I am an ordinary citizen of India. No, not a bigwig; not famous; not rich; not an achiever... Not a movie star; not a politician; and have won no awards, either ?
At many given points of time, there are short-cuts to fame. Sometimes, abusing and screaming in a reality show makes one famous; sometimes, a wardrobe malfunction makes one famous; at other times, a controversial word or a book or a painting. I could never do any of this. And, then came knocking this golden opportunity—this intolerance debate. I have decided to jump into this debate, for gaining a bit of name, and popularity.
The decision to jump into this raging debate was an instant one. However, it was difficult to decide as to on whose side was I... Do I think India is intolerant? Or, do I think India is not intolerant but we are becoming intolerant? Or, is it that nobody is intolerant, but the media and other envious nations are losing their tolerance? Maybe, there are some who can’t take it any longer that India could again start focusing on investments, cleanliness, start-up firms, space research and such other forays... So, they have decided to not patiently watch this poor Third World nation grow, but kickstart a storm?
I was confused for a while... Those who claimed that others are making a lot of noise and therefore, making India intolerant—were they too not intolerant of those who were making India intolerant? So, aren’t we all a little intolerant? Teachers are intolerant of erring and undisciplined pupils; Mothers are intolerant of children getting out of their hands; Mother-in-laws are intolerant of a few such mothers; and fathers or husbands are intolerant of these family sagas and tug-of-wars...
Anyways, the important question remained: who was tolerant and who was intolerant? And, on whose side was I going to be?
I decided to take a peep at the past. Scores of invaders and plunderers launched attacks on this soil in a bid to grab what they could lay their hands on... Some came, attacked, looted and went away. Others stayed on for years and decades to systematically bruise and bleed the land... We remained tolerant. Had we been intolerant, we would not have let them stay on and on... However, we learned quite a bit and gained quite a bit because we were not intolerant. We adapted to the cultural and scientific ways of the conquerors, and enriched our own diverse heritage a bit... So, does it mean that it pays to be tolerant?
I am still confused. If tolerance was fruitful, the American and French Revolutions would not have occurred; the Czars’ and their tyranny would have carried on; the world would not have known the principles of Liberty and Equality. Intolerance can fetch rich dividends too, isn’t it?
So, should India be tolerant or intolerant? Over the past 50 years and more, looking at the flourishing mafia; the hoarders; the violators of law; the perpetuators of crime and uncivilised behaviour—we seem to be pretty tolerant. Or else, our lentils and our apartments in our cities would not have cost so much. So, if the majority is tolerant, I can be famous if I choose to be different from the masses. Hurray!!! I got the answer. Yes, I am going to declare that I am intolerant.
If the Arna-bates (oops, debates, I mean) on news channels are an indication, we are becoming an intolerant nation. And, yes... I too am intolerant. But, how do I express my intolerance? Nobody will invite me in debates, and I have never won any awards which I can return. By the way, those who are returning the awards are tolerant or intolerant? I am confused again. If they were tolerant, they would not have expressed their intolerance at the growing intolerance, thus...
So, aren’t those who are returning awards or giving speeches themselves intolerant of the so-called intolerance?
Anyways, am confused... But, there is nothing to worry. I have no awards. Hence, I need not think about that debate. However, now that I have taken up a stance, how do I get famous? What shall I do? I love my neighbours and friends; I cant give up eating what I have always enjoyed eating... Can I express my intolerance before my maid? No, I dare not... Or else, she will become intolerant of me and my ways and she may leave my work and then, our lives will be intolerable... Oh, no!!! Can I express my intolerance before my mother-in-law? No, never... The repercussions would be too intolerable.
Will read a bit more in the newspapers about the Intolerance debate; see a bit of more ruckus on the news channels; listen to a few more speeches... Hopefully, I shall get an idea on how exactly to be famous while declaring that everyone is intolerant!!! Till then, I am intolerant...