URL: http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2012/12/ayodhya-battle-for-indias-soul.html
Indeed, it is the battle for India's soul. I wrote a commentary on Egypt's new constitution, and one of the paragraphs stated, "The Civility of a nation is measured by how she treats her women, children, the ones in ditches, the minorities and the voiceless" an Australian professor shot back and wanted to know India's record.
Neither Indian nor American system will score 100 in civility, but certainly it has the structure to contribute towards that goal, and the rule of law prevails. As a solution, India has offered reservations in jobs, education system to those economically backward and those in the ditches to uplift them, we still have Sachar Report's recommendations to be implemented to uplift Muslims. We have to pull every one up from the ditches to a point from which they will be competitive. Harassment and Oppression of women continues, female infanticide is a daily occurrence. However, India's laws are equitable, the knowledge of which has not permeated into the whole society, but it is happening. Thanks to the internet and social media, the society will eventually monitor itself. You can be who you want to be in India. Its a tough battle, but legally, your path is paved.
About Shia killings in Pakistan, I wrote, "Like all minorities around the world, the Shia, Ahmadiyya, Hindu and the Sikh minorities in Pakistan are constantly harassed and hounded. As I reflect upon it, the issue is much bigger than Shia-Sunni, it is the majoritarian arrogance that wants to feel superior by pushing the "others" down and oppress them in everywhich way. It takes a violent form in Pakistan, but takes different avatars in different places including our own United States, Israel, India and other nations. Even though we are a blessed country, we still have bigots running and saying things that don’t make sense. Thanks to the founding fathers for making this nation respect the rule of law, which ensures every citizen, a relative safety.
Thanks for the founding principles of India that value every human, the law is about equal justice, however we are not there and I hope Egypt will be on a similar trajectory, once their constitution is modified and revised for all people to live freely.
It does not matter what other nations do, as Indians, India should matter to us. We have several items of unfinished business, that needs to be resolved where all parties would walk out with a sense of Mukti from the tension. Things will simply not go away until there is a national dialogue on these topics: The exodus of the Pandits, Sikh Massacre, Gujarat Massacre, treatment of Dalits, female infanticide, reservation system, safety and justice to women, economic inequity and social justice, and of course Babri Masjid.
Each one of us need to shelve our prejudices towards fellow Indians. If you have it, others have it, if you drop it, others are likely to drop. You cannot blame others, if you are not free from the blame. A good society is where no one claims priviliges over others. No Indian is above the other, nor your opinion is above mine or vice-versa.
I hope to write the the piece unfinished social business of India before the end of the year, if someone else writes it, all praise to him or her.
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| Click on the picture to enlarge the maps |
Jai Hind
Mike Ghouse
Committed to contributing towards cohesive societies
www.MikeGhouse.net
Courtesy of Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/12/03/ayodhya-the-battle-for-indias-soul/
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