Keep on writing Rohan. The conveying of your thoughts to other through any medium is a worthwhile pursuit in itself. I'm sure we've seen enough people engage in otherwise meaningless banter, with every ounce of energy. The ability to convey is part of our human-ness. The ability to convey more than impending doom is possibly 'culture'.
Keep writing. Someone out there (me included) looks forward to reading your words every weekend.
Nice writing. The flags and the incessant crackers got to me too…a profound sense of despondency…of not knowing how to escape this all encompassing in your face ‘celebration’ shoved down my throat.
"In the years that followed, I would continue to look away every time I encountered a poster, flag or banner emblazoned with that image. Now, there is nowhere left to look away." so true Rohan. I wanted to write something on this and even as I frame it in my head, it is nowhere close to your articulate writing. Well, said.
You begin your post wondering whether it is possible to add value to a subject that has been explored at length.By the end of your piece, in addition to the reason you mention, I realized I may have stumbled on one more. You write for others, so they may have the pleasure of reading someone who espouses similar views. Or so that they vigorously shake their head at each line in disagreement. I experienced both emotions while reading this, but in the end, does it even matter? It is the pleasure of sharing the writer’s headspace for a short while.
Great writing. Though i fear the writing and the underlying fears are the result of consuming largely leftist media. I do not agree that a rise of nationalism necessarily means "othering" of minorities. Can it not happen? Sure. But its not being pushed in a concerted agenda at all in my opinion.
Moreover, a national conscience, or a feeling of "we are indian" is the need of the hour. Chinese have it, jews have it, yet we the most populous democracy in the world dont. I have seen Indians trying their hardest to run away from theit own history and culture because we have been indoctrined to think of our culture as inferior.
I think the birth of a national conscience is ESSENTIAL to the country if it is to survive and excel. Just FYI the great bengali musicians bilayat khan, zakeer hussain, shujaat khan .. all "other" as per the writing pray to the hindu goddess saraswati before every performance. It does nt lessen their muslim identity but its part of their Bengali or indian identity. Maybe Rama/Hanuman could be that for the masses, rising beyond religion? A symbol of the past, of the trials, wars conflict and resilience which shaped our country!
I may be a hopeless romantic, but seeing kids wearing a hanuman t shirt over a superman, being proud to speak in vernacular, knowing about our own heroes makes me feel optimistic about our future.
Secularism, libertarianism is all great but the sad truth is, it cant come at the expense of a national identity.
I am just sharing an alternate viewpoint, even though I agree that antisocial elements can often hide behind the garb of nationalism to do shitty acts, and that d be reprehensible.
Earlier I used to think that Hindutva was different from the religion people practised - the people you saw reciting Hanuman Chalisa. On that day I realised that most people who identify as Hindus don't see it that way and their happiness in showing muslims their place.
Keep on writing Rohan. The conveying of your thoughts to other through any medium is a worthwhile pursuit in itself. I'm sure we've seen enough people engage in otherwise meaningless banter, with every ounce of energy. The ability to convey is part of our human-ness. The ability to convey more than impending doom is possibly 'culture'.
Keep writing. Someone out there (me included) looks forward to reading your words every weekend.
You write well without hurting anybody which is an art nowadays.
Nice writing. The flags and the incessant crackers got to me too…a profound sense of despondency…of not knowing how to escape this all encompassing in your face ‘celebration’ shoved down my throat.
"In the years that followed, I would continue to look away every time I encountered a poster, flag or banner emblazoned with that image. Now, there is nowhere left to look away." so true Rohan. I wanted to write something on this and even as I frame it in my head, it is nowhere close to your articulate writing. Well, said.
You begin your post wondering whether it is possible to add value to a subject that has been explored at length.By the end of your piece, in addition to the reason you mention, I realized I may have stumbled on one more. You write for others, so they may have the pleasure of reading someone who espouses similar views. Or so that they vigorously shake their head at each line in disagreement. I experienced both emotions while reading this, but in the end, does it even matter? It is the pleasure of sharing the writer’s headspace for a short while.
Great writing. Though i fear the writing and the underlying fears are the result of consuming largely leftist media. I do not agree that a rise of nationalism necessarily means "othering" of minorities. Can it not happen? Sure. But its not being pushed in a concerted agenda at all in my opinion.
Moreover, a national conscience, or a feeling of "we are indian" is the need of the hour. Chinese have it, jews have it, yet we the most populous democracy in the world dont. I have seen Indians trying their hardest to run away from theit own history and culture because we have been indoctrined to think of our culture as inferior.
I think the birth of a national conscience is ESSENTIAL to the country if it is to survive and excel. Just FYI the great bengali musicians bilayat khan, zakeer hussain, shujaat khan .. all "other" as per the writing pray to the hindu goddess saraswati before every performance. It does nt lessen their muslim identity but its part of their Bengali or indian identity. Maybe Rama/Hanuman could be that for the masses, rising beyond religion? A symbol of the past, of the trials, wars conflict and resilience which shaped our country!
I may be a hopeless romantic, but seeing kids wearing a hanuman t shirt over a superman, being proud to speak in vernacular, knowing about our own heroes makes me feel optimistic about our future.
Secularism, libertarianism is all great but the sad truth is, it cant come at the expense of a national identity.
I am just sharing an alternate viewpoint, even though I agree that antisocial elements can often hide behind the garb of nationalism to do shitty acts, and that d be reprehensible.
Earlier I used to think that Hindutva was different from the religion people practised - the people you saw reciting Hanuman Chalisa. On that day I realised that most people who identify as Hindus don't see it that way and their happiness in showing muslims their place.