Remembering Bapu on 20 January 2021
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity.
We Indians have learnt these lines from ‘Preamble’. We feel proud of our nation reading these lines. Unfortunately these lines have lost essence. Truly, actions speak louder than words. This has repeated times and again. History is the witness to our struggles during pre-independent times. How can we forget the path guided by Bapu? His principles of non-violence have been the soul of our motherland. He is the greatest apostle of peace the world has witnessed. On March 12, 1930, Mohandas Gandhi began a defiant march to the sea in protest of the British monopoly on salt, his boldest act of civil disobedience yet against British rule in India. Our books of History tell many such stories. Unfortunately, his ideologies are seen only on the Indian Currency notes now.
Gandhi said, "If we have no charity, and no tolerance, we shall never settle our differences amicably and must therefore always submit to the arbitration of a third party." This is going to prove true looking at the undemocratic ways of Indian government during the farmers protest movement. Sadly, India mourns his death on this day, 30 January 2021 for the sake of records. Paying homage at his memorial at Rajghat is a customary practice now. Reciting inter-faith prayers is a mock. What India he dreamt of and what India we see now!
Violence by goons on peaceful protestors, no power, no water, no internet connections, consistent sense of uncertainty, the most uncivil times we witness in one of the world’s largest democracy. Don’t we have rights in our own country! What is the need of giving communal colours to a farmers’ protest? Farmers belong to a secular community; they are standing for a common not a communal cause. They have been peacefully protesting on the roads in biting cold ever since November 2020. Many have lost their lives in these testing times. Not a word of sympathy, not a feeling of empathy; is this humanity? Indians from around the world have shown their solidarity with farmers. They have reached Singhu and Tikri borders in solidarity with the movement. Doctors are volunteering to treat not only the protestors but even the Police. Langars are served to the Police who attack the protestors with Lathis. Such a peaceful protest takes violent shape when authorities connive in the heinous sins.
What happened on 26 January 2021 was condemned by the farmer’s organizations as well. Wasn’t it a conspiracy? The national flag was, is and will always be pride for Indians. When there was no other reason to fail the peaceful protests, this became the reason to show violence on poor protestors. It took great efforts to bridge the gap between Hindus and Sikhs eversince1984. We strongly condemn repeating 1984 riots. Around 400 farmers have been missing since 26 January 2021.Their families are in tumult and unrest. Don’t divide the country with religious sentiments. A 24 year old grandson of an 80 year old lay his life on the day of Republic Day. The photo of a young Sikh brutally beaten up by Police at Singhu Borders rewind the gory past of the Sikh riots in 1984. Calling minorities as terrorists or Khalistanis will only deviate the countrymen from the legacy we got for the hefty price paid by our freedom fighters. As we mourn the death of Bapu today, I mourn the death of democracy.
