Freedom from Fear

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There is a symbiotic relationship between violence and fear. Right from ancient times, kingdoms and nation-states have been formed, annexed and merged through violence. One had to be most ruthless to become a tribe’s head, and retain the position through a regimen of terror and violence. Peaceful formation of a state is almost unknown. The defeated were enslaved. They were given the choice between retaining their life or their wealth/identity. Obviously the latter were sacrificed to save the former. Even in the so-called relatively civilised times today, even in a civic argument the belligerent parties threaten each other with harming their women and children.

Fear: Instrument of Control

Fear has always been an instrument of control. Since ancient times, rulers, priests and merchants have been complicit in using fear as an instrument of control and exploitation. These three classes join hands to keep the general populace subjugated. Whatever be the type of government – monarchy, dictatorship, oligarchy or democracy. In order to subjugate and exploit people rulers use laws and taxation, priests fear of sin, divine retribution and hell, and merchants use their wealth and proximity to state power.

The combination and the formula have not changed, except that collaborative media has become the fourth exploitative element. And this is extremely unfortunate because the media was supposed to be the nation’s watchdog.

Since Independence, a great tussle has been going on between the liberal-democratic forces and the bigoted right-wingers for influencing the people’s minds. The founders of our constitution had foreseen the dangers inherent in an intolerant society, therefore they formulated powerful checks and balances to keep the regressive forces at bay. Unfortunately, since the demolition of Babri Masjid on 06 December 1992, these forces have been asserting themselves much more forcefully than ever in independent India’s history. The 2002 bloodbath in Gujarat has made their spread to the rest of the country seemingly unstoppable.

Regressive Forces and Performing Arts

The regressive forces have been attacking on several fronts – social, economic, cultural and political. They started by vilifying venerable icons of India’s independence like Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru, diabolically praising other Congress icons like Sardar Patel, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose etc. The history of India’s freedom struggle is now being rewritten where the likes of Godse and Savarkar are being shown as heroes. As if that was not enough, a new narrative is being used to divide the nation on communal lines and create vote-banks. This will certainly marginalise the Muslim community. If the Christians are being treated less harshly, the reason is quite clear – India cannot afford to alienate the West. The way PM Modi embraced the Pope clearly illustrated this. Mind you, the same PM Modi had rejected a Muslim man’s offer of a cap. Every state election has seen the BJP’s communal rhetoric hitting jarringly high notes. Riots are engineered, which provide an opportunity to burn down the Muslim community’s business establishments.

Cultural attacks have been going on for decades. It all started with the Valentine’s Day protests. Hoodlums would spread out in public places and harass courting couples. But soon things started getting worse. The level of intolerance has been ratcheted up. Prime targets are Bollywood and OTT platforms and advertisements. If it was Padmavat then, it is Fab India and Dabur ads now. But the “now” list is longer actually, which includes the likes of Tandav and Ashram. The targeting smacks of not just intolerance but a crude attempt at subverting India’s most effective soft-power asset. Never mind if this invaluable asset gets destroyed in the bargain. The mindless mob forgets that Indian movies have a great fan following in every corner of the world – be it China, Russia, Japan the Americas, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe. These mindless people do not realise that this soft power helps create the country’s goodwill among the elite and common people around the world – which stands us in good stead in terms of favourable diplomatic and business opportunities. 

It is not just the movies and TV serials but individual actors, producers and directors that get targeted by the bigots and, yes, government agencies too. If it was Rhea Chakraborty then, it is Aryan Khan now. Although attempts were made to ensnare Bollywood actresses like Deepika Padukone, Rakul Preet Singh, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, things did not go according to their plan. The hostility displayed against the likes of Aamir, Shahrukh, Naseer and other Muslim Bollywood celebrities is unbelievably crass and vulgar. Let us forget that creative persons are special – culturally as well as socially. They need to be respected and insulated against all kinds of threats because they help raise social and political issues that make us introspect and generate new ideas for society.

Creative Energy and Soft Power

Creativity in cinema and other performing arts has inspired game-changing inventions and innovations. Let us not forget that their science fiction was the precursor to several hi-tech marvels of today. All attempts to suppress individual initiatives, creativity and entrepreneurship failed because of the overwhelming liberal and democratic ethos in those countries.

If the West has risen to great heights in science and technology and vastly improved the quality of its people’s lives, it is because creativity is allowed to flourish over there. It is not that regressive forces do not exist there. It is just that the majority of people are well aware of the dangers of such forces becoming strong. The occasional reassertion of regressive forces in the shape of Donald Trump are ruthlessly side-lined through the ballot.

Fear of violence destroys the will to create and thus stunts growth. But it is not just the creative persons who are being targeted. All those who have been struggling for the betterment of the lives of the poor have been targeted. The likes of Stan Swamy, Siddique Kappan, and many others were incarcerated and treated cruelly. While Swamy died in Jail, Kappan’s health has reportedly deteriorated.

Media’s Perfidy

Under such circumstances one expects the media to question the government of the day on the matter of justice and human rights. But a majority of them are playing the role of the government’s henchmen. The police and other investigating agencies have more or less been turned into the ruling party’s extensions. The judiciary is struggling to cope with the ever-mounting inequities, but it can only do so much – given its constitutional limitations and the fact that it is understaffed and overburdened. No wonder nearly 70% of the 5 lakh jail inmates are undertrials. How many of these would actually get a court hearing is debatable. Similarly, about 20,000 persons are behind bars under the draconian NDPS. Most of them have not been charge-sheeted let alone convicted.

Light the lamp of Freedom from Fear

Diwali is a festival of lights that symbolises the victory of good over evil. But with each passing day, one finds the darkness getting darker. Just look at the number of lawmakers who are either convicts or charge-sheeted with some extremely serious crimes. India recorded an increase of 44% in the number of MPs with declared criminal cases since 2019. In the Lok Sabha election 2019, as many as 233 (about 43%) out of 539 winners declared criminal cases against themselves.

So, the only hope lies in the good sense of common people. Will they realise the dangers of intolerance and divisive politics? Will this Diwali be a turning point in the permanent banishment of darkness?

Let us keep our fingers crossed.