Corona Blues – It’s time to break from Past and build new
India
Syed Ali Mujtaba
It is hard to remember that just a few weeks ago; our country
was in motion, a moving anarchy that is how many westerners call India. There
were protests all over the country over citizenship issue. The Citizen Amendment
Act, the National People’s Register and National Citizen’s Register had stirred
a hornet’s nest. It triggered communal riot in Delhi where Hindus killed
Muslims and vise-versa. Human being divided themselves into religious groupings
and gunned for each other’s life.
In the order of the day there was hyper nationalism,
safrronization, anti-Pakistan, anti-Kashmir, anti-Muslim rhetoric’s, government
made anti-poor policies, crony capitalism and neo-liberalism were promoted.
There was live demo two things simultaneously going on in our
country and we witness them with remorse. One was Indian economy going for a free
fall from the cliff. This started with demonetization, then the promulgation of
tax regime and the general slowdown of the economy.
The talk about India going to be five trillion
economy, third largest economy in the world and second largest economy in Asia
that once bloated the countrymen ego went down the drain. It’s being said that
it will take long time get back to the peak from where our economy has fallen.
The second spectacle fanged was unabated and aggressive Hindu
nationalism. This hyper nationalism was taking fascist shape. The lock down in
Kashmir, killing of the Muslims, detention camps, were all part of the order of
the day, as we saw secular fabric being tore apart in the country.
The right
wing extremism oozed out with the ruling government having renegade to its
international commitments. Even as India's rogue characteristics went on open display the
global community ignored its anti-democratic characteristics for the sake of
billions dollars market that India has to offer them.
All these things were happening in perfect cacophony very
smoothly and delinquently, till corona virus stepped in and put spokes to the
order of the day. Everyone was left petrified, fearful and helpless by these
deadly microscopic particles. It draws a red line that divides the order of the
day from then to now.
In the current situation there is a wave of anxiety that
prevails all over; death continues to stalk us and those divisive forces that
were going gung-ho are calling for truce. Everywhere humanity first is the
clarion call.
Those who built a political constituency in the name of
religious nationalism and has come to power through stoking hate and were in
their lynching mission now are fear their life as death in on prowl taking the
form of a virus .
The JSR folks who came out in large number beating the tin
and clapping to make synchronized sound made a fool of them as locking indoors
and social distancing could alone save them from death.
So what lies ahead in the future is sure is that we cannot mimic the past.
It looks impossible to imagine a
return to the old ways even after the 21 days lock down period is over. Some
say that it will take six to nine months for normalcy to return. If we judge
the past with the current situation it can be said: ‘we won’t go back to
normal, because normal was the problem’.
In the global perspective the lock down gives a vivid account
of the past and the present. Venice's canals have become crystal clear, Italy coasts
have Dolphin's coming nearer. Japan now has Deer roaming free in the streets and
same is the case with monkeys in Thailand. China has record breaking pollution
cuts.
The earth has already begun showing signs of amazing things
that are happening from the absence of human pollution. If the entire human
population realizes this as an opportunity to restart society on a greener more
environment conscious manner a better future is ensured. All these we are seeing
in the span of a couple of days.
When we get past these virus threats, can we rebuild our society
one more time in an egalitarian way, can we banish the politics of hate, can we
become more environmental conscious, can we banish pollution and give our lungs
fresh air. There are
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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be
contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com
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