, I thought it’s a good time to revisit the topic. Because I feel there’s a lot going on around me that’s not right.
Without going much into politics (that’s not the intent of this blogpost anyways!), I just wanted to touch on the social climate of this country. Why ? Because I was having a conversation with a friend who seemed to suggest to me that all’s going well around us. I strongly disagree & it was then that I felt the need to share what I think. So, this article is rather my rant for the same.
I’ve realised one thing. Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, me and most of the people around me are Hindu men. Now, to be honest, from the perspective of a Hindu man living in a Tier-1 city of a Hindu dominated country (read: India), nothing is going too bad. Well, because we’re the core demography. And we can deduce that we’re free — economically, and socially. But if you’ve to ascertain the depth of this freedom — ask an unemployed muslim or a dalit girl living in a countryside ? Is she free ? Ask a farmer in drought-hit state who’s contemplating suicide. Is he free ? Oh, if that’s seems like too far off to be of your concern, ask your maid or driver or laundry-man. Are they free ? Even if that’s too much of a trouble, ask yourself. Are you really free ?
Now, I don’t want to segregate citizens on the basis of caste and religion (i’ll leave that to the political parties or religious bigots). But I just took the liberty to make that comparison to show that shallowness of our freedom. But even that’s not my primary concern. What troubles me most and what I find very unfortunate and amusing is that we don’t see it. We, as in, the society. We don’t see when the rights of vulnerable sections amongst us are encroached upon. Because no one’s knocking on our doors, threatening us or terming us anti-national, we feel safe. A quote by Martin Niemöller that I read sometime back comes to my mind:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out . Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
Now, Martin was referring to the situation of Nazi Germany. I am not equating the two and spreading paranoia. But do we need to let the situation go that worse to realise it. All I say is — if you feel anything is not going right around you, speak up. Is it too much of an ask ?
