I have been raised in an environment where there is beauty in diversity. Even though my parents’ generation while growing up may have been used to some stereotypical biases either due to the social conditioning or simply ignorance, but they were willing to learn and embrace the new in their present. The armed forces gave them the exposure and the platform to unlearn, learn and adapt to the customs and traditions of the new family that they were now a part of….a home away from home. We in turn were brought up tolerant, culturally sensitive with an appetite to accommodate what was new, unfamiliar and different. Our place of worship was common, called the Sarv Dharm Sthal- mandir, masjid, gurudwara and church -all in one place. No religious sentiments got hurt and festivals meant celebrating with more people and partaking feasts which boasted of an enviable variety from all over the country.
Fast forward a few years (after my father retired) the community we were staying in weren’t so aware about the forces, save for some news in the daily. So, there was a lot of curiosity around us- did we believe in God, did we cook and eat like them, what cast were we (this one was a shocker to the 18 years old me as such things had never been discussed or asked for). The feeling was that maybe we were not from that region but Mars.
All the said experiences were harmless and stemmed from general curiosity. But what we are experiencing now a days in the form of hate crimes, shaming for how much we weigh, what we eat or wear, who we chose to love is alarming. This growing intolerance towards divergent views is threatening the fabric of unity in diversity, something that we have been proud of and which is still a work in progress.
Social media platforms have provided the comfort of anonymity to brutally troll who don’t fit in their perception of normal. With no immediate consequence these faceless bullies issue rape threats, death threats or some other harm just because the others’ views do not align with theirs. These platforms also create echo chambers where individuals are exposed primarily to content that reinforces their existing beliefs. Fake news all over the world has had such damaging repercussions, that we all are a witness to. Take for example The Pizzagate News Story or Paresh Mesta case which endangered people’s lives, cost them their reputation and livelihood.
Polarization for political gains is nothing new but the lack of understanding and empathy in people is leading to more frequent & disastrous outbursts. The inability to see issues from multiple perspectives and resistance to change make it harder to find common grounds & work towards shared objectives or simply co-exist peacefully.
The freedom to choose – how one lives, eats or feels is becoming limited to few. There is a pressing need to create safe spaces, advocate for systemic changes that address biases and inequalities in education, healthcare and employment. Encourage allyship and equity in personal and professional spheres of interactions, to build a more compassionate and inclusive world- a world where everyone is celebrated – Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam……
