Posts Tagged ‘speech’
Fighting for Freedom of Speech by Trampling others FoS
Both, worlds’ oldest and biggest democracies are gripped with discussion around Freedom of Speech (FoS). From JNU to Chicago, people have been made to sit up and take sides. Right wing is always blamed for rhetoric of dividing the society. Liberals and Lefts are the ones insinuating. But I see some issue here.
If liberals and lefts preach FoS they should honor the FoS of Right wing too. What we are seeing now and over the years, Left Liberals trying to Trample FoS of whoever disagrees with them. When Baba Ramdev is invited, JNU people scuttled his FoS. He is not allowed to speak. When Trump does a rally, protestors disguise themselves among his supporters and disrupt the proceedings, provoke supporters. Both sides have their right. JNU should have let Ramdev speak; same for Chicago protestors. They could have shown black flags and symbolically protested outside the venues.
I don’t have any issues with protests as such. I advocate FoS. But I don’t like to see other people’s FoS stifled under the garb of defending own FoS. Moreover I despise people trying to take moral high ground and being felicitated for it. AAP did it by giving ticket to the guy who threw shoe at Chidambaram. Liberal media did it by giving ample airtime to person who tried to attack Trump in one of his rally. If Kejriwal or Clinton was attacked the same way, Left Liberals would have raised a lot of hue and cry.
Let’s be consistent is all I ask.
Freedom of Expression, Hate Speech: India is Too Young
The point that I want to address today is Freedom of Expression in India. Under the raging debate lately, this expression has been mixed with Freedom to Hate Speech. People wanting right to hate speech put forward the argument that it is a non violent protest and they have every right to do it. I agree with argument but it not in sync with the stage which it is set in. Let me explain.
Is hate speech non-violent? Yes. Is hate speech allowed in other democracies? Yes. In developed countries it is much worse. So why the issue in India? The issue is, India is not yet ready for this. “Not ready in what sense”, would be the next question. Well in the sense of law enforcement. We are a country still way back in policing and enforcement of the law. Security personnel to population ratio is way too low. Arrest rates, Conviction rates are very less. We as a country are working towards betterment but when compared with developed countries, we have a long way to go.
What happens is, due to shortcomings in law enforcement, people feel free to take matters in their own hands which leads to mob justice and mob violence. It cannot be justified and neither am I trying to do that. But we have accept the sad reality. Thus for the age our country is in, Hate Speech can’t be clubbed with Freedom of Speech. It has and it would lead to friction among groups and eventual violence. Onus is on all of us to keep the fragile peace going.
As the law enforcement, conviction rates and fear of law improves, Freedom of Speech automatically will expand to allow Hate Speech. Just because we are born in globalized age, we should not forget the reality of our Geography. Till then don’t blame the nation for any aggressive reaction against hate speech. You are yourself to be blamed for that.
Laluisms and Indian Railways
Lalu Prasad Yadav’s railway budgets used to be special. He started a trend of sorts with rhymes in his speech. It takes an orator in command for the words to take effect. Not everyone would have had the same effect. The rhymes themselves were not a random phenomenon. They reflected the state of affairs of Railways. The Mood. I try to put together few such rhymes in accordance with the changing Railways each year. Could be easily divided into three phases.
1. Phase I: The Beginning
When Lalu got hold of ministry, it was in shambles and Lauisms in the initial budgets reflected that.
There was hope of building a new future. Hard labor was needed to fulfill the dream.
“मैंने देखे हैं सारे ख्वाब नए,
लिख रहा हूँ मैं इंक़लाब नए”
“मेरे जुनूं का नतीजा ज़रूर निकलेगा,
इसी सियाह समंदर से नूर निकलेगा”
There was a tough path ahead. Help of every individual was needed to overcome the hurdles.
“जीवन के हर पथ पर माली पुष्प नहीं बिखराता है,
प्रगति का पथ अक्सर पथरीला ही होता है”
“एक कदम हम बढे, एक कदम तुम,
आओ मिलकर नाप दे, फासले चाँद तक”
Overall it laid expectations from the future.
2. Phase II: The Delivery
During his later budgets he stood on solid performance and growth. Hope gave way to conviction.
We have come so far by a collective effort. We have redefined success.
“नवाजिश है सबकी, कर्म है सभी का,
बड़े फ़ख्र से हम बुलंदी पर आये|
तरक्की के सारे मयारों से आगे,
नए ढंग लाये, नयी सोच लाये”
Charges were not increased amidst the inflation. We came good on our promises. Wait for more.
“दौर-ऐ-महंगाई में भी रेल सस्ती रखी,
पर कमाई में कोई कमी न रखी”
“जितना अब तक देख चुके हो, ये तो बस शुरुआत है,
खेल तमाशा आगे देखो, दरियादिल सौदागर का”
Overall mood migrated from hope to conviction of delivery.
3. Phase III: The Continuance
His last budgets were more of a commentary of his achievements. Election budget!
“गोल पर गोल दाग रहे हैं, हम हर मैच में,
देश का बच्चा बच्चा बोले, चक दे रेलवे”
He summed up his achievements. What had been done in his tenure will help reap benefits in the long term. We have just planted a tree. Everyone will grow with it. Commitment to duty.
“सब कह रहे हैं हमने गज़ब काम किया है,
करोड़ों का मुनाफा हर एक शाम दिया है,
फल सालों यह अब देगा, पौधा जो लगाया है,
सेवा का, समर्पण का, हर फ़र्ज़ निभाया है”
Overall mood was of letting people know of what was delivered. Of coming good on the promises. One more chance, perhaps!
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