Maintain safe distance; end social distancing
The coronavirus is now emerging as the source of all evils. We are blaming the virus not only for the pain and agony of the present times but also holding it responsible for all the social ills plaguing us. Reinforcing the injustice that the common man faces at the hands of his fellow human beings, the virus is actually showing mankind its limitations. It is time for us to recalibrate our thinking and acknowledge the opportunity it has provided to look at ourselves as a society and the depths to which we can plummet.
Before this virus forced us to maintain social distancing, India has been perpetuating social distancing for centuries – the caste system that is so deep rooted and pervasive that the outbreak of a virus has given it further ammunition. The caste system ensured that people grow distant from each other and erect barricades that cannot be broken down. The practice of untouchability was not something the virus gifted us but has been an integral part of society. Even when there was no fear of infectious diseases and spread of a pandemic, some sections of Indian society were considered ‘low caste’ and kept at a distance. A section of society was branded as ‘Dalits’ or ‘Panchamas’ and were not allowed to even touch common sources of water. The virus is not responsible for the pathetic living conditions of the scheduled castes and tribes either.
It is now that the coronavirus has reared its head and made one human being untouchable to another. It has not differentiated between caste, class, or community, and those belonging to the so-called upper castes are also forced to stay away from each other. The problems that we face maintaining social distancing to ensure the virus does not spread and protect our health are many. But this pales in comparison to the humiliation and insult that people experience due to untouchability, and tragically, one section of the society has been subjected to such experiences repeatedly over hundreds of years.
In a similar vein, the country has been witnessing attempts for several years to create a similar distance on communal lines and thereby divide society on the basis of religion. These attempts have intensified in the recent days, many under the direction of the government that has enacted several laws only to deepen the divide and is spending crores of rupees as part of its efforts. As though to prove a point that none of these ‘man-made divides’ matter and to negate the attempts to deepen such divides, the Corona virus seems to have entered our midst to teach us significant lessons and ensure the same social distance is applicable to all, thereby debunking the myth of superiority of certain upper-caste and upper-class sections. Perhaps punishing us for having used places of worship for political gains, the virus also ensured that religious places – temples, mosques, and churches – had no option but to shut shop.
The virus not just mirrored the total erosion of humanitarian values and the selfishness and lack of inclusivity among people but also showed us the humanitarian side of our society and the nobility of the people. It also reinforced that humanity and nobility are not the monopoly of any one caste or creed alone. But, unfortunately, these values have not permeated across our society and seeped into our DNA yet. Having experienced the destruction and losses of such magnitude due to the virus, people should have engaged with their fellow human beings in a humane way. However, we are witnessing how they have gone back to doing what they are best at - continue the perpetuation of the same social evils.
After the prolonged lockdown, places of religious worship – temples, mosques, churches – have reopened but we haven’t seemed to have learnt any lessons. A village near Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh has shown us that temples are not yet open to Dalits. A young boy of this village who tried to enter a temple that reopened after the lock down was lifted was shot down. The government has not yet intervened and come out with any measures to prevent such atrocities and barbarian acts that have resulted in snuffing the life out of a young boy. If the boy had died due to the Corona virus, the media would have created a ruckus but as his death was due to the ‘caste virus’, the incident was largely ignored by the media. The virus does not discriminate among people and treats everyone equally, but people of a certain section are subjected to discriminatory treatment by others with total impunity. If we still don’t learn our lessons and treat each human being the same regardless of caste and religion, we must be prepared to face diseases that are worse than the coronavirus.
Karnataka is now witnessing a similar incident in a different avatar. In Sirawara taluk in Raichur district, villagers are getting a big lake drained off water. Reason: An employee of the local Gram Panchayat threw a stone into the lake. Word spread about this and triggered fear among the people who suspected that a ‘dangerous’ object was thrown into the lake. All attempts made to assuage the fears of the people – the person who threw the object into the lake even drank water from the lake – did not work. Finally, a decision was taken to drain the lake of all the water and put at the rest the doubts and fears of the people. The reason for the fear of this magnitude is the name of the person (Mohammad) who threw the object and the community to which he belongs. Using this incident, some people are trying to communalize the issue.
This lake is a lifeline for the farmers of the areas and the villagers also depend on the lake for drinking water supplies. The lake had enough water to meet the requirements of the village for at least three months. The entire water is now going waste – the process of draining out would take about five days - to quench the communal anger, hatred, and superstition of the people. When several villages in the district are facing acute water shortage, the attitude of the people who decided to take such a decision displays a mindset worse than the Corona virus. If we cannot look beyond our selfishness, superstitions, or religious beliefs even at this trying time of a pandemic, how can we then blame the virus for all our ills?
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Modi govt facing strong anti-incumbency, claims Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday claimed that there is a strong anti-incumbency against the Narendra Modi government.
Calling the JD(S) a "communal party", for having an alliance with BJP in Karnataka, he suggested it is better for its leadership to dissolve the outfit.
"This time, whether it is in Karnataka or in the country, there is no Modi wave. BJP candidates are seeking votes in the name of Modi, they are dependent on Modi. There is a strong anti-incumbency against the Modi government," Siddaramiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, as there is no Modi wave, there is an atmosphere in favour of Congress and INDIA bloc across the country.
Defending Congress' sarcasm-laced campaign alleging that the Modi government's gift to Karnataka was empty 'Chombu' (Kannada word for a round water pot), Siddaramaiah said, "Did they give Rs 15 lakh to every account holder as promised?, Did he create 2 crore jobs a year?, Did he double farmers income?, Did good days come?"
Modi has not fulfilled even a single assurance he had given, he said. "So Modi has given the people of the state and the country an empty 'Chombu'. Let them (BJP) say anything, our (state's) coffers are not empty, we (Congress govt) have implemented five guarantee schemes, and we have continued the developmental works."
Alleging that JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has become "communal" after joining hands with the BJP, the CM claimed JD(S) is no longer a secular party.
"The JD(S) is a communal party. Since they are having an alliance with BJP in Karnataka, it is better they dissolve JD(S)," he said, adding, as BJP and JD(S) fear losing the elections they have formed an alliance to fight Congress, which is fighting independently.
Stating that the murder of Neha Hiremath in Hubballi is not a case of "love jihad", Siddaramaiah said, he strongly condemns the incident, and the accused has been arrested immediately.
"Investigation will be done seriously and it will be ensured that the culprit is strictly punished," the chief minister said.
In a shocking incident, Neha Hiremath (23), daughter of Congress councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath, was stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College on Thursday.
The accused, Fayaz Khondunaik, who fled from the scene, was arrested by the police subsequently.
Noting that murders have taken place "during all times", the chief minister said the government has taken the issue of law and order seriously. The law and order situation is good in Karnataka. "We will condemn all acts of murder, robbery or anything, and ensure that culprits are punished," he said, as he accused the opposition of using the death for political reasons.
