P. A. Chacko SJ

Even the Stone Age people had their own civility and morality. But, here in India, even in the third millennium, we have dragged ourselves down far below the Stone Age civilization. Any disagreement with a government ruling or a neighbourhood incident, stone-pelting takes the centre stage. We take to the street. We block roads. We burn vehicles. Even bystanders or passengers are not spared. Their vehicles are torched. Buses carrying school children are stoned and attacked. Ambulances rushing to hospitals with patients in death throes are blocked. We express our displeasure and disagreement like mad people gone berserk.

Can we call ourselves citizens of a civilized nation? Nay, we are still to grow out of our stone-toolmania. Unfortunately, even the law keeper police administration is not far behind in stone pelting at places where they face violent resistance. A stone for a stone! That is the dictum even from the law enforcing institutions. Can our scatterbrained youth and their provocateurs be far behind?

It is sad to see these hooligans having the latest mobile in one hand and stones in the other. They think that when stones and digital technology are combined, they get national attention.

Can our legislators be far behind in this ‘utterly gutterly’ behaviour? We have on record quite many of our legislators, our elected representatives in whose hand is the destiny of the nation, leading demonstrations which end up in violence. Provocative speeches,visceral invectives and vendetta-generating phrases are spewed out by fundamentalist politicians to arouse communal passion. No wonder our frustrated, unemployed, and aimless young generations get stimulated to become lynch masters, foot soldiers and religious mercenaries. These elements get excited like bulls gone mad and attack anybody and everybody. A national shame! See how far back we have retraced our steps in order to wield stones, grenades, and all such devious devices.

The recent incidents of violent demonstrations against the screening of the film Padmaavat have put our whole nation into world’s number one regressive nation in civic morality. No wonder, on the 69^th Republic Day of the nation the President had to come out with the statement that civility has plummeted to the quicksand of brutality: “A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages. Where we respect the next-door person’s space, privacy and rights,” said Kovind. “Where we do not inconvenience our neighbours-while celebrating a festival or while resorting to a protest or on any other occasion.Where one can disagree with another viewpoint-oreven with a historical context-without mocking a fellow citizen’s dignity and personal space. This is fraternity in action.”

It is this ‘fraternity in action’ that has gone to the dogs. We have not learnt to express our dissent and displeasure in a civil way. We care a damn for the law of the land. Even as Prime Minister Modi waxed eloquent, for public consumption, at the Davos conclave in Switzerland, about India’s noble democratic traditions underscored by “Vasudhaiva kudumbakam,’ here India was putting these principles into practise by burning vehicles and cine halls, stoning neighbours and attacking school buses. A fitting preparation for the Republic Day celebration!

The President made an important statement that “Institutions always are more important than individuals.” But, political parties and selfish leaders use pliable individuals and frustrated groups as tools for false propaganda, violent demonstrations and destructive operations.

Addressing the global business entrepreneurs in Davos, Prime Minister Modi was stimulating their interest by saying: I roll out the red carpet for you. India is your business and investment destination. Well said, Modiji. But are you inviting them to this hell hole of violence, this land where we ‘mock fraternity’ in the name of religion,or where our communal passions flare up because of our narrow-mindedness and fundamentalism?