Democracy has a way of allowing for multiple voices and opinions to be heard. But how far can the freedom of speech and expression go? Definitions seem to become subjective to individuals and nations when challenging what each believes to be one’s due worth or entitlement. In such cases, the demarcation between what is wrong and what is right often becomes blurry. Nisha Dahiya reflects on some case studies in India.
‘India: A Country with Rocky Soil’
“Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. … He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
… But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
– Mathew 13:3-9,20-21
We are living in an unprecedented time of history at present where we have already experienced such overwhelming events which had never been witnessed or even imagined in pre-pandemic life; where not a country, not a continent but the whole world got hit by an apocalypse type of situation. Overcrowded hospitals, exhausted mortuaries, nationwide lockdowns in almost every country, human-beings trapped within their four-walls, traffic-less roads, deserted public places, a human-less environment marked the world a few months back. It seemed to be the end of the world, the cleansing, the second coming, the end.
But, something amazing also happened. Nature restored itself. The pollution became much lesser as all the so called progressive and advanced human activities were at halt. The clear sky could be seen. Flora and fauna were breathing freely. People were happy, hopeful and enthusiastic –making resolutions to be more careful in their actions and activities as they realised how much damage they had been causing to the planet. Then lockdown was relaxed and boom! People forgot the hard-learned lessons. Crowding at public places, not following SOPs, burning fire-crackers on festivals despite the ban and accelerating pollution level back to the top as it was earlier, all these facts indicate the incorrigible nature of human beings.
Hilarious how people had reacted as if it would be a different world as the planet got a second chance to revive itself. But as soon as life returned to normal, all realisations disappeared like busted bubbles in the air and automatically things became the way they were. Like seeds on a rocky ground, they sprouted fast but withered away with the wind as they had no depth of roots. Fine, but politically it is not okay to have such an attitude as the citizens of a country. The damage caused by such nature/attitude would be beyond estimation.
As a country we are in a state where execution of democratic principles has become questionable. Alarming enough to show red flags to sensible citizens that the world’s largest democracy has lost the very essence of its fundamental nature as it’s a stark reality that autocracy is being functioned for quite some time dressed up as democracy. No dearth of evidence signalling the same. It all began since the control over the media by the governing authorities. How can people get to know reality when the media shows only “a happy-go-lucky” state of beings, partial truths, deceitful glorious endeavours whereas whoever tried to show the real picture of the pitiful condition of the nation: of unemployment, unsurmountable price-hike, poverty, corruption, wastage of millions of crores on constructing statues rather than investing in education and health sectors, who dared to question the objectionable policies and actions, they got scrapped and silenced. People knew, but a passive attitude prevailed, accepting the condition as an inevitable fate.
Some people dare to stand up against wrong and question the authorities. They make people aware, bring a wave of rebellion, igniting hope that things would change. Such as Dr. Pankaj Gupta’s case! Consequence? Right to freedom of speech and expression became questionable. The issue became a heated debate on social media. Many stood in support, many objected. Later what happened to the man? What happened to Freedom and Right to Express? What happened to CANs and CAN’Ts? Gone with the wind!
SSR case – suicide or murder, is still an unresolved mystery. But the way it had given rise to a revolution – the whole nation came together and asked for justice. Public pressure worked as the CBI had to intervene to solve the case. But soon the focus shifted to the drug mafia in Bollywood and then the boycott of Bollywood by Indian public and how it shook the whole industry. But slowly, this also went away with the wind!
Now all eyes are on the Farmers’ Protest. The protest has been going strong and gaining support from all over the country. Undoubtedly attempts have been made to scrap the protest and make farmers go back to their states from where they have come to Delhi to protest against the recent Agriculture Law passed by the government against the welfare of farmers under pretext of making their future bright. But, the perseverance and firmness of farmers (to not only fight for their rights but also to save the democracy in the country) has made them stand firm despite the mar of chilly weather and demise of more than fifty farmers. The protest has got support and gaining media coverage, making people aware that they’re fighting for saving democracy, to not let the country get sold to the hands of some favoured capitalists. The Supreme Court has intervened and given hints that the judiciary is still breathing in the country and the legislature ought to stay in its limits and not try to turn into authoritarian autocratic forces. Whether it’s a genuine impartial intervention or strategic chess move, time will tell; but, if the issue is not resolved soon then it may become another bubble in the air. This time power mongers and harbingers know well that most of the soil of the country has turned rocky. Hamartia it is, of a country!
Degree of Thought is a weekly community column initiated by Tetso College in partnership with The Morung Express. Degree of Thought will delve into the social, cultural, political and educational issues around us. The views expressed here do not reflect the opinion of the institution. Tetso College is a NAAC Accredited UGC recognised Commerce and Arts College. The editors are Dr Hewasa Lorin, Dr. Aniruddha Babar, Dr. Pfokrelo Kapesa, Rinsit B Sareo, Meren Lemtur and Kvulo Lorin.
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