Freedom of speech and expression is one of our fundamental rights, of course with certain obligations and it should not in anyway affect or cross the boundary lines, in other words ‘Lakshmana Rekhas’. For instance leaking out sensitive information in return for any kinds benefits to an enemy country or for that matter any nation is a crime which warrants exemplary punishment and similarly many other sensitive areas need protection.
Freedom of speech and expression is one of the hallmarks of a democracy. Noam Chomsky, one of great intellectuals of our times is an American citizen and he is a sharp critic of the imperialist or expansionist policies of US leaders. Whoever they are, through his speeches, writings or interviews either in his own country or nations abroad never does he care about airing his opinions. Likewise, the courageous, articulate and fearless lady, writer and social activist Arundhati Roy is always free to air her views and without fear or favour, launches scathing attacks against the one-upmanship of US authorities publicly in the soil of USA itself. Though of foreign origin I mean, she is an Indian and that in no way is a hurdle to her to publicly express her opinions without nursing fears of incarceration by the American rulers. When it comes to terrorism or drug-trafficking US authorities won’t have any hesitation or even second thoughts in dealing with the culprits rather ruthlessly.
Like the greatest democracy, the largest democracy ie. India is not different on the matter of freedom of speech and expression.
Here I am coming to a stark truth, of late, our cherished democratic traditions, ethics, morals and other such values are getting eroded along with the polarisation of the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ creating a widening gap or put it simply chasm.
Yes, India was a poor country in the 1960s- a poor one with a difference another stark truth, pathetic was our condition with poverty, famine and drought ruling the roost. But under the Prime Ministership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri we could proudly uphold our democratic values, morals and ethics intact. We came under the attacks of China in 1962, Pakistan in 1965, suffered heavy casualties, in both the wars fought in the 60’s added to our list of woes. Both Panditji and Lal Bahadur Shastri still had their strong grips on democratic values, corruption and crime affected us, true, but not of the magnitude that we face today across our nation. Those two eminent leaders were treated like our father figures, we loved and respected them and were quite proud of them, unlike the leaders of present times. Famine was there, poverty was there, drought intense, our infrastructure facilities in a shambles. Even then democracy flourished in India thanks to the ability and charisma of these two leaders and sacrifices they made for the freedom of our nation from the yoke of the colonial grip that Indians were languishing for centuries. They were imprisoned for prolonged periods for launching struggles against the British forces, even Indira Gandhi, daughter of Pandit Nehru was also a participant in the struggle.
Though she began her rule on a clean State, unfortunately, she was misled by a coterie and since she cherished loyalty, the sycophants had it easy to capitalize on her weakness ultimately forcing her to slap Internal Emergency albeit for a period of 19 years in 1975 and mincing no words let me point out here the genesis of value erosion in politics begun under her rule.
We were talking about the rules of Pandit Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. The frightening image of our poverty, famine and drought got reflected in foreign nations as well, especially in the developed countries. And that image, mostly affected the Indians doing schooling and university education and those who undertook jobs in various fields and the citizens there looked down on those people with derision and sarcasm. Those stigmatized Indians looked jealously upon their brethren of Pakistan that very much injured our peoples’ psyche. One among them, whose name I don’t want to mention here passed out of the university there came back to India took up prestigious positions as an eminent media personality often harps on those days abroad the picture of an India looked down with disdain and hatred, meanwhile the Pakistanis who were in their heights of glory and fame respected, even adored by the citizens of that nation like Benazir Bhutto, Imran Khan to name a few.
With all respect to this media personality, I am forced to point out some facts and I don’t know whether my words would prove a better pill to him.
According to him the prosperity flaunted by many of the Pakistanis of that period was a flash or let me call it a ‘big bubble’ which was not bound to go so far.
The luxury, pomp and pageantry displayed by them were actually amassed through illegal means, hence it was not bound to last and therefore the big bubble burst and the Pakistanis left high and dry. Yes, as the gentleman points out it is substance that matters.
His statement is absolutely correct, no doubt and everyone would agree with him.
But when comes to the heart of the matter, I beg to differ. Contrary to what he pointed out just before concluding his piece, India is still a poverty stricken, drought affected and flood-affected - intermittently ofcourse - and almost 800 million live below poverty line. I don’t believe he is not aware of the fact that as per the World Human Development Index, India is ranked 134th below even Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and other such neighbouring countries. And on the matter of corruption as per Transparent International, India comes at the 84th place.
As political commentator Seema Mustafa recently pointed out our respected Prime Minister as per the Newsweek survey is one among the ten bold rulers in the world. And she minces no words in boldly writing that his prestigious image abroad is in no way a substitute for the poor image he holds in his home country. Seema Mustafa goes on pointing out that his ‘go-go capitalism’ has brought about the prosperity of a minority of Indians and the majority still undergo hardships and sufferings in various sectors across our nation.
The renowned media personality’s statement still holds truth. Yes, flash goes this far, it is substance that matters.
Sans substance looking abroad and witnessing the India loving gentlemen, their new found love holds not much water.
Similarly unlike he points out our democracy is more and more flourishing. Just the opposite is true. Erosion of democratic values, ethics and morals continues unabated. And if he feels doubtful please look across the nook and cranny of India.
No comments:
Post a Comment