Intolerance or In Tolerance

Intolerance or In Tolerance

 

 

It’s said “Change is the only thing constant in this world”. It is an integral part of life. Be it internal or external. We grow, evolve and experience change. Everything outside us also changes, for e.g. the nature, infrastructure, people, behavior etc.

We experience ‘Change’ even more, when it accelerates, keeps pace ahead of us and is enforced on us. Little more than a decade back, a mobile phone was unheard of. It took everyone by storm and penetrated each ones life making it an indispensable commodity. The same was the case with Land phone, Television, Satellite channels and most rent, the Internet.

No, I am not moving away from topic ‘Tolerance’. Just showing a catalyst which has affected our tolerance limits.

There are many factors and I am not a socio-behavioral scientist to dig down the socio aspect of it. I am confining myself to few limited factor including technical evolution to discuss the agenda.

Tolerance is a symptom of human behavior. When the symptom is in unacceptable limits, we call it intolerance. Limits vary.

Tolerance is within. It is acceptance. Intolerance is reaction – both within and outside. We find both forms at home, school, office, society, national and international level.

Changes move faster than time changes. Social, economical and personal equations have changed. What seemed taboo in past, is accepted now with élan. What seemed good in past is rejected at present. What seemed an order yesterday has become a mere ritual. Rituals and practices have become formalities.

Intolerance is of various kinds. They may be broadly classified as:-

• Personal intolerance – Success invites envy and jealousness. Lack of personal hygiene keeps everyone at bay.
• Religious intolerance – Religious biasness and imperialism
• Ethnic or racial intolerance – caste, color, creed 
• Social – Taboos and Stigmas
• Generational – Changing times, outlook

“I am holier than thou” attitude is root cause of most of the intolerances. Men grow in a particular belief bounded by society, education, culture, history. They influence a lot in shaping our thought processes. We have seen the fall out of Operation blue star, Godhra riots, religion imperialism, caste suppression etc.

There are various theories on how man originated in this planet. Theories being theories, we can’t prove them. Every religion has a different version to it, while science supports the evolution theory. Looking back, I doubt/am not sure if they had the sophistication of today’s time. They must have been raw, wild and uncivilized. Slowly, society got formed to meet each other’s needs and it produced many guidelines and charter on do’s and don’ts.  It might have formed in various parts of world. Then came apostles, gurus and guides, who shaped the destiny of those people by introducing religions. Religion – A way of living has been the most powerful instrument so far in human lives. Since childhood, we have been taught to be guided by this. Consciously or sub-consciously we follow this.  Karl marx, the famous philosopher and communist has once opined that ‘Religion is opium of the people’. It is a very strong statement. However, I agree to disagree. It can be called ‘Religion is opium of the weak people’. Good people follow religion and bring in peace, harmony and love to society and Weak people interpret religion to bring division, violence and hatred. Today, when we look around, most of the violence stems from religious conflicts. Within a single religion, there are again conflicts in line of ethnicity and race. This comes as everyone thinks I am superior and the best in class and rest of the world should follow me. No one spares time to introspect and fix the loop holes. Few that come for reformation, appeal to limited class and face the wrath of extremists.

In last 1 year, many Indian students in Australia were attacked. Our foreign minister visited Oz and assured Indian community of no attacks. However, this remained unabated and victim counts continue to grow. Why are we attacked? What government is not tough in dealing with Oz? Why we still looking up to Oz? Many questions, but few answers. Government doesn’t care, and we don’t bother. We Indians have been doing well in all segments of economy and often seen as a threat to all laid back communities who were used to get jobs on platter. We were a populous nation with limited opportunities. This mindset triggered the zeal to do well and excel ahead of others. I am happy for this mindset we Indian have. Along with this, we also need to put in self esteem and nationalism. In absence of this two, we will continue to be looked down upon. Uneducated, power-hungry and mindless Politicians have done enough harm to nation using British ploy ‘Divide and Rule‘ to server their selfish ends and we have been a hapless victim to this. Instead of calling ourselves democratic nation, citizens feel more powerless. Informally, a burgeon society has been already formed to decide the course of nation and our future.  (TO BE CONTINUED)