Page 50 - 31DEC2018E

OPINION
DILEMMAS
HUMRA
QURAISHI
The Delhi-based writer
and columnist’s books
include Kashmir: The
Untold Story. She co- F in the midst of mounting
authored a series of
writings with the late
Khushwant Singh and
her short stories are
part of anthologies.
The views expressed
are her own
TEHELKA / 31 DECEMBER 2018 50 WWW.TEHELKA.COM
50-51 Opinion Humra.indd 2 12/14/2018
Each new year adds to
miseries, complexities
As we wonder what’s in store for us in 2019, vast sections of the
society are crying out for some level of relief from debts, hunger and
disease. Above all, majority of the citizens want to live in peace
or the last four or five years I What anarchy we witnessed last
have stopped muttering those fortnight in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr
typical ‘happy new year’ greet- is just about a sample of what could lie
ings. Somehow those words ahead; after all, the right-wing goons took
seem hollow and hackneyed on the police force with such a devious
outcry that they killed an Inspector level
sorrow and decay spreading around. To officer. And though the men involved
be precise, each new year seems to drag in the anarchy have been identified
along an additional load of miseries and and confirmed to be affiliated with the
complexities. Bajrang Dal and the VHP but it got writ
And as the New Year 2019 is very large that Yogi Adityanath’s government
close, apprehensions on the political seemed to be going slow in catching hold
front have begun to hit. After all, it will of the masterminds. Relevant queries
be that crucial election year which will and questions raised on the biased at-
decide the very course of events directly titude of the Yogi government have gone
or indirectly affecting our lives. In case, about unanswered! jobs were destroyed.” fleeing from their ancestral villages truding into our lives, wrecking us and
the right-wing comes to power then And to control and arrest and im- Perhaps, the biggest challenge and lands. the coming generations.
disasters in terms of polarisation and prison these goons unleashed by the for the new rulers would be to unite Today there is mounting stress and ♦ ♦ ♦
communal politics are sure to accelerate. right-wing fascist forces would be a warring factions. In fact, the fact is that sorrow. Vast sections are crying out Don’t want to leave you on a completely
Not just many more whistle blowers and challenging task for the Congress rul- hate crimes have gone up the graph for some level of relief from debts and bleak scenario. The New Year will
activists would get arrested or detained ers. Also, as institutions lie fitted with in these past four years. To attack and hunger and disease. Above all, that definitely herald a batch of young lead-
but just about any sane voice trying to the right-Wing men and women, so to kill the’ other’ on any given alibi seems quest to live in peace with the other! ers and this in itself is a positive news.
halt lynching and rape, rioting and kill- dislodge them would be another of those to carry a political sanction; several Enough of murky political games, in- During their recent election campaigns
ings. And these will further affect not just difficult tasks. And in case they continue right-wing politicians seem to be a Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya
individuals but institutions and the very to sit dislodged, that would pave way for part and parcel of it. And with this in Scindia and several other young men
governance. irritants in the very functioning of the the background it will get difficult to have made a mark. Giving us some
And in case the Congress and its allies government. control monsters unleashed by the As the New Year hope; indications that better days could
get to power then there would be a sigh Another disturbing trend which will political mafia. is very close, prevail in our country. And that we
of relief. Yes, definitely a definite sigh be difficult to handle by the Congress will The Congress and its allies will have would be in some position to recite
of relief. Though, mind you, it wouldn’t be the rising poverty levels and unem- to re -constitute and revamp the vari- apprehensions on the this verse of the last Mughal Emperor
be easy going for the new rulers of the ployment. After all, demonetization and ous forums and commissions to ensure political front have of Hindustan , Bahadur Shah Zafar —
country. Not to overlook the vital fact that GST have had an impact on trade and that hate propaganda is halted and (1775 – 1862)
the right-wing brigades and Hindutva industry and on the work force. To quote hate mongers are harnessed, so that begun to hit. After all, “Ode to Hindustan/
senas have made inroads. The decades the former Finance Minister P Chidam- some level of peace prevails in this Matchless is the soil of Hindustan/
long peace prevailing in our rural and baram on the disastrous aftermath of country…The new rulers would be also it will be that crucial In it grow love, compassion, fidelity/
urban pockets lies ruptured by goons and demonetisation on job loss, closure of expected to carry a humane approach election year which As sure as the sun rises from the East/
fascist tactics intruding into our everyday industries and the GDP growth. “Indian vis-a- vis the refugee crisis and not So surges from this land sincerity./
life, relaying fear of the ‘other’. And as a economy lost 1.5 per cent of GDP in terms hound them out from state to the will decide the very This is the true seed of Hind and from
great majority of goons stuffed in these of growth. That alone was a loss of 2.25 next. Also, there are thousands of the course of events its earth/
private senas are unemployed youth who lakh crore a year. Over 100 lives were internally displaced in the country who These fruits have spread across the
have been trained to attack and hound lost. 15 crore daily wage earners lost their have nowhere to go. Hounded that they directly or indirectly world, far and wide.”
and kill, so to harness them will be an livelihood for several weeks. Thousands are by the political mafia, they have affecting our lives
extremely difficult task. of SME units were shut down. Lakhs of been compelled if not forced to run … LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
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9:29:51 PM 50-51 Opinion Humra.indd 3 12/14/2018 9:29:57 PM