Sword Vashum
Never in my wildest imagination did it occur to me that my write-up dt. 22.05.2019 on social media encaptioned “The Reason Why?” would sound so prophetic as revealed by the Kashmir implosion 05.08.19. India as it exists was never ever a nation. No wonder the Constitution introduces India as a Union of States. Numerous princely states were coerced into joining a unified entity called India by the Britishers- the colonizers. Once freed from colonial bondage, what awaited was sagacity and statesmanship of the then political leadership to stitch up and create India out of more than 400 princely states. Indians, if not utterly devoid of sense of historical legacy and heritage would and can never cease being grateful to leaders like Mahatma Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Valabhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Ambedkar etc. etc. who having successfully liberated India from colonial rule, laid solid foundation for democratic federalism.
It is no exaggeration that but for Art. 370 granting special status to J&K, history of India and particularly of J&K would have been totally different. Given the position and conditions prevailing then, accession of J&K to India would have been unthinkable in the absence of Art. 370 which is therefore befittingly referred to as ‘Instrument of accessions’. Sanctity of Art. 370 was self-expressive that any alteration thereto can and shall be effected on express approval of the State legislature and by extension “people’s approval”. Constitutional requirements, propriety, norms etc. were all thrown to the winds in effecting changes of these magnitude behind the back of the people. Even Parliament was summarily reduced to mere notice board. Far from being on the offensive upfront protecting democratic values and institutions, went head on smothering democratic values and institutions. A totally new history has been re-written, but how and for whom, would not escape conscience that agonizes over what India ought to be like. It is not what is done; it is how things are done that speak of the country’s image and character.
On the 5th instant a lightning strike unleashed on the country was nothing short of clearing all doubts as to their political will and intent messaging loud and clear what India would and should henceforth be like, courtesy brute force of majority collected at the sacred temple of democracy- parliament. Democratic edifice and its entire legacy assiduously build up and sustained over the last seven decades except for ghastly slur 1975 (emergency) stands demolished with democratic oxygen getting snuffed out. India, in sum and substance is being converted into a Union Territory- patriotism is now measured in terms of one’s loyalty/ allegiance to the leadership in Delhi; never mind the truth, leader comes and goes, the country continues non-stop. The unfolding scenario seems headed for a repeat of the third Reich (Germany under Hitler), Iraq under Batthis regime of Saddam Hussain, Maummar Gaddafi’s revolutionary Council regime of Libya with of course, unmistakable difference of these countries being 50 times smaller and far more homogenous. Tragic ending of all the above, otherwise totally avoidable, was not for any earth shaking reason except for insatiable greed-driven rejection of basic human common sense that thrives on basic human goodness and decency.
Deficiencies and weaknesses notwithstanding, because of humungous size and immense diversities, India rightfully earned rare honour of being a successful democracy right across the globe. To utter dismay of millions, democratic fabrics began to wear thin and dry in the last 5/6 years of BJP regime, thanks to fast evolving socio-political philosophy of majoritarianism. Simply put what gells well with hindutva philosophy is what deserves to be rammed down the throats of others in the event of not being welcome. Nuts and bolts of the entire stratagem are being tightened to silence anyone / anything perceived contrarian. Far from moving heaven and earth to make regulatory, justice and investigative Agencies like CBI, ED, IC (RTI), Lower Courts etc. etc. robust and credible have become political instruments for witch-hunting. At stake is not merely the institutional authority and efficacy, far more is the corrosion of moral and democratic credentials which embody the very spirit and idea of India. The inescapable challenges to the current dispensation and to all concerned are:
1. Are you for India or for the Party?
2. Are you for strengthening and enhancing the spirit/ idea that makes what India is all about as against strengthening and enhancing partisan/ sectarian goal/ agenda?
3. Do you accept that India born on 15th August, 1947 is a nation made up of different nationalities with immense linguistic, religious, cultural diversities? Unity in diversity being the very essence and root of India deserves nurturing with whatever resources and energies that otherwise are getting burnt up and frittered away on highly polarized dogmatism.
4. How would you address and redress poverty related issues of people particularly at the grassroots 420 million of whom are surviving on the edge?
5. In the massive build-up of economic strength, hugely disproportionate benefits have accrued to miniscule minority of 1 percent. This has led to massive concentration of economic powers and with it centralization of political powers in a close knit circles of politico-economic warlords. Direct offshoot is the birth of a totally different Indian version of democracy- being of the very few, for the very few and by the very few. Do you have the courage and basic human goodness to harness your massive strength in Parliament to right the wrongs so that the reach and spread of economic development percolates every strata of the society down to the lowest?
6. We have had innumerous instances in history wherein people, instead of being cared for and looked after with compassion, have ended up being used as ramparts to have the comfort zone of the high and mighty secured and protected. This, to my objective viewing is being replicated in the India Socio-political scenario. But how much longer? As I perceive, Indian populace is slowly but surely turning cynical and unless checked decisively, would surely get to the point of being consumed by cynicism with consequences beyond control.
7. Unemployment and under-employment is the order of the day. Work-force particularly educated youth in the millions are daily jostling for space in the never ending ques which unfortunately, has turned shadow chasing. In the backdrop of prevailing doom and gloom, are the ruling class prepared to introspect on Why/ How things went horribly wrong and start focusing on marshalling all resources/ energies towards ushering in a culture that promotes compassionate peaceful co-existence, positive and constructive ethos?
To my Naga brethren, I beseech one and all to remind ourselves of what Martin Niemoller said (though in different context);
“First, they came for the communist, none stood up because they were not communist.
Then they came for Trade Unionist; none stood up, because they were not trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, none stood up because they were not Jews.
Finally they came for me ……… ended with none to stand up for me and with me.
Let us never ever allow organic whole/ Nagahood to suffer emotional and physical fragmentations for whatever wrongs howsoever heinous committed by any amongst us. Our God-given identity in flesh and blood, coming as it does with inseparable honour and dignity, is no one’s gift. Anyone within and without trying to trivialise this truth negates the very essence of his identity which bears authoritative stamp of God’s creation in His own image and likeness. No matter what, our future of honour and dignity would rest secure only on the strength of our unity. The grievous wrongs of vivisections inflicted on us through series of historical accidents and the same sought to be perpetuated through allurements in whatever guise, should be met with befitting rebuttal, for what drives our response to any such challenge is the indivisibility of our identity and future. Anything less on our part, is being complicit in dehumanizing ourselves. This is what I owe only and only to God my creator who created me in His own image and likeness, in Naga blood and flesh
Do not ever try to stand out tall amidst forsaken brethren, for in this constricted scheme of things our intellectual prowess and riches take us farthest to our last day which is any day any moment. What is however, left behind for the upcoming generations to inherit is trails of misery, shame and pain for we human beings can never exist with identity truncated and dismembered.
Do not look away from the writing on the wall!
