Dr. Asangba Tzüdir
Witnessing the present times, one can see the growing level of intolerance in our society. It finds reflected in the way we ‘react’ and express. In many ways, language, which is a vital conduit to communicate, has come to play damaging roles and thereby failing to serve the real purpose of communication. The very language, which is necessary to the creation of a peaceful and harmonious society finds itself ‘misplaced’ and thus our language and the way we communicate have somehow resulted in undesirable actions.
The growing level of intolerance is also a reflection of the kind of frustration caused by issues of all sorts happening in our society creating further despondency. And language becomes victimised in venting out the accumulated frustration and this can easily cause sensitizing effects mainly on the lines of tribalism and communalism. Thus, the language of love and peace and harmony and of tolerance gets translated into hate, violence and disharmony in our society.
Such frustration and intolerance has lent a new form of language for expression especially in social media platforms. A language of intolerance and hate has found its way into social media wherein the real face of tribalism and communalism has been ‘unmasked.’ Often, such interface and tension is also caused due to our shallow understanding and perception of the underlying realities and thereby creation of ‘stereotypes’ and the so called ‘other.’ Thus, language can only further spark the ‘tribalistic’ division among the Nagas, which is further polarised on different geo-political lines. So also the issue of ILP and illegal immigration gets associated with a ‘Bangladeshi’ and thereby the issue shifts from illegal immigrants to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants which itself changes the tone of language and thereby incites violence. Consequently, certain ‘controversial’ incidents have time and again proved our weak sense of perception and understanding underscoring the core issue leading to severe forms of violence on the lines of ‘supposed’ and ‘alleged’ as enough proof of justification.
Rather than language and action being employed for controlling ‘damage,’ it is negatively employed in provoking intolerance leading to unnecessary violence. A pertinent case is the way in which various forms of ‘news’ and ‘pictures’ are being circulated on social media especially WatsApp in the name of ‘information’ with the ‘let me be the first one’ attitude often without considering the sensitivity and the possible impact and consequences especially in matters relating to privacy, dignity and content. The basis of ‘raw’ information may be served but the consequences may be damaging, if not violent. Such news and pictures tend to gather momentum and flow along the medium with a language of intolerance that can easily trigger ‘violence.’ We often become willing participants with quick reactions to ‘news’ and ‘information’ that are ‘unfiltered and unauthenticated’ or without any rational basis. Social media have become a vibrant engagement, which is acting as a vital channel in generating various ‘forms’ and ‘degrees’ of ‘voices.’
But within such engagement it is imperative to keep one’s comment civic and civilized as far as possible in the larger interest of societal harmony. Our language should be rather mindful of the provoking stereotypes, so also issues on tribal, ‘racial’ and communal lines.
For the existence of a peaceful and harmonious society our language and the way we express needs to be based on a language of tolerance and that a shift is needed from the present language of intolerance to a language based on human values, for the good of humanity and for a just and peaceful society.
(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is Editor of Heritage Publishing House. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
