The Kodaikanal Gandhi Prize 2022
Second Prize
(shared)
AASHI UPPAL
Free Opinion: Not Mine or Yours, but Ours
‘Claiming the right of free opinion and action as we do, we must extend the same to others. The rule of majority when it becomes coercive is as intolerable as that of a bureaucratic minority. (M.K. Gandhi, Young India, 26-1-1922).
Do these words have relevance in India today? Give examples.
Tolerance is giving to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself – Robert Green Ingersoll.
From as long as we can remember, India has always been a home for a diverse range of people, people coming from all walks of life, belonging to different regions, religions, cultures and languages. This unique quality of the subcontinent is what makes it stand out at a global level. Although, most of the time, these differences are celebrated with utmost enthusiasm and delight, the diversity in India’s population has not always played in its favour, which can otherwise serve as a source of great support and strength for the nation. It is rightly said that no two people think alike. That is the reason why we have differences of opinions in families and especially, joint families. Talking about India, where treating our fellow countrymen as brothers is rooted in our culture and upbringing (making whole of the population a huge join family) conflicts are bound to occur. If we flip through pages of history, we will come across many instances where our internal divisions grew to such an extent that their consequences can be sensed even in today’s political order. However, what cannot be ignored is the fact that whenever these disagreements gained control of us, outside forces took advantage of our vulnerability and caused a significant loss to the country as a whole. Such exploitation inflicted upon Indians knew no barriers of gender, caste, region or religion. For them, each and every habitant of the subcontinent, whom they aimed to exploit, had just one identity – INDIAN. It was only when the oppressed started raising their voices in unison, that the foreigners took advantage of our weak social order and established the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy. Unfortunately, the aftermath of this policy is that we are still entangled in this web of conflicts, where people hold grudges against each other and have become self-centered. What is essential is to resolve these conflicts in a way similar to that opted by any family, by healthy conversations. Unfortunately, all this is true in an ideal, utopian scenario, which is not the case in real life. You don’t believe me? Turn on any Indian news channel, you will surely find some breaking news where five people have come together to talk on some issue prevailing in the country, and are pursuing the blame-game in full swing. Those programs are titled as ‘Debates’, but are far from what a debate actually is, as everyone has something to say but not one lends his ears to listen.
Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most prominent leaders in creating an independent India and in instilling nationalist sentiments amongst people. One of his key instruments that proved to be useful for people to relate to him was his newspaper, Young India. His writings mentioned of his encounter with adversities, how he handled them and the lessons he learnt during the process. They also illustrated his courage in the face of danger, his ability to understand the point of view of others and his unswerving adherence to stick to his principles. All of this enlightened people on various issues, resulting in a successful attempt to prepare them for a democratic future. Being a visionary from the very first day, his experiences in South Africa and those in India made him well aware of the challenges that were expected to be standing in front of the nation, even after independence, and he chose to address those challenges for his readers. One of his articles also included his take on the freedom of speech and expression. ‘Claiming the right of free opinion and free action as we do, we must extend the same to others.’ (MK Gandhi, Young India, 26-1-1922)
Way back in 1922, Gandhi was able to identify that it was extremely essential for people to recognise not just their own rights, but also those of others. If we expect ourselves to exercise complete freedom of opinion and actions, we must not, in any way, be an obstacle for others to do the same. Law is the same for all and our constitution practices Equality before Law.
The heart of Article 19 of the Indian Constitution says: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’ Article 19 of the Constitution is one of the fundamental elements of democratic rule, where each and every citizen has the right to voice his thoughts without any restriction. But people have not been able to interpret it aptly. While we greatly appreciate and act on this right for expressing our views, we fail to recognise the same right of others. The Constitution grants this liberty to all the citizens, so we must respect the expression of all, from the grass-root level.
‘Rights that do not flow from duty well performed are not worth having’ – Mahatma Gandhi
A particular section of society which is often neglected is the minority community. Being less in number, their representation in the elected government bodies is also less in comparison to other groups. The right to freedom of speech empowers all minority groups to have a say in matters that affect them and to express their disapproval if they feel that a decision is not in their favour. It is necessary to ensure that equal amount of attention is given to the interests of all the citizens and appropriate efforts are made to resolve the problems that they face on a regular basis (be it the majority or the minority community). Care must be taken to prevent the majority community to violate their rights and exercise complete control on the decisions made by the governing bodies, just on the basis of their number.
As Mahatma Gandhi rightly wrote in 1922 – ‘The rule of majority, when it becomes coercive, is as intolerable as that of a bureaucratic minority’. (MK Gandhi, Young India, 26-1-1922)
The need of the hour is Tolerance. To be tolerant to what others have to say, even if you yourself are in disagreement with it, is what constitutes a fair democracy. One needs to understand that every person has a unique thought process. Every individual perceives and interprets a given situation in his/her own different way, which may or may not be in alignment with our own opinions. However, each and every opinion that comes your way deserves the same amount of respect as your own.
‘I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to death your right to say it’ – Voltaire
However, voicing your point of view does not mean that you can violate the freedom of expression provided to spread hatred or resentment for any community. One must use his/her discretion while speaking about any third person and must have the right choice of words to express their ideas, especially in a country like India where people are deeply connected to their cultures, traditions and have strong nationalist sentiments. Ideas can be expressed in a variety of ways. It could be in the form of a speech, a petition, a poem, an art form, dance, song, paintings, anything. Peaceful protests can also prove to be instrumental in making your voice heard. Nowadays, when internet and social media are the talk of the town, their cautious and intelligent usage can be fruitful as well.
To sum up, India can never be imagined without the beautiful differences of traditions, regions, religions, languages and festivals. India’s diversity must serve as its biggest strength. While the world admires this country for the various colours that it offers, it’s high time that we too, as Indians, start recognising this feature as something to be proud of. There are a lot more issues which Indians need to address as a united nation. It’s time to recognise ourselves, first and foremost, as people belonging to the same nation, linked together by a common struggle and a shared history. All other distinctions must come later. What needs to be engraved in the hearts of each and every citizen is respect for the thoughts, ideas and opinions of all groups of people, regardless of them belonging to the majority or the other way round. As William Feather said – ‘You never get people’s fuller attention than when you’re listening to them’ To ensure that what you say is treated in a significant manner, you ought to listen to others patiently first. Once this idea is imbibed by all, India can scale to newer heights of success and prosperity, while staying rooted and holding hands of all the people that walk on its land. As Sandra Feldman wrote in her poem ‘Respecting Differences’ that I highly resonate with –
What does it mean to be free?
‘That I don’t have to think like you
Or you like me’
We can still be friends,
Get along in harmony,
Show mutual respect,
Even if we think differently.
AASHI UPPAL
DPS, LUDHIANA
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