In Minneapolis, US an African American, George Floyd lost his life as the white policeman, Derek Chauvin, caught hold of him and put his knee on his neck. This is a technique developed by Israel police. For nine long minutes the knee of the while policeman was on the neck of George, who kept shouting, I can’t breathe.
Following this gruesome murder America erupted with protests, ‘Black lives matter’. The protestors were not just African Americans but also a large section of whites. Within US one police Chief apologized for the act of this. In a touching gesture of apology the police force came on its knees. This had reverberations in different parts of the World.
The act was the outcome of the remnants of the racial hatred against blacks by the whites. It is the hatred and the perceptions which are the roots of such acts of violence. What was also touching that the state of democracy in US is so deep that even the police apologized, the nation, whites and blacks, stood up as a sensitive collective against this violence.
US is not the only country where the brutal acts of violence torment the marginalized sections of society. In India there is a list of dalits, minorities and adivasis who are regularly subjected to such acts. But the reaction is very different. We have witnessed the case of Tabrez Ansari, who was tied to the pole by the mob and beaten ruthlessly. When he was taken to police station, police took enough time to take him to hospital and Tabrez died.
Mohsin Sheikh, a Pune techie was murdered by Hindu Rashtra Sena mob, the day Modi came to power in 2014. Afrazul was killed by Shambhulal Regar, videotaped the act released on social media. Regar believed that Muslims are indulging in love Jihad, so deserve such a fate. Mohammad Akhlaq is one among many names who were mob lynched on the issue of beef cow. The list can fill pages after pages.
Recently a young dalit boy was shot dead for the crime of entering a temple. In Una four dalits were stripped above waste and beaten mercilessly. Commenting on this act the Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan commented that it is a minor incident. Again the list of atrocities against dalits is long enough. The question is what Paswan is saying is the typical response to such gruesome murders and tortures. In US loss of one black life, created the democratic and humane response. In India there is a general silence in response to these atrocities. Some times after a good lapse of time, the Prime Minister will utter, ‘Mother Bharati has lost a son’. Most of the time victim is blamed. Some social groups raise their voice in some fora but by and large the deafening silence from the country is the norm.
India is regarded as the largest democracy. Democracy is the rule of law, and the ground on which the injustices are opposed. In America though the present President is insensitive person, but its institutions and processes of democratic articulations are strong. The institutions have deepened their roots and though prejudices may be guiding the actions of some of the officers like the killer of George, there are also police officers who can tell their President to shut up if he has nothing meaningful to say on the issue. The prejudices against Blacks may be prevalent and deep in character, still there are large average sections of society, who on the principles of ‘Black lives matter’. There are large sections of vocal population who can protest the violation of basic norms of democracy and humanism.
In India by contrast there are multiple reasons as to why the lives of Tabrez Ansari, Mohammad Akhlaq, Una dalit victims and their likes don’t matter. Though we claim that we are a democracy, insensitivity to injustices is on the rise. The strong propaganda against the people from margins has become so vicious during last few decades that any violence against them has become sort of a new normal. The large populace, though disturbed by such brutalities, is also fed the strong dose of biases against the victims. The communal forces have a great command over effective section of media and large section of social media, which generates Hate against these disadvantaged groups, thereby the response is muted, if at all.
As such also the process of deepening of our democracy has been weak. Democracy is a dynamic process; it’s not a fixed entity. Decades ago workers and dalits could protest for their rights. Now even if peasants make strong protests, dominant media presents it as blocking of traffic! How the roots of democracy are eroded and are visible in the form where the criticism of the ruling dispensation is labelled as anti National..
Our institutions have been eroded over a period of time, and these institutions coming to the rescue of the marginalized sections have been now become unthinkable. The outreach of communal, divisive ideology, the ideology which looks down on minorities, dalits and Adivasis has risen by leaps and bounds.
The democracy in India is gradually being turned in to a hollow shell, the rule of law being converted in to rule of an ideology, which does not have faith in Indian Constitution, which looks down upon pluralism and diversity of this country, which is more concerned for the privileges of the upper caste, rich and affluent. The crux of the matter is the weak nature of democracy, which was on way to become strong, but from decades of 1980s, as emotive issues took over, the strength of democracy started dwindling, and that’s when the murders of the types of George Floyd, become passé. One does complement the deeper roots of American democracy and its ability to protect the democratic institutions, which is not the case in India, where protests of the type, which were witnessed after George Floyd’s murder may be unthinkable, at least in the present times.
Comments
Dear sir, when is the next honey cultivation exhibition in Kadri Park, Mangalore. Kindly let me know, bcos I am very much interested in this subject. I missed the March 10th exhibition this year.
Thanks & kind regards,
VIJAY SHRIYAN.
I appreciate SURESH for highliting the positive of honey in Rigveda.. But I would also like SURESH to identify and research on what RIGVEDA says about oneness of GOD. instead of worshiping created thing and falling in DARKNESS unaware of the consequences on LIFE>
Please read the below and ponder which QURAN also speaks about ONENESS of God & Muslims stick to this one God concept which is also mentioned in Vedas..
Rig veda also says
Ma cid anyad vi sansata sakhayo ma rishanyata..
O friends, do not WORSHIP anybody but him, the Divine one, Praise Him alone. (Rigveda 8:1:1) 10
Devasya samituk parishtutih
Verily, Great is the glory of the divine creator\ (Rigveda 5:1:81)11...
Na tasya pratima asti - There is no image of Him (Yajurveda 32:3)5..
Shudhama poapvidham - He is bodyless and PURE (YV 40:8)6..
Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti muapaste - They enter DARKNESS, those who worship the natural elements. \"They sink deeper in DARKNESS, those who WORSHIP Sambhuti - (YV 40:9)7..
If U know who is this ONE god, U will surely stay away from worshiping the man made idols and Deceivers who cheat people in the name of GOD ."
In Rigveda, 1000-1500 BC, we find 1:90:6-8, prayer to sun:
Let every wind that blows drop honey, Let the rivers and streams recreate honey,let all our medicines turn honey,let dawn and evening be full of honey.let dark particles be converted into honey. So do other texts such as Atharva veda which speaks in length about bee.
In Ayurveda there are 8 different types of honey.
1) Makshikam- used in treatment of eye disease, hepatitis, piles,asthama, cough and tuberculosis.
2)Brhamaram - used in treatment when blood is vomitted.
3) Kshoudram - used in treatment of diabetes.
4)Pautikam - used in treatment of diabetes and urinary infections.
5)chathram - used in treatment of worm infestation,when blood is vomitted and diabetes.
6) Aardhyam - Effective for eye disease, cough and aneamia
7) Ouddalakam - Increases taste and swarasudhi, in treatment of leprosy & poisoning cases.
8) Daalam - it increases digestion and helps in treatment of cough,vomitting and diabetes.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:
Honey is the remedy for every ILLNESS
The QURAN is a remedy for all ILLNESS of the MIND.
Therefore I recommend to YOU both remedies
THE QURAN & HONEY.
When we ponder & research on it, We will get it right in this age of technology and can be proved scientifically... and those who researched it have proved that QURAN is the word of ALLAH (the only TRUE GOD who is worthy of WORSHIP).
Quran mentions about BEE.. There is a chapter named after it.
ALLAH, the all knowing says\And your Lord inspired to the BEE, \"Take for yourself and the mountains, houses, and among the trees and (in) that which they Construct. Then EAT from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down (for you). There emerges from their BELLIES a DRINK, Varying in colors, in which there is HEALING for PEOPLE. Indeed in that is a SIGN for a PEOPLE who thinks. (Ponder on God's creation)
Surah An Nahl(The BEE) ayath 68-69.
Thinkers should ponder on the ayats of the QURAN which guides the mankind... & it is the best blessing and a guidance to clear all doubts about our life in this world. Take a look at the QURAN (quranproject org)"
Add new comment