Stifled Minds and Muted Voices

I did not know Gauri Lankesh. Neither did I follow her. But I was aware that she was a noted journalist in my city of Bengaluru. That same Bengaluru that was witness to her being shot at so ruthlessly. The whole incident sent a shiver down my spine, as it did for many of the people in this country. While the investigations will find the reason for such a gruesome murder, the wider sentiments point towards a sense of growing intolerance given that this case bears similarities with a few other murders (Dhabolkar, Pansare, Kalburgi) that had shaken a country similarly. 

Since I share my views quite candidly, and to an extent, fearlessly, on social media, my worried, and doting, mother has warned me not to speak my mind and to be cautious with what I say (her favourite phrase with me is “Don’t be mad!”). It came as a surprise since she was the one who encouraged me to think and speak my mind. I was also amused since my poor mother thinks so highly of me that she doesn’t know that I’m an insignificant person in the scheme of things! What I say does not matter, and who is to tell her that? 

But this whole incident makes me wonder why we are so intolerant of opinions contrary to our own. It’s the diversity of opinions and ideologies that makes a society and a nation vibrant. It brings in checks and balances in the public discourse of a time and helps in the churning of ideas that can help take a Nation forward. Why should an articulate mind and strong voice pay such a heavy price only because the thoughts that are voiced are not appreciated by a section of the society?

We’re going to be a nation in introspection. We may not find answers immediately, but it will certainly awaken our conscience to the voices of other minds. Else we will be a Nation with stifled minds and muted voices…