Published as Lead Article in oHearaldo May 23, 2022
Goa has been witnessing unpredictable climatic conditions due to global warming, but even more worrisome is the rise in communal temperatures post the State Assembly election 2022. Let’s not forget that the foundation for the current communal governance was laid by the then Chief Minister in 2002, with the official release of a controversial documentary on Goa’s freedom struggle and an attempt to cancel the public holiday for the feast of ‘Goencho Saib’. The video though withdrawn later continues to circulate in cyber space. The party’s compulsions for political survival had then forced the back tracking.
Now with a majority on its own, the thrust on the communal agenda has returned, at least for the next two years if not five. The current thrust of governance is visible in the CM’s announcement of a Rs 20 crore budgetary allocation for reconstruction of temples destroyed during Portuguese rule and a call for temple committees to keep watch against religious conversions. In all likelihood Goa can expect to see an anti-conversion law and other communally divisive adventures being rolled out. Pseudo Christians have already been recruited as spokespersons to defend the divisive agenda.
The rebuilding of the ancient temples by the government and the voicing of concern against forced conversions may appear innocent at first glance. The mischief lies in the lack of clarity on which are these temples to be rebuilt and the current status on site. There is no number attached to the claim about conversions by the CM. The latest appeal from another Minister to the ASI to explore locations and unearth the Shivlings only adds to the confusion. Incidentally, the communal agenda has already gone a step further with provocative processions in front of Masjids during the Ram Navami celebrations. With the mood set by the Government itself, the religious fundamentalists now feel emboldened to pull out their toxic tool kit for disrupting social harmony without fear of law. It may not be long before the name ‘Vhoddlem Goem’ or ‘Old Goa’ begins to disturb the mental peace of the ultra-right-wing forces.
To treat the recent provocative utterances and disruptive incidents in Goa as isolated and the work of fringe groups is perhaps a gross underestimation of the ground reality; it's a denial in acknowledging the hard truth about a cold religious war which has been staring Goans in the face since 1961. With a large in-migration from States prone to communal riots this cancer can only be expected to gallop in Goa. Those from the majority community who project themselves as liberals unfortunately resort to mixed messaging when it comes to categorically denouncing divisive politics. The individual or group raising some controversy may be shouted down, but when politically convenient the toxic propaganda gets endorsed.
The claim about Goa being a place of diversity and harmony is over exaggerated. In Goa, it is not unusual to see political controversies getting polarised to bully minorities into silence. Are Goans waiting for a deadly riot to admit that Goa is no more the paradise of peace, diversity and communal harmony which it was once known to be? After a Delhi court’s observation about the complicity of police in stopping the recent Jahangirpuri violence during the Ram Navami festival, can we assume that Goa’s law and order machinery and the quasi-judicial authorities are above religious prejudice or ideological bias when it comes to discharging their duties?
Unfortunately, religious leaders in Goa have shied away from educating their followers on the psychology of fanaticism, bigotry and hate. The predictable and impulsive reaction to communal rhetoric has been the blunder of the Catholic community in Goa. The inter-religious meets are cosmetic. The recent Catholic cacophony in defence of ‘Goycho Saib' lacks sanity and actually feeds into the designs of the fanatics. It's not only politicians who exploit such communal tensions, even religious leaders seem to enjoy such situations which divert the attention of their followers from the institutional corruption, excesses and failures towards an external enemy of the faith. Beyond the knee jerk reactions every time some fanatic barks, the Catholic community has remained apathetic and at times even collaborated with the divisive forces in bashing other minorities.
Goa’s communalism preys on a majoritarian complex. The retired IPS officer NC Asthana’s writings on ‘understanding the psychology of hate’ say, “All those who spew hatred, including jingoists and the hyper-nationalists are often under-achievers in life. This leads to a deep-rooted inferiority complex and frustration. They must blame something for it, which also becomes an object of resentment and later, hatred.”
Fanatics have the ability to morally disengage from their actions and play victim of the violence they consciously inflict on ‘The Other’. According to a social science researcher Jeremy E Sherman, “Fanaticism is a drug. Let loose on society it's like crack cocaine or alcohol only worse. Fanatics drive through life like alcoholics driving under the influence. They think they’re perfectly fine driving. They kill innocent bystanders, sometimes by the thousands or millions.”
Shaming those spewing hate and reasoning with them only compounds the mess. While a mischievous statement needs to be refuted if it warrants a response, the individual or group behind the statement should in no way find mention and assistance to play martyr and enjoy the publicity. Fanatics can only be defeated by denying them the recognition they crave.
(The author is a Social Activist who has been a member of the Panchayat.)
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/Communal-warming-is-endangering-Goa%E2%80%99s-harmonious-climate/189834
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