Paranoia. Persecution complex. These words were parotted as we expected. But what we did not bargain for was the label ‘ Hindu Bigotry ‘. So, expressing the apprehensions of a mute majority becomes bigotry in the eyes of a jaundiced few. Then so be it. All is fair in love, war and secularism, though the latter today has more leanings towards war than love.
But if the battle is going to be between Hindu Bigotry and the Bigotry of ‘ That Particular Religion ‘ with secularists rallying behind the latter and then fronting for them a la Sikhandi, what option does one have than to raise one’s voice higher in order to be heard above the secular din? Indeed, one is justified, wholly in self-defence and concern for the country ‘ s maximum number of people, to voice what really bothers Hindus of twenty first century India.
Let the secularists, instead of dismissing these grievances as a display of majoritarianism, address them meaningfully, if not with the usual gusto with which they rush to the aid of the minorities, at least with some sense of fair play. Their usual refrain that Hindu paranoia is a feature of only the fascist fringes is fast losing credence what with more and more Hindus in the mainstream also feeling rather oppressed by the heat of the lop-sided secular rhetoric.
Ignoring the minorities is certainly indecent and discourteous, but insulting the majority is not only self-defeating but suicidal. A minority violence can be contained, but never a majority violence. By saying this we are not stoking communal fires. Rather we are only calling in the fire tender, sensing an inferno.
Now for those of the readers who might rush to the conclusion, and I do not blame them, that these columns are getting saffronised, a word of caution. My secularism is secure in my heart, as is the case with every average Hindu, and it is from this very same heart that apprehensions about the dubious nature of the secularism as it is practised by the politicians, has also arisen.
And no one can fault me for articulating the fears of the majority, becuase, they rarely find an outlet in the media and more importantly, the secular euphoria that is currently on stage, though synthetic, looks scary. The so-called secular fabric has already become a mockery with it being more a camouflage to cover the dishonourable intentions of a fringe few with much detriment and disrespect not only to Hindu sentiment but also to national sovereignity, in which the Hindus have greater stake than any other community owing to their larger numbers.
The secular net is always being cast in such a way that the majority because of their size and timidity are caught and held captive, while the minorites, owing to their smaller size and greater articulation, slip through the holes.
It is nobody ‘ s case that all of the apprehensions of the majority are well founded or justified. But their summary rejection by the secular politicos and the more than secular media does raise visions of mass persecution in the present as well as in the future. When even the saner voices are stifled, ridiculed and condemned in one breath, it is only natural for the fringes to occupy the mainstream space, to the detriment of the country as a whole. Even here, there is a dichotomy, double standard.
While the fringes of the Hindus are derisively demonised, the extreme elements of the minority are approached with a sense of caution, for fear of loss of the vote bank, as the minorities are generally inclined to vote as a community unlike the majority, who are … well, secular. The media ‘ s obsession with secularism is even more dubious and tragic. Their intellectual pretensions do not allow them to acknowledge anything religious, and what best way to display their superior rationality than by feigning secularism and targetting religion?
And their voice will be heard maximum only if it is raised against the largest religion and its pitfalls, real and imagined. In short their intellectualism rises in direct proportion to Hindu derision and in any case, the Hindus are not going to mind unlike the sensitive, but ‘ secular ‘ minority. Indeed, secularism seems to thrive most in closed Parliaments and coccooned newsrooms. Outside it is a different reality altogether!
The deep-seated suspicions about secular politics are only being strengthened by the day. The endless lectures exhorting the majority to remain restrained are failing miserably to enthuse fatigued feelings. If anything, more than minority appeasement, it is this secular posturing that is becoming more provocative. For instance, yesterday, all eyes were on the NDA allies, but as it turned out, their tall talk were all lies.
After expending their lung power in the corridors, they quietly slipped into Parliament, to perform their self-serving Karma. The Congress, the Left and the other left outs, do not seem to have had their fill so far and are continuing their secular tirade. They wax eloquent about upholding the majesty of law, rule of law and all the stuff and perennially preach to the majority on the sanctity of the constitution and how it has to be honoured. There are a few worthies who have even said that law is above religion and should prevail, come what may. Very fine, indeed.
Now, if I may ask them, have they ever bothered to turn their critical gaze on the minorities to know how far they have upheld the rule of law? Did the Congress have the courage to tell a minority religion that since the highest court of the country had ruled firmly on a religious issue, that ‘ s the end of it? Instead they changed the law! Would the majority have such privileges in this secular milieu?
The VHP is constantly being reminded that it obey the SC stricture. A majority of the Hindus, though incensed and sad over the verdict, still feel that the verdict should be respected, in a typical sign of resignation to reality as well as respect for law. This being the case, it is the obedient, law abiding majority who are constanly being hammered while those who hold their gods above any law are allowed to go scot free without as much as even cursory concern.
In fact, every effort is made to make them free and comfortable, invariably at the expense of the majority. Call it secular hospitality, that does not even seem to realise the dangers inherent in such reckless favouritism, dangers both to the people at large and the nation.
Yes, India is my country, a secular one at that. And all Indians are my brothers and sisters. But, we know this from our kindergarten days. Why are we being told all that all over again? Instead why not the secularists tell that to those who really need to be told?
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