Editor,
While on the path to development our country is undergoing tremendous changes even as we speak. Humans tend to react differently to these changes. Some tend to struggle to cope with change and clutch on to the last old straws while others accept these changes with open arms. The news reports during these last few months have pushed me to take a path never undertaken before in my 26 year old life i.e. putting my thoughts into writing. Growing up in Shillong I’ve met people from different social and religious backgrounds and I’ve also been lucky enough to have my fair share of travel across this beautiful country and meeting my countrymen. Now the beauty of a country like India lies in the very premise that it was created on a platform of diversity and we proudly carry it, though at times differences do creep in.
Now my thoughts were shaken when during these last few months the level of differences had once again risen to a level that if not properly contained could lead to a sorry outcome for our beloved motherland. Discrimination at this moment in time seems to be the major factor, which, in a country like India is very dangerous and directly challenges the foundation in which the country was created which is equality, fraternity and secularism.
Looking at the state of affairs in Meghalaya we do see similar scenes happening, but my questioning runs counter to what some of you may think. I want to put myself in the shoes of my fellow countrymen who had been accused of trying to discriminate and look down upon the several minority groups in India. Should they only be blamed for what is happening at this very moment? Are we always innocent? Don’t we discriminate? Don’t we look down upon our fellow countrymen? The reason I’m asking all these questions is because we tend to always play the victim card. Are we really just victims in all these incidents? Now let us try to answer that: (1) Back in 2013 a non-tribal was burnt alive in our city for reasons unknown. The perpetrators had been arrested and the incident condemned by the then Home Minister which she rightly should but nothing more is known of the case. (2) Being a football fan I’ve attended my fair share of games held in Shillong and had always had great fun in the great atmospherics in the stadiums, but I’m also very much disturbed by the racial slurs and chants one hears from local fans toward the players especially, those of a lesser complexion. (3) An animal considered by some group as sacred is being consumed by us in huge quantities. Aren’t we taught to respect sacred things or does that apply only to those we ourselves consider sacred? I’m not saying we should not consume beef because I strongly believe in freedom of choices but all I’m saying is that even when we do so, let’s not rub it in the faces of our fellow countrymen. Now looking back at the word VICTIM, through these three incidents I’ve just mentioned, can we still claim to be victims ourselves when we are also dishing out discrimination of our own kind?
Let us face facts and stop claiming ourselves to be victims and admit that we are also responsible for this disease that is plaguing India. If history taught us anything it’s that discrimination brings nothing but death and destruction….a cause that India simply cannot afford. In a huge country like ours differences will always be there but before we reach for hatred let us instead learn to respect and love one another, let us strive better and take our country forward, let us march together towards the path of toleration, development and prosperity. Let us forget our caste, creed, sex and religious background ….and embrace the spirit of unity in our country. After all we are all Indians first!
Yours etc.,
Carlden M Kharbangar
Shillong-08