Atulya Bharat Or Bina Mulya Bharat
By Dr. Vivek Kumar Srivastava
04 February, 2016
Countercurrents.org
This is not Indian tradition that a person, that too a women, moreover from a foreign land be beaten, stripped in front of all those who claim to be inheritor of Great Indian Culture. Sad is to learn none except one came for her rescue and when she tried to board the bus, she was thrown back. The way the Tanzanian women was treated is reprehensible, unacceptable and unbearable.
Several such words will be spoken and government will say that it is bad and justice will be done but moot point is what is justice? When modesty of a women has been torn by members of Indian society, how can we restore the modesty and esteem of the lady and of others who have been seriously beaten?
This is not possible by mere rhetoric as several times words have been spoken but nothing happened to alter the mindset of the common Indian people. There are several in the country who are steeped in violent thoughts and have missed the idea how to respect the basic human rights.
Who is culprit? The burden lies on the political world and administrative system where low level of talks and inefficiency in taking the prompt decisions on such happenings and making the incidents political are common, which lead to recurrence of such inhuman activities. Loss of moral values inside families and glorifying the immoral acts, consumerism are also supportive in the decline.
The behavior of Bengaluru mob is not different from the mob in Dadri where an innocent was killed for no reason. Opposition raised the issue at every platform. Now onus is on them now as Congress government in Karnataka should come forward to take strong decisions and actions.
As far as the people of Bengaluru are concerned, several of them show inhuman, cruel, lawless behaviour. They have earlier behaved with the North Eastern fellows who fled from city in August 2012, now they have done so with a lady with different colour, the question is: whether they could have done so with a lady from a developed country or with a white skin, perhaps not because they know the consequences that they will be treated in no pitiful terms but with coercion and full force of the police. The people from poor countries, black people always face more ethnic violence than the developed ones. Karnataka Home Minister says it is not racial attack but Tanzanian High Commissioner John WH Kijazi says that “Some people in India have a racist attitude towards Africans. This is not the first instance of discrimination,” (Hindustan Times, 4th February, http://www.hindustantimes.com). If a foreign diplomat says so then incident assumes a horrible proportion that in a world known city with modern industries, how much few people are insensitive and lawless. What values and ethics they hold? What is level of policing and traffic system in the city? Why is so much violence in the minds of the people?
It is really very big tragedy and loss that a women was killed, the affected ones must have taken the culprit to the nearest police station. They could have taken the issue to authorities who could have taken some lawful measures. But to misbehave in absolute coercive term with anyone does not justify the anger. It is very much likely that in such circumstances the antisocial elements take control of the mob and this incident may not be exception. Mob has no mind. Its psychology is blurred. Anger is sudden outflow but it needs to be tempered with basic cultural and humane values. Killing of the women was very sad but equally bad is to molest the women. This is not in the tunes of Atulya Bhart if someone stands and says Bina Mulya Bharat, then we must not be filled with anger but we must apologise to those who have been lowered in the esteem by some insanes.
India of today needs to be more humane and less revengeful. This is the true meaning of Indian value system but its decline is being set by few. India as a whole must come forward to prevent it and also raise the voice in support of those who have been lowered in the dignity. Dignity is an important constitutional value and also a value of Indian culture. We must put our efforts to save these values. Then only India will be incredible otherwise it will be termed as without values.
Mere rhetoric will not work now. Now need is to take strong action on the issue and a fast legal decision delivery system needs to be established by the government to deal this issue. Karnataka government should not dust the matter as is common practice but accept the truth and take real actions and ensure the quick delivery of justice as well. It must also improve its traffic system which led to death of the women. It also needs to improve its police system. It is an international city but its development and administrative system is not up to the level. There is also need to provide civic education to all Indians and also make them aware about their value system.
Dr. Vivek Kumar Srivastava is Assistant Professor, CSJM Kanpur University (affiliated College) and Vice Chairman CSSP, e [email protected]