Don't Stand By and Watch

(the essay is written by Milin Deora. The piece has been published in 28th Nov, 2009's TOI edition)

The latest in a series of bash-'em-ups by serial offenders in the Shiv Sena when they attacked a media organisation in Pune not only betrays a contempt for the rule of law but also an astoundingly naive world view and warped political ideology. Demagogic Hitlerian persuasions apart, i am less interested in historical comparisons than an immediate high-level probe that results in bringing to book the ringleaders of this reprehensible criminal act. By resorting to gratuitous violence and crude attacks on those it disagrees with, the Shiv Sena has not only alienated the media at large but also the Marathi community it purports to protect.

Little surprise then that its already dwindling political base is more confused than convinced. The ballot is always stronger than the bullet, however, and i would sincerely hope that better sense prevails when voters determine their own political fate the next time around.

There have been suggestions in recent days to muzzle the party and impose a media boycott on it but neither is this possible nor productive. Sensationalism sells, unfortunately, and imposing embargoes would in any case be in conflict with the very democratic principles we uphold everyday. The political manifestos of both the Shiv Sena and MNS, two sides of the same communal coin, are inherently sectarian, non-inclusive and incite followers to spew hate and vitriolic nonsense. Both deserve to be consigned to the dustbin of history but more likely than not, they will implode by virtue of their own proscriptions and without much help from anybody else.

That is not an excuse to remain silent and do nothing, however. We must continue supporting responsible news organisations and citizens' groups that raise difficult issues and ask difficult questions. I stress the word "responsible" though: media houses would acknowledge that they need to self-monitor and run in-house checks to address excessive bouts of frenzied reporting that may unwittingly fan the flames of communal discord. By the same token, civil society and those who claim to speak for it must take an unambiguous and consistent stand on sectarian politics if real change is to come about.

The doublespeak of Mumbai's high society is that even outspoken and otherwise liberal commentators like Shobhaa De went on news television to unfairly attack Karan Johar for apologising to Raj Thackeray and in the same breath defended several of Thackeray's political positions. Equally, those of us in government and on the right side of the law have a responsibility to protect civil society against abuses of power. That is the only collective way our democracy, imperfect as it is, can survive and resist the forces that threaten it.

I must say it is deeply unsettling that an attack of this sort should take place on the cusp of a year since 26/11. I am not suggesting for a minute that comparisons be drawn with last year's terror attacks and last week's mindless thuggery. But here's the rub the lack of similarity isn't strong enough and that is what irks me and ought to concern us all. All too often, the danger we face as a nation lurks within. Divisive forces create and thrive in a climate of social unrest and will go to any extent to pry open social fault lines wherever they exist. The only antidote to this subversion of democracy is a stronger system of checks and balances. That includes an independent news media with the courage and integrity to expose malpractices so that the force of public opinion, shame and law can bring about a correction. Our democratic institutions must show themselves to be accountable, transparent and accessible to the common citizen, and act swiftly in the interest of justice. It is imperative that government, in partnership with civil society, creates strong deterrents against an increasingly pervasive and violent form of political hate-mongering, wherever that may emanate from.

In the final analysis, politicians and people in public life are fair game for the media and we have to accept that reality. Those of us in political life may not always like or agree with what is said and written about us, but surely that doesn't give us the licence to ransack and rampage. There are other civil and legal avenues to resolve grievances; you debate, propose, oppose and sue if you must. That is what civilised societies do. If the media, with all its influence and reach, can be attacked with impunity; if the media is not free to seek accountability from political parties, leaders and the government of the day, how free or safe is the ordinary citizen we serve?

It may be a while before we start subscribing to Voltaire's lofty philosophical conviction of disagreeing with what is said but defending to the death the right of those we disagree with to say it, but this is as good a time and place as any to start making a difference and fight for the freedom and rights our founding fathers sacrificed so we could have ours.