Noam Chomsky is one of the leading peace workers in the world. In the wake of America’s attack on Vietnam, he brought out his classic formulation, ‘manufacturing consent’. The phrase explains the state manipulating public opinion to have the public approve of it policies—in this case, the attack of the American state on Vietnam, which was then struggling to free itself from French colonial rule.
In India, we are witness to manufactured hate against religious minorities. This hatred serves to enhance polarisation in society, which undermines India’s democracy and Constitution and promotes support for a Hindu nation. Hate is being manufactured through multiple mechanisms. For example, it manifests in violence against religious minorities. Some recent ghastly expressions of this manufactured hate was the massive communal violence witnessed in Mumbai (1992-93), Gujarat (2002), Kandhamal (2008) and Muzaffarnagar (2013). Its other manifestation was in the form of lynching of those accused of having killed a cow or consumed beef. A parallel phenomenon is the brutal flogging, often to death, of Dalits who deal with animal carcasses or leather.
Yet another form of this was seen when Shambhulal Regar, indoctrinated by the propaganda of Hindu nationalists, burned alive Afrazul Khan and shot the video of the heinous act. For his brutality, he was praised by many. Regar was incited into the act by the propaganda around love jihad. Lately, we have the same phenomenon of manufactured hate taking on even more dastardly proportions as youth related to Hindu nationalist organisations have been caught using pistols, while police authorities look on.
Anurag Thakur, a BJP minster in the central government recently incited a crowd in Delhi to complete his chant of what should happen to ‘traitors of the country...” with a “they should be shot”. Just two days later, a youth brought a pistol to the site of a protest at Jamia Millia Islamia university and shouted “take Azaadi!” and fired it. One bullet hit a student of Jamia. This happened on 30 January, the day Nathuram Godse had shot Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. A few days later, another youth fired near the site of protests against the CAA and NRC at Shaheen Bagh. Soon after, he said that in India, “only Hindus will rule”.
What is very obvious is that the shootings by those associated with Hindu nationalist organisations are the culmination of a long campaign of spreading hate against religious minorities in India in general and against Muslims in particular. The present phase is the outcome of a long and sustained hate campaign, the beginning of which lies in nationalism in the name of religion; Muslim nationalism and Hindu nationalism. This sectarian nationalism picked up the communal view of history and the communal historiography which the British introduced in order to pursue their ‘divide and rule’ policy.
In India what became part of “social common sense” was that Muslim kings had destroyed Hindu temples, that Islam was spread by force, and that it is a foreign religion, and so on. Campaigns, such as the one for a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Rama to be built at the site where the Babri masjid once stood, further deepened the idea of a Muslim as a “temple-destroyer”. Aurangzeb, Tipu Sultan and other Muslim kings were tarnished as the ones who spread Islam by force in the subcontinent. The tragic Partition, which was primarily due to British policies, and was well-supported by communal streams also, was entirely attributed to Muslims. The Kashmir conflict, which is the outcome of regional, ethnic and other historical issues, coupled with the American policy of supporting Pakistan’s ambitions of regional hegemony, (which also fostered the birth of Al-Qaeda), was also attributed to the Muslims.
With recurring incidents of communal violence, these falsehoods went on going deeper into the social thinking. Violence itself led to ghettoisation of Muslims and further broke inter-community social bonds. On the one hand, a ghettoised community is cut off from others and on the other hand the victims come to be presented as culprits. The percolation of this hate through word-of-mouth propaganda, media and re-writing of school curricula, had a strong impact on social attitudes towards the minorities.
In the last couple of decades, the process of manufacturing hate has been intensified by the social media platforms which are being cleverly used by the communal forces. Swati Chaturvedi’s book, I Am a Troll: Inside the Secret World of the BJP’s Digital Army, tells us how the BJP used social media to spread hate. Whatapp University became the source of understanding for large sections of society and hate for the ‘Other’, went up by leaps and bounds. To add on to this process, the phenomenon of fake news was shrewdly deployed to intensify divisiveness.
Currently, the Shaheen Bagh movement is a big uniting force for the country; but it is being demonised as a gathering of ‘anti-nationals’. Another BJP leader has said that these protesters will indulge in crimes like rape. This has intensified the prevalent hate.
While there is a general dominance of hate, the likes of Shambhulal Regar and the Jamia shooter do get taken in by the incitement and act out the violence that is constantly hinted at. The deeper issue involved is the prevalence of hate, misconceptions and biases, which have become the part of social thinking.
These misconceptions are undoing the amity between different religious communities which was built during the freedom movement. They are undoing the fraternity which emerged with the process of India as a nation in the making. The processes which brought these communities together broadly drew from Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar. It is these values which need to be rooted again in the society. The communal forces have resorted to false propaganda against the minorities, and that needs to be undone with sincerity.
Combating those foundational misconceptions which create hatred is a massive task which needs to be taken up by the social organisations and political parties which have faith in the Indian Constitution and values of freedom movement. It needs to be done right away as a priority issue in with a focus on cultivating Indian fraternity yet again.
Comments
who cares? go to hell
Media made her popular. No valve for this award. I strongly support raviji for this.
I wish that in your next birth you born as a girl in a backward country like Pakistan or Afghanistan , and if then you are able to raise your voice after being shot at and then if you still stay strong and become an inspiration to millions and the word then and only then would you deserve the respect that your are seeking so desperately.
Malala was also a western drama.... More people deserve to be honoured..... But why shriji just opposed malala only..... Shows comunal mentality clearly
I agree with Ravishankarji.
I agree with Ravishankar ji.
Bro Mohammad, #2
There is medicine for JEALOUSY, HATE, CRIME, EVIL habits... But the person should take the change to change himself.
Let the Jealous person read the biography of Prophet Muhammad Pbuh. and also let him read the QURAN which is the Guidance for humanity and how to live life according to the law of God. JEALOUSY will run away automatically if We PONDER on what DIVINE knowledge says to us.
Mr sri sri sri
We all know that your work/service doesn’t come free free free
It’s not a Nobel Prize offer Mr sri sri sri we all know that, at the most, it might have been just a nomination for the prize, which are in hundreds and this information is for you for free free free
He is the no. one duplicate & feku. any one shake him well all his originality will come out. No doubt one day will be soon.
Master Ravi Jeeee First I Thought would have our Great Leader Master Scorer C T Ravi jeee he is right person to award Nobel Peace award. any way Sri / Siri says he was rejected and against to Ms Malala's selection, you all surely know very well, Malala totally un fit to award it but discriminated fools around the world chosen not Maste Narendra Modi selected Ms Malala because you all fools of this criminal minded world knows against of a group or de polarise the entire group. Sri Sri is good to magic man in this world making beautiful woman Fools.
Jai Hoo Narendra Modi.
They gave noble prize for Obama, for what???....I did not find any reason for it....Malala is an inspiration and hope for millions of underprivileged girls around the world...
Really... these awards should be given to Narendra Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, for their rolE to implement successfully Acche din in the country, if this award would have been given to Ravishankar could be better also...Now all are silent this fellow started Barking
Malala Yousafzai has done nothing to deserve Nobel Peace Prize
why did you congratulate #Malala two years ago if you don't think she deserved the @NobelPrize?
WHO CARES FOR U SRI SRI SRI ,
BEC U RAISED THE SLOGAN PAKISTAN ZINDABAD PLEASE GO TO PAKISTAN U HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY HERE ANYMORE ....
I agree with him. I love Malal for her bravery, but when it comes to Nobel prize what was her contribution?
100% i Agree With Shri Shri Ravi Shanker....
After being shot in the head.. she is still fighting for the rights of girls and children.. you say that she is not deserving one.. then who deserves more??
Shri Shri Ravishankar please stop your non-sense,
This swamiji dont have any work simply putting nose to everything. if this swamiji dont want any award let him sit at ashrama, there is no rule to follow him,
Ravi shankar received padmavibhushana this year,
There is no Medicine for JEALOUSY. Dont waste your precious time try to learn about ISALM. And be prepared for your Future.
Dear Sri,
First pay the Pending TAX to the Govt then give the lecture.You did right thing of giving back the Nobel prize as you your self know that you really dont deserve.
He is a Man with Two Faces.
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