Intolerance Debate- Real or Motivated

A lot is being said about growing Intolerance in India for last 6-8 months especially after lynching of Akhlaq. I read thousands of tweets and hundreds of Posts on FB both in favour and against the debate. But I restrained from commenting either way, as in my view the subject was not being discussed in sincerity. The people who feel Intolerance is growing don't know why and the one's saying It was always there in India or it's just a manufactured debate or rather few suggesting Tolerance is infact increasing, are just taking it too personnel. 

Both parties are putting the best possible arguments. Few are really thought provoking while few are just of nuisance value. It's bound to happen in a country as vast and vibrant as India.

Yesterday, one of the most respected Star of Film Industry shared his thoughts on this subject. The reaction of people after that really shook me from inside. Yes, the reaction was no different from what it was when Writers/ Historians returned their awards or when students at FTII protested.

But there was a marked difference. The person in question of center of debate is a well known person. A person whose following is in masses. He is not a historian or an author who definitely are much respected and might have contributed much more but have limited following. In few seconds this person becomes anti national for some. They want to boycott his films, his family and were suggesting him the names of countries where he can move.

Few of my friends asked my reaction on it, and this post is my view on this topic.

I will share my personnel experience here from daily life.

Around 1998 when Punjab had just returned to normalcy there was SAD government in Punjab and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government at center. 

Our friend group was divided vertically, one supporting Congress and other BJP/SAD. There used to be heated discussions whenever we met. Both groups had strong views and logic. But by the time we finished discussion there was no personal enmity or ill will.

Now again after almost 17 years, similar situation is there. Now too, I find myself in a similar situation. But the difference is now every view is personal. The relations are put on fire by the people supporting the ruling party. Arguments are indecent. What we hear from so called "Fringe elements" nationally is echoed at our friend circle level. 

I was neutral then as well as now. But I can feel the difference.

Then opposing views were appreciated, now the effort is to suppress. Then the political views were never personal, now these are. 

Another stark difference is views about minority. These too are more violent than ever.

For example:

Few days back there was a message doing rounds on Watsapp and FB about how the Australian PM has told Muslims to follow Australian Law or else leave the country. A request was being made to Indian government to do the same.

It really shocked me and I pity the people forwarding and re posting it. These people don't understand the ABC of history and start commenting on anything and everything.

Muslims in Australia are not the natural citizens. They acquire citizenship on the basis as any other Indian or in particular a Hindu attains. The message of Australian PM was not only for Muslims but for each and every person migrating to that country irrespective of the religion. 

And this is natural. Any person migrating to India has to follow Indian Law. What extraordinary about it?

The difference these people don't understand is "Muslims" are as natural a citizen of India as any Hindu. ( And for this remark I will go only as back as Independence).

So they enjoy the rights given by Constitution of India. They are not on mercy of any government or religion for any of the rights. 

Again a logic is given that when Pakistan was created Muslims should have been sent there.

People again forget that Pakistan was created on religious lines, But India choose to be Secular where all religions were allowed to live and prosper. If we have to change that fabric, we have to create a new country on religious line.

How many of us are ready for that or for that matter how many of us will like to see a repeat of 1947.

Think before you act or react.

Remember All Indians are Indians first. Trying to divide on any lines: Religious or Eating Habits or anything or everything may create hatred for sometime. But India is a place which has got tolerance in it's history and culture.

I will conclude by saying: Government belongs to a party or group of parties. It will change sooner or later. But Country belong to us, The Citizens. Country is there, was there and will be there.

Review: Kaleidoscope – The Changing Colors of Love

First I will confess that reviewing a prose is much easier as compared to reviewing Poetry. The way poet plays with words in poems, one doesn’t have that freedom in prose. It’s like judging abstract art. You can like the art for entirely a different reason which the artist never thought of.

Coming to Kaleidoscope, the book we are talking about, it’s almost a year since the book is published and is in market. So reviewing after such a long gap, only because I wanted to, as I have read few of Rachna’s poems earlier. The poems I read were really deep and inspiring and justified the topic these addressed.

Now Kaleidoscope is one of the finest collection of poems I have read, of course among the contemporary poets. There are 37 poems in it, all dealing with different shades of Love.

Rachna has, I feel intentionally touched only the brighter side of Love covering different emotions. The dark side of love is not at all touched.

The book takes you through the Journey of love starting from first sight to happily married after.

The poetess has set the poems in modern times, so, as she is inspired by the love of old times but the means have changed. Like you have lovers messaging each other, rather than writing letter. The girl waiting for the mobile to beep rather than a Postman. And there are centuries she didn’t get a message or call rather than a Letter. Though still train remains lifeline for us, so her lover leaves by train to find a good job. But then She goes and receives him back at airport.

RAchna ji is a big supporter of Girl child and it reflects in her poems too when the baby to be born is addressed as “She”.

Overall the poems are so touching and real that one feels the emotions conveyed. Though in the middle few poems give the impression that the poet is trying to meet some deadline. But this feeling may be entirely due to fact that the initial poems raise the expectation level to such high that even a good poem looks ordinary.

The sequence in which poems are arranged take you through a smooth journey and one never feels sudden jumps or road blocks. A must read to learn how to write poetry and especially for all aspiring writers, just to know how important grammar is!

And at end: “Yeh Dil Maange More” Rachna Ji. So when is your next collection coming.

About Rachna Gupta:

Rachna is an educator, blogger, book reviewer, poet and writer whose words bring emotions to life. Her poems and stories revolve around feelings, people, life and relationships and resemble the morning ray of sunshine filtering through the leaves. When Rachna is not writing, she keeps herself busy teaching English to grownups, meeting new people who become characters in her work, reading and spending time with her son. She has two books to her credit: Myriad Hues and Kaleidoscope – The Changing Colors of Love, apart from stories and poems that can be found in various anthologies.

To know more about her, visit her website –http://rachnagupta.in/

Fb- RachnaGupta/Author

Twittter @GuptaRach 

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