“We Indians are very tolerant of real-life injustices but are quite intolerant of unpalatable views/expressions.”
India is a land with political freedom, social and economic complexity, and vast cultural and religious diversity. There are liberals and there are conservatives. On one side, we see multi million crore skyscrapers and on the other, a sprawling slum. Only 15% of the government’s funds reaches the 276 million people below poverty line while the remaining 85% is pocketed by a few. [1] Thirty-seven percent Dalits live below the poverty line, 50% undernourished and 45% illiterate [2], and 70% of the population lives in villages, with frequent droughts, no funding and lack of infrastructure. [3]
Even after 70 years of independence, Indians are very tolerant about living with injustices like poverty, casteism, corruption and gender injustice, among others. Yet, controversial celebrity tweets evoke instant responses. Heated discussions about national issues amongst people are of little or no effect. This misplaced tolerance and misplaced intolerance is very dangerous to the society.
The word tolerance is derived from endurance and fortitude.[4] But why are Indians tolerant of inherent intolerance? The Paradox of Tolerance stated by philosopher Karl Popper tells us, ‘If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed.” [5] I believe this can be extrapolated to all forms of discrimination and inequality. This tolerance of intolerance is a part of our every-day lives. This essay covers some examples of injustices in our society.
Like any other daily Local Railway commuter in Mumbai, I see vast acres of slums to the side of the railway tracks. At Dharavi, home of a million, in the heart of Mumbai, we see the sheer indifference displayed towards poverty and basic amenities for healthy living- sanitation and clean water. Corruption, a factor aggravating poverty greatly is another example of an injustice being tolerated and accepted. In politician Jayalalitha’s release from the ‘Disproportionate Assets Case’, she was first acquitted of all charges (owning assets worth above Rs. 60 crores) and later reelected as the Chief Minister (CM) of Tamil Nadu in 2016. [6]
Lalu Prasad Yadav and B.S. Yedyurappa are other convicted politicians in positions of power. The Constitution of India should serve as the ideal platform to build a progressive and tolerant society. The long-standing prevalence of caste intolerance and gender inequality is a denial of an individual’s Right to Equality. Manual scavengers have long been ill-treated. July 2016 saw atrocities committed against those who skin dead cows in Una, Gujarat with their refusal to continue scavenging treated insensitively. [7] Gender injustice towards women and denial of rights is accepted. Stringent provisions for safety of women, even after the 2012 Nirbhaya case, are still not enough for safety of women across many parts of India. A movement can only bring about change through change in the mindset of people, who understand and accept the Right to Equality.
The general public, while accepting inequality and prejudices, is intolerant differing views and artistic expressions. Director Deepa Mehta’s movie ‘Fire’, based on homosexuality, evoked violent responses from right-wing groups. The great M.F. Hussain was driven out of India by angered orthodox Hindu groups for painting nude portraits of Indian Gods and Goddesses. Their Right to Freedom of Expression was thus, curtailed. Salman Rushdie was accused of misusing this right when his book Satanic Verses was banned. In the past, the government has also attacked and imprisoned those whom they called seditious and libelous journalists. The Tehelka case of Operation West End is a landmark example where government officials were filmed accepting bribes in a sting operation. In all of these, a differing view has led to a direct boycott.
In a generation, India will have the world’s largest population. [8] We could have a very promising future, with a favourable demographic dividend. There are positives lurking beneath the stark issues at hand. Development and continued progress socially and economically extremely critical. However, we seem to spend more time fighting imaginary evils we believe harm society than the actual social injustices prevailing. These are the real problems that need to be solved so that the underprivileged and marginalized may get the opportunity to break out of the societal shackles they have been bound to for centuries. We need to start tolerating differences, stop tolerating the intolerant and stop tilting at windmills that we are mistaking for evils.
References
Poverties.org, (2016, March 24), Corruption in India: a cause of instability & inequalities, http://www.poverties.org/blog/corruption-in-india
India Today, (2016, February 3), The Dalits: Still untouchable, http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dalits-untouchable-rohith-vemula-castediscrimination/1/587100.html
The Hindu, (2011, July 15), About 70 per cent Indians live in rural areas: Census report, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/about-70-per-cent-indians-live-inrural-areas-census-report/article2230211.ece
Wikipedia, (not dated), Toleration, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toleration
Tiger Papers, (2012, May 24), Karl Popper and the Paradox of Tolerance, https://tigerpapers.net/2012/05/24/the-paradox-of-tolerance/
BBC News, (2015, May 23), Jayalalitha sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32857257
Quartz, (2016, July 22), India’s Dalits strike back at centuries of oppression by letting dead cows rot on the streets, http://qz.com/738758/indias-dalits-strike-backat-centuries-of-oppression-by-letting-dead-cows-rot-on-the-streets/
The Economist, (2015, May 23), India’s one-man band, http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21651813-country-has-goldenopportunity- transform-itself-narendra-modi-risks-missing-it-indias
NDTV.com, (2016, January 20), Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen Says Need Tolerance
In India Very Badly, http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nobel-laureate-amartya-sensays-need-tolerance-in-india-very-badly-1268080
10. Scroll.in, (2016), Shades of grey: How India is both a tolerant and an intolerant society, http://scroll.in/article/771636/shades-of-grey-how-india-is-both-a-tolerantand-an-intolerant-society
Hindu Business Line, (2013, April 11) ,The Intolerant Indian, http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/b-s-raghavan/the-intolerantindian/article4606739.ece
Financial Express Columnist, (2016, February 23), Intolerant, if we don’t tolerate intolerance?, http://www.financialexpress.com/fe-columnist/columnintolerant-if-we-dont-tolerate-intolerance/214826/
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