Many voices, one view: Time for compassion
I was pleasantly surprised to see an English national daily take up a sensitive topic like hate. The state government’s deliberate silence on such incidents, or passing the deaths off as an one -off incident, has created an environment of fear and so at this juncture, the series is very commendable.
Taking someone’s life is way too cruel. Things would have been different if villagers talked about it rather than assaulting Mohammad Ikhlaq. What happened to the friendship they were talking about? Above all, what about humanity? This isn’t “gau raksha”. Honouring Ravi, an accused, like an Indian soldier is actually an insult to our soldiers.
I cannot fathom the turn of events that led to the killing of Mohammad Ikhlaq. There was total harmony in the village and good relations among the locals. Suddenly, one day, on the suspicion of cow slaughter people lynched their neighbour. The saddest part is that the accused are proud of their inhumane act. I wonder how the dear people of my country -- who shut their eyes to accident victims on the road -- get so deeply hurt to see cows being killed. People need to carry the same compassion for their fellow beings as they do for cows.
I’m a blind research scholar pursuing PhD at Centre for Law and Governance JNU. Your reportage on hate crimes faced by Dalits, people from the Northeast and religious minorities have been very thought-provoking.
Please do one on disability as well. People with disabilities have to encounter multiple hates due to their multiple identities. A disabled person can be Muslim, scheduled caste and woman and his/her identities make him/her vulnerable to countless taunts and slurs.
I appreciate that you tried to showcase the suffering the Kashmiri youth faced in other parts of India. Aren’t we (whole of India) already suffering from hatred among each other? Then why specify that only Kashmiris are targeted? I have the same amount of compassion and sympathy for the unrest in Kashmir as you have, but that doesn’t mean we need such articles. Why don’t we start writing positive articles which bind us as a society and bring out compassion..
What Kashmiri students are facing today is similar to the days of Bluestar, 1984 riots faced by Sikhs. This country reacts more to rhetoric of mischievous netas who exploit the alibis of caste, color, creed and religion. We need to uplift the people economically and educationally. Poverty, illiteracy and corruption push the young to vent their anger on the streets.
The series raises the issue of a surge in myopic nationalism. The story of identity crisis of Kashmiri students puts the denizens of Indian states to shame. No one has a right to question the integrity of Kashmiri students. We cannot brand all Kashmiris as militants. Besides, we have been getting news about the violence and exploitation of students from our Northeastern states without any valid reason. The local police must keep their eyes and ears open and not allow unsocial elements to take law in their hands. There is absolutely no need for hyper nationalism.
JOINING THE DEBATE Responding to the HT series, readers write in with support and question the environment of fear that has evolved in recent times
I commend the efforts of the HT team. It is the only media house that is reporting unbiased news and has published excellent editorials. I wish and hope that in the near future, others would follow suit and show to the western world that the Indian media is as neutral as any other media on the world.
Ravish Kumar has expressed himself very well. Our society needs such balanced writers. Young writers and journalists need to learn from such mentally strong and unbiased personalities.
I found Harsh Mandar’s analysis absolutely correct. The menace of mob lynching has its root in systemic support from politicians who make hate speeches.
I agree with him that the possible solution is “To awaken the public conscience” but what about the saviours of the constitution who communally divide with their speeches. Can we expect to awaken the conscience of such great Indians?