Mahatma Gandhi was a staunch advocate of communal concord and Hindu-Muslim Unity. Nevertheless, acutely aware of the vital distinction between the approaches of Muslims versus Hindus, he had come clear and appealed to Hindus to shun cowardice. In considered one of his very uncommon blunt messages, he famously said: “There isn’t any doubt in my thoughts that within the majority of quarrels, the Hindus come out second finest. However my very own expertise confirms the opinion that the Mussalman as a rule is a bully, and the Hindu as a rule is a coward. I’ve seen this in railway trains, on public roads, and within the quarrels which I had the privilege of settling. Want the Hindu blame the Mussalman for his cowardice? The place there are cowards, there’ll at all times be bullies. They are saying that in Saharanpur the Mussalmans looted homes, broke open safes and, in a single case, a Hindu lady’s modesty was outraged. Whose fault was this? Mussalmans can supply no defence for the execrable conduct, it’s true. However I, as a Hindu, am extra ashamed of Hindu cowardice than I’m offended on the Mussalman bullying. Why didn’t the homeowners of the homes looted die within the try to defend their possessions? The place have been the family of the outraged sister on the time of the outrage? Have they no account to render of themselves? My non-violence doesn’t admit of operating away from hazard and leaving pricey ones unprotected. Between violence and cowardly flight, I can solely favor violence to cowardice.” (“Hindu-Muslim Pressure: Its Trigger and Remedy”, Younger India, 29/5/1924; reproduced in M.Okay. Gandhi: The Hindu-Muslim Unity, p.35-36).
It’s price recalling these observations of Mahatma Gandhi as we speak when the nation is witnessing a spirited debate about ‘The Kerala Story’. Those that have watched the film would agree that director Sudipto Sen has dealt with this delicate topic very delicately. At no level does it attempt to paint all Muslims with the identical brush. Additionally, the main focus of the narrative has remained constantly on the fear community of ISIS. True, it reveals how gullible younger girls fall prey to see stress and propaganda. The thoughts video games that the campus brokers of ISIS play and the entrapment remind us of not simply the nefarious design of the fear outfit but additionally the cold-bloodedness inherent to their violence.
Deeply disturbed by the dishonest, injustice and torture confronted by the Kerala nursing student-duo, a film watcher leaves the theatre much more woke up, alert, and educated.
No matter what the critics say about The Kerala Story, the academic worth of the film can’t be underestimated. A very powerful lesson one learns is that globalised terror has many faces. Terror is not only about bombs, the hijacking of airplanes or murderous assaults on harmless individuals. Terrorists at all times have a Plan-B and the strategies they make use of contain deceitful love and incriminating affection. However the ladies stroll proper into the entice due to the crass ignorance of their very own non secular traditions and the deep philosophical which means behind them. The 2 Kerala ladies are ignorant and sadly, ignorant about their ignorance. Some callous and unconcerned Hindu households, lured by the badge of progressivism and political correctness, engender a way of rootlessness within the subsequent era. The Kerala Story grabs us by the shoulders and makes all law-abiding and god-fearing film watchers deeply aware of the intense lacunae.
The so-called brainwashing of the 2 ladies within the film raises some key questions concerning the vexed difficulty of conversion. Many Islamic international locations ban conversion altogether. Additionally, there are international locations repeatedly giving sermons on secularism to India however on the identical time constitutionally offering for appointments by the Church to their Parliament. All these negate the very foundation of Democracy in Spirituality.
In a rustic like India the place we abide by the notion of Ekam Sat Vipra Bahuda Vadanti (the reality is one and sensible males describe the identical otherwise). Moreover, our structure rejects any type of monopolistic strategy in spirituality. As a logical corollary to this, proselytizing faiths should rethink each their philosophy and methodology of conversion in a rustic like India. Conversion, when offered to these of various faiths as one thing inherently superior to their very own religion, includes denigration and wanton misinterpretation of some faiths. This quantities to very critical emotional violence and wishes recent pondering.
These advocating feminism might hesitate to acknowledge it, however the film can also be about girls’s empowerment by altering the standard male mindset. That is one more film that tells us concerning the commodification of ladies apparently for the reason for a perception system being promoted through terror. Sadly, Indian progressives have at all times most popular to look the opposite approach when circumstances of pressured conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan crop up intermittently. Neither the torture of Yezidi girls nor the atrocities on nuns by some church officers have compelled our progressives to interrupt their silence. ‘The Kerala Story’ will assist elevate consciousness amongst ladies about males who understand them as commodities, intending to use and abuse them.
‘The Kerala Story’ is not only about Kerala. It’s the story of all girls which can be victims of ISIS terror techniques. Additionally it is the story of women from Afghanistan, Sindh and Baluchistan in Pakistan and in addition Yezdi ladies in some Islamic international locations. The progressives within the media might not settle for it, however the entrapment of women with the promise of marriage is a truth of life. There are circumstances of what many check with as “Love Jihad”, no matter whether or not one chooses to make use of that time period. An organised racket of good-looking younger males, indoctrinated within the thought of the supremacy of Islam, is definitely at work. There may be proof to counsel that it’s a meticulously deliberate train within the entrapment of harmless, unsuspecting ladies, to serve the reason for ISIS. Not simply the RSS and different Hindutva organisations but additionally the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council had alleged approach again in October 2009 that hundreds of women in Kerala had been focused and pressured to transform to Islam. Leaders of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana sector had additionally voiced considerations about ladies belonging to their followers. Let’s additionally perceive that not simply in India, but additionally in neighbouring Myanmar, the 969 Buddhist motion leaders had previously brazenly alleged a deliberate try by extremist Muslim youths who fake to be Buddhist and lure Buddhist ladies.
Shutting our eyes to those details won’t change the scenario.
Vinay Sahasrabuddhe is former MP, Rajya Sabha and columnist, in addition to being President of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR)
Disclaimer: These are the non-public opinions of the creator.