THE INTERNATIONAL - International Indian

[ EDITORIAL ]
Is India the Last Bastion of
Great Social Injustice?
India is probably the last bastion of
great social evils-Caste, Communalism,
Corruption and Criminality, and the
great majority of Indians consent to it. This is
what constantly breeds violence in some form
or the other, and unless a massive people’s
movement is unleashed, we cannot overcome
the abominations in our country. Indians need
to take a good look at the havoc caused by
the deviations of the rule of law we have so
casually accepted for decades.
Unlike other countries, there are powerful
strongholds in our society that will keep India
in the dark ages unless they are overcome. Take
any situation in the country, including the
latest terror attack in Mumbai - nobody can
doubt the political subterfuge at work behind
the scenes, the underhanded manipulation
going on even as the truth is unraveled, if it
ever will be. Don’t be distracted by the fingerpointing
at Pakistan, the greater dangers lie
within. It is not too far fetched to speculate that
the Mumbai terror episode happened because
some Indians in high places wanted it to. Such
is the sorry state of our matrbhoomi.
Even if it is possible to overhaul the
system, dealing with our venal politicians is
not the main solution. Indians must own up
to the fact that the rot in our country is not
just political, it is social. We are the enemy.
Reforming our society first is the only way
to bring real change. Observe how tangible
reform in many countries is a reality, but
it’s quite obvious the few great Indians who
attempted to transform our land mostly failed.
Throughout history great social evil has sooner
or later been dismantled – but not to any great
extent in India. Slavery was dealt with by
people like Abraham Lincoln and William
Wilberforce; Nazism eliminated by war, and
failed Communist ideology discarded by
popular will. Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson
Mandela set an example to the world but it was
Gandhiji’s ideas they largely borrowed. Isn’t it
time for India to seriously implement what
Bapu died for? Can we discover the powerful
source of his convictions and make them
ours? Is another great ‘Salt March’ called for to
galvanize our nation?
For Barack Hussain Obama to become the
44th US President, something fundamental
has realigned in America. Such a paradigm
shift is required in India where though Dalits
and women occupy the highest offices in the
country, nothing fundamental changes. Obama
could not have made it if the overwhelming
majority of citizens did not vote for him
– Americans have dealt a huge blow to race
prejudice in their country. People power
unquestionably carried the day in America
– why does that not happen conclusively in
India? Every election only brings another
bunch of crooked politicians to power, who
merely exacerbate the cancers in our society.
India is a bizarre place where there are
people who actually worship actors, politicians,
gurus etc., as if they were really gods. All it
takes is one charismatic charlatan to concoct
something sacred or spiritual or very wise and
before long he develops a large following. I
suspect many centuries ago a bunch of clever
rascals, (most likely in the garb of priestly
service), got together (possibly backed by some
ruler) and decided to create and enforce a
certain hierarchy that would keep them at the
top of the food chain. They succeeded brilliantly
because they wove religion into the whole concept.
Rarely does anyone give up their privileges and
once a “religious” caste system was entrenched
it has continued for thousands of years. Those
bred exclusively with all the perks that wealth,
knowledge, and superior lifestyles afford, have
remained securely on the top of the heap. High
caste folks now actually believe they are some
kind of exceptional people. The poor and the
disadvantaged exploited for so long, came to
accept deprivation and degradation as their lot
in life. These dispossessed Indians have finally
wised up and now demand their slice of the
roti ka tukda but the inequality in our society is
deeply entrenched.
Caste is India’s original sin, heinous in its
far reaching divisive impact among our people.
The magnitude of injustice is so great in our
land that national repentance and reparations
are called for. There are certain key issues that
urgently need to be addressed to overcome the
enormous challenges we face. Perhaps in our
violence torn, religiously manipulated society
if the following concepts are implemented,
India could experience a genuine, peaceful
revolution and our democracy become a
model of peace and harmony for the world:
Let the Sangh Parivar prove that Hindutva truly
seeks the welfare of all Indians by reinventing itself
as the party that eradicates Caste in India.
Let Indian Muslim clergy and leaders lead their
community out of backwardness - empower women,
emphasize education and ban religious ideas of hate
and violence.
Let Indian Church leaders admit they have
betrayed Christ and India by establishing a western
institution called Christianity for 30 pieces of silver.
Let the government make it a crime for any
political party to use religion in any way to come to
power and legally prohibit them from running for
office if they do.
When politicians attempt to win elections
or religious leaders build their domains by
seeking to turn Indian against Indian, can we
respond by making it clear we are united in
our search for a better society? That we do not
want to raise our children to hate one another,
that we are only interested in issues that unite
Indians and we will not support the politics of
division anymore. Can we unite and demand a
political process where religion cannot be used
as a tool to manipulate the masses. Can every
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian etc., hold their
religious leaders accountable to ensure their
teaching and practices only foster community
not discord? If this happens across the country
its impact can halt the alienation of different
groups who seek revenge because they are
nursing many grievances.
Situations like Mumbai’s terror experience
suggest it may already be too late. It certainly
will be if we don’t act now.
Frank Raj
Publisher & Founder Editor
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THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN