The collective conscience of India has been rendered irrelevant in the present times with the advent of an alternative conscience that is purely 'religiopolitical,' creating divisions within the country into 'pro' and 'anti' factions based on religious and political preferences.
John Sekar OFM
Intending to restore the political conscience of India, Rahul Gandhi of the Congress Party has
launched the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in North East India. Interestingly, the yatra began
from the violence-hit state of Manipur which has not been visited yet by Prime Minister
Modi. The moral conscience of India was reaffirmed when the Supreme Court of India
cancelled an order issued by the Gujarat government to release the convicts in the Bilkis
Bano case terming it as a 'fraud act'. With the 'pran pratishtha' of the Ram Temple in
Ayodhya, many, including Prime Minister Modi, have declared the restoration of India's
religious conscience, fostering peace and harmony among all religions. As Modi himself
stated: 'Ram is a solution, not a dispute.'
With these volatile events, one cannot help but ask: What is happening to the collective
conscience of India? In an era marked by scientific and technological advancement, the need
to march for justice and unity raises questions about whether we are on the path of progress
or regress. The release of convicts by a state government in one of the most gruesome acts
makes one question the reliability of the state machinery for justice. Moreover, when the
Prime Minister of India, a country known for its secular core, openly declares the advent of
'Ram Rajya' with the temple consecration in Ayodhya, it prompts one to wonder if the secular
credentials of India will gradually be erased from its heart.
The collective conscience of India refers to our shared beliefs, values, morals, and ethical
standards as Indians, transcending any dividing barriers such as caste, religion, or ethnicity. It
represents the moral and ethical principles that unite us as Indians and shape our collective
understanding of right and wrong, irrespective of political and religious affiliations. The
collective conscience of India is rooted in the shared identity that we are all Indians,
influencing our conduct and attitudes towards one another in the country.
The political, moral, and religious landscape of India is undergoing significant alterations,
posing a threat to the collective conscience of India envisioned by the founding fathers of the
nation post-independence. With the disapproval and outright criticism of some of the former
leaders of the country whose ideals are not in alignment with the present leaders’ ideas of
what India should be, history is being ‘modi’fied to suit the agenda of the political party in
power. The emergence of pseudo-intellectuals under the guise of historians, political
commentators, activists, and even religious cult leaders, toeing the line of the ruling party and
occupying a substantial time in the media houses, online video stream platforms, and political
and religious stages are spreading a narrative that deviates from the course of progress and,
unfortunately, reverts into regression.
Media houses, which have become PR firms for the political parties and the ruling
government either at the center or in states, have further eroded the collective conscience of
India, becoming divisive themselves in their reportage. When everyone agrees that Religion
is a personal space that should not be mixed with Politics, media houses, recently, were at
their best doing just the opposite for the sake of increasing their TRPs and appeasing those in
power. The media landscape in India, including cinema to some extent, has fallen victim to
the rising nationalistic and religious consciousness, instead of fulfilling its intended role to
awaken the collective conscience of the entire nation towards the ideals that truly contribute
to nation-building.
Some celebrities across all 'woods' and sports in India are actively competing to showcase
their allegiance to the ruling party. However, there are a few who have managed to exhibit
independence and a principled stance. Despite enjoying widespread fandom across the
country, these famous personalities often fail to raise their voices on critical issues of justice
and peace. But on the issues of ‘nationalism,’ they are outspoken. The recent India-Maldives
dispute over tourism saw voices from the celebrities but the same level of enthusiasm was not
shown in the case of the early release of the convicts in the Bilkis-Bano case.
The collective conscience of India has been rendered irrelevant in the present times with the
advent of an alternative conscience that is purely 'religiopolitical,' creating divisions within
the country into 'pro' and 'anti' factions based on religious and political preferences. In this
new paradigm of conscience, there seems to be little room for differing views and
disagreements, fostering a realistic fear that the ideal of a united, harmonious India may be
forcefully, sometimes even through violent means, thrust into the realm of an unattainable
utopia. While this is very evident, blinded by political and religious biases, it receives only a
blind eye. Unless there is an awakening of conscience as India and Indians, actively promoted
by important sections, like, politicians, religious leaders, media houses, intellectuals, and
celebrities, we may be failing as India! It is unfortunate that this awakening, for now, seems
nothing short of a miracle!
