Sutanu Guru
if the liberal mainstream media selectively targets hindu majoritarianism, more will the hatred for the muslims be visible outside
Two similar incidents that should evoke disgust in any sensible citizen were addressed by the media last week. The first one made its way even to global platforms apart from being splashed all over Indian media. I would say rightfully. The second one struggled to make it to Indian media, except coverage and outrage in some “right wing” platforms.
In the first, a viral video shows a handicapped lady teacher in a school in Muzzafarnagar asking young students to slap a Muslim student who failed to complete his homework. She is heard saying Muslim mothers don’t pay attention to their children’s education. Every Tom, Dick and Harry belonging to the outrage and “award wapsi” cottage industry pronounced yet again the death of Indian democracy and secularism.
Many held Narendra Modi and BJP responsible for the horrific trauma faced by the Muslim kid as they have been promoting “majoritarian” hatred. I, as a citizen, too was appalled. The so called “journalist and fact checker” Mohammed Zubair posted the video and made it even moe viral, just like he had done with Nupur Sharma of the BJP in the summer of 2022. The verdict: Muslims are increasingly unsafe in Hindu majority India.
Around the same time, a class 10th student in Kathua in J&K wrote “Jai Shri Ram” in his classroom blackboard. For this “egregious” offence, the boy was beaten up so badly by his teacher and the school principal that he had to be hospitalised with internal injuries. The boy is a Hindu and both the teachers who assaulted him are Muslim. I, as a citizen, was appalled at the horrific trauma faced by the Hindu kid. But the legions of “liberals” who had gone “bat s..t” crazy over the trauma of the Muslim kid in Muzzafarnagar went mysteriously silent.
Hardly any mainstream media platform covered the “story”. In fact, most Indians who follow news are well aware of what happened to the poor Muslim kid in Muzzafarnagar. Hardly anyone knows what happened to the poor Hindu kid in Kathua. I did a Google search using all sorts of names and key words to see if the so-called fact checker Zubair had posted anything on the Kathua incident. Google kept saying “no results found”
Now, I personally feel Zubair is a closet Islamist masquerading as a free speech and anti-hate advocate. I wouldn’t expect anything better from a vile and evil person like him. But what about well-known media professionals who are more responsible and make their best efforts to be even handed, whatever their personal opinions, likes and dislikes. I saw the two tweets posted by well-known journalist Rajdeep Sardesai on both incidents and realised how deeply entrenched the “liberal ecosystem” is. Do read the two tweets below and see the choice of words and emojis.
Here is what Rajdeep tweeted after Muzzafarnagar: Have just seen a terribly distressing video of a teacher in Muzaffarnagar in UP encouraging students to slap a Muslim kid in class because of their religion. Nothing more horrific than this. The teacher should not just be sacked but arrested. All those who spread hate on social media/tv/public life , you have created this hate engine: you are culpable. Every right thinking Indian must be enraged 😡 (I have deleted the video because I believe the child’s identity must be protected ) Hope to see NCPCR act swiftly and ensure exemplary punishment (August 25, 2023)
Here is what Rajdeep tweeted after Kathua: Student in Kathua beaten up by teacher for allegedly writing Jai Shri Ram on classroom board. While I wonder why a student would write this on a classroom board, the teacher/principal action is prima facie Unacceptable. Let’s be clear: be it Kathua or Muzaffarnagar, NO place for targeting a student like this or for any religious profiling. No whataboutery. Take stringent action, exemplary punishment. 🙏 (August 27, 2023)
Many would have noticed the choice of emojis and the words used. Many would have also noticed how Rajdeep wonders why a student should write Jai Sri Ram on a “classroom board”. Now, I don’t really think the famous anchor deliberately set out to trivialise the assault on the Hindu boy in Kathua. Unlike most other “liberals” who stayed silent, Rajdeep has at least made an “honest” effort to be even handed.
But the words and the emojis got me thinking about the power of the liberal ecosystem. Rajdeep has been so thoroughly “influenced” or “indoctrinated” by that eco-system for over 30 years that he reflexively belittles Hinduism. I am convinced he doesn’t do it deliberately. It has just become a deeply ingrained habit. A mindset that views reality with alternate “glasses”.
I can quote chapter and verse from the public utterances of almost all the so called “liberals”. But there is dearth of space. Long ago, Nobel Prize winning V. S. Naipaul had said that Hindus were fed up being attacked, colonised, brutalised and demonised for centuries and were no longer willing to accept that. Naipaul had presciently said this “revival” of Hindu sentiments and pride will lead to “ugliness”. That ugliness was clearly visible in Muzzafarnagar.
Sadly, the more the “liberal ecosystem” selectively targets “majoritarian Hindutva” for hate speech and attacks on Muslims while ignoring the other side of the coin, the more manifest will be the ugliness.
(Author has been a media professional for over 3 decades. He is now Executive Director, C Voter Foundation. Views are Personal)