Remember remember...the 26th of November

There is a clear political divide in India right now, and many individuals including me, who have chosen to remain apolitical for most of our lives, are now finding ourselves on the left of the divide. For most of us, the realisation came when we got branded ‘sickular’, ‘libtard’, anti-national, or urban naxal when we questioned the efficacy of a government policy or expressed our disagreement about something that we believed was unconstitutional. 

I have tried, in my discourses, to steer clear of the popular derogatory terms used to describe an individual on the ‘other side’, because in all honesty, the ‘other side’ does not exist except in our heads. It didn’t for me until I was called names. But I have called people out on their blatant bigotry because that’s the least one can do about something so divisive. It becomes a serious threat to the nation when the bigotry comes from a political party elected by the majority. Not every individual that voted for them share their political agenda, but it’s natural for most of them to feel obliged to defend every misstep and every faux pas of their elected representatives. This would still have been a dangerous situation even if there were no impending economic collapse. 

I do not follow any organised religion. I haven’t pledged my allegiance to any political party. But I have been a strong believer of the values on which this nation has been built. Yes, I have read the Constitution and can recite the preamble without looking it up on google. It’s the closest I have to a religious scripture. My father’s father fought for this country’s freedom, my mother’s father served in the Indian Navy, and I adore them both. I am saying all this here because someone said under one of my posts that was being circulated that I am a 'snooty pseudo secular artist' who makes social media posts to garner ‘likes’ and ‘followers’. The people who follow me on social media either know me personally or follow me for my art. I do not owe anyone any justification for what I do on my social media pages. But I believe that I have a basic duty to raise my voice to defend what I consider, for a true Indian, to be above all religious and political biases. 

Let’s agree that things are being done in bad taste on both sides of the political divide and if this continues, there will be irreparable damage to the unity and integrity of our nation. We need to stop our urge to fight hatred with hatred. Let’s reason, and base our arguments on facts. Calling names will only antagonise the one you’re speaking to/about and will only widen the divide. In most cases, these words we fling at each other are lazy oversimplifications. Let’s hear each other out before we pick up weapons. Let's fight clean if it comes down to a fight. And irrespective of what we stand for, let’s once again remember our promise to this nation: 

“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; 

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the UNITY and INTEGRITY of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this 26th day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION”.