Freedom of expression is sacrosanct and I have
always taken issue with those who would seek to curb it. It is the inviolate
right of the people to give voice to their thoughts and speak their minds
(never mind that we would all be better off if we kept out traps shut more
often and refrained from spewing stuff and nonsense) without the fear of being
clapped in chains, thrown in jail, slapped with a lawsuit or assorted
repercussions. Yet, there are too many painful examples of journalists,
activists, writers, artists and outspoken people in general being muzzled,
sued, harassed or killed outright.
Ever since we won
freedom in India, FOE seems to be the first casualty every time the ruling
party wishes to pull the wool over our eyes when it comes to their more dubious
dealings and unscrupulous activities given their commitment to only
disseminating information designed to make it look like the sun shines out
their nether ends. Which is why it is bloody awful when a British born Indian
columnist who wrote an incendiary piece about the “Divider – in – Chief” for a
foreign publication, has his status as an Overseas Citizen of India revoked.
Not only is it unsurprising but a stark reminder that India may not quite
qualify as the largest democracy in the world unless we are referring solely to
its burgeoning population.
While this is the sort
of thing that prompts one to make like Greta Thunberg and call for revolution,
bristling with righteous wrath, I can’t help but concede, that we have only
ourselves to blame for the gradual erosion of the basic rights we have taken
for granted. Knowing as we do, that every single one of the freedoms we enjoy
today has been won after long, excruciating and often bloody struggle we nevertheless
feel free to squander it all away on inanity, frippery and selfish self -
indulgence without ever pausing to consider the sacrifice made by those who
gave their lives for this land.
Even something as
sacred as FOE is forever being misused. It is not just the trolls who are
practically expected to abuse and provoke by sending vulgar messages pertaining
to lewd and lascivious acts or vicious threats outlined with unforgivably bad
grammar and worse spelling, but the militant progressives as well with their
fanatical commitment to wokeness and an unwillingness to listen to dissenting
points of view. Together, these extreme factions have drowned civil discourse
almost entirely. Everybody seems to feel entitled to be as obnoxious as they
please not bothering to even hesitate before pulling out all stops to
annihilate the lives and careers of those who dare to contradict whatever
ideology is currently in fashion.
We have forgotten that
human beings are complicated creatures who are definitely more than the sum of
their worst tweets. That purveying fake news on Whatsapp because it validates
our biases is doing a disservice to fellow citizens. Of course, the government
needs to clean up its act, but it is still wise to look within and ask
ourselves if we are worthy of the rights we are losing. Now more than ever it
is important to reinforce our commitment to honesty, integrity, decency and
kindness before the chickens come home to roost and crap all over us.
This column was originally published in The New Indian Express.
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