What Nehru would tell Modi about democracy and the politics of fear

It is hard for maine to judge that a crass operation similar “batenge to katenge” is an predetermination slogan coming from your party.

I beseech you to callback that our state question had 2 simultaneous aims. While the archetypal 1 was to get state from assemblage rule, the 2nd 1 was to conceive the thought of an inclusive federation amidst each kinds of diversity. That is wherefore the Indian quest was ever for discovering unity successful diversity. This unity was not conscionable astir numerical “oneness”, but an affectional glue which aimed to bring radical of divers faiths, regions and religions nether an umbrella called India.

You whitethorn recall, arsenic I did, Gandhiji’s words that India could not beryllium held unneurotic by force, lone by emotion and understanding. Secularism was, to me, not simply a argumentation but the tone of this unity. It meant that each Indian, immoderate his oregon her faith, had an adjacent assertion to the onshore and its future. I retrieve the situation of explaining this rule successful Parliament, of assuring each national that they could spot the authorities to beryllium fair, and I inquire you to uphold this aforesaid religion today. For, if the authorities wavers successful this commitment, it risks eroding that precise consciousness of corporate belonging which defines us.

I was often asked wherefore ideology was our chosen path. After all, galore said that our people, with small acquisition and agelong histories of oppression, would conflict with the responsibilities of freedom. Yet, I was convinced that our lone way guardant was a strategy that offered each dependable a spot astatine the table. To me, ideology was not lone a substance of governance but a reflection of our precise tone — a safeguard that allowed our radical to rise, speak, and take freely. I callback the thrill of our archetypal elections, the show of villagers lining up patiently. It’s my anticipation that you cherish and support this legacy. True ideology requires that we listen, adjacent erstwhile those voices reason us. For they, too, are India.

While moving the archetypal authorities of escaped India, my colleagues and I, whether successful my enactment oregon the absorption ever believed that respecting diverseness is important for India to support its affluent taste cloth and unity. India’s spot lies successful its multitude of languages, religions, ethnicities, and traditions. This is 1 of the eternal truths astir India. Embracing this diverseness fosters inclusivity, communal respect, and harmony, which are indispensable for societal cohesion and progress. My ain acquisition during the state conflict arsenic good arsenic the caput of the assembly of ministers tells maine to reiterate that celebrating differences enhances creativity, innovation, and a greater knowing among communities, yet enriching the nation’s identity.

I ever held the content that governmental parties should not see winning elections arsenic the lone oregon eventual goal, but should besides respect the psyche of India. No extremity is worthy achieving if it destroys the psyche of India, and thing shall person maine to the contrary.

It is with this tone that I impulse you to see the implications of the connection being utilized successful nationalist discourse, peculiarly during elections. Words clasp immense power; they tin unite america oregon disagreement us, foster bid oregon incite conflict. I spot radical being rewarded for utilizing polarising and divisive language. Such assertive and intimidating connection aimed astatine immoderate of our ain radical and communities has created a clime of choler connected the 1 manus and fearfulness connected the other. It has turned governmental dialog into governmental assault. No federation that risks alienating immense sections of her populace tin assertion to foster democracy.

Need I punctual you that Gandhi’s imagination of an India bound by emotion and unity clashed with a fervour for division. Bapu fell not to a azygous slug but to the poison of hatred which led immoderate of the countrymen to spot his clasp of each faiths arsenic betrayal. Gandhi’s decease should echo successful our minds — a informing that we hazard losing our psyche arsenic a federation erstwhile we crook against our own.

In seeing India’s aboriginal successful education, we did not simply privation engineers and scientists. We aspired to foster an intelligence question that could propulsion our federation guardant with rationality and inquiry. Educational institutions were intended to beryllium places wherever young Indians could situation to imagination without barriers of caste, faith, oregon wealth. “Scientific temper” was much than a phrase; it was a telephone to banish superstitions, prejudices, and narrow-mindedness. Today, I impulse you to renew this commitment.

We are astatine a juncture wherever our corporate work is to beforehand a communicative of inclusivity and communal understanding. Respectful sermon should travel from the highest echelons of authorities down to each citizen.

I anticipation these reflections, from a clip agelong past, whitethorn service arsenic guidance and possibly a gentle reminder of the India we envisioned. This state is simply a acquisition we clasp successful spot for generations yet to beryllium born. Let america honour that trust, fostering an India that remains beardown successful its diversity, vibrant successful its democracy, and affluent successful its wisdom.

Warm regards,
Jawaharlal Nehru
First Prime Minister of India

The writer is simply a Rashtriya Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP. Views are personal