So finally I break my silence on this supposedly sensitive issue... :)
While the debate on intolerance is still on and drawing new participants each passing day, I thought it will be interesting to see if there is any data exists which could answer the debate on Intolerance in a more scientific way...
So statisically speaking, you can only say "Intolerance is rising" if you have clearly defined definition for "Intolerance" and "Historical measurable data" which clearly shows a remarkble change...
Dictionary definition of "Intolerance" is "Lack of tolerance;unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect opinion or beliefs contrary to one's own"
Going by definition I think "Intolerance" is more a social issue than a legal one...It becomes a legal matter when this intolerance leads people to use violence to enforce their ideology.
So question is whether Indian society is "Intolerant" compared to other nations?
If yes than can present government be blamed for promoting intolerance?
Has there been an increase in violence directly attributed to intolerance?
Now in this entire debate, while both sides have quoted number of incidents (Intolerance+violence) to strengthen their theory, however one thing is pretty clear that no one so far has produced any reliable data to either prove or disprove this Theory of Intolerance... So what you really have is one set of people quoting "isolated incidents" like #Dadrilynching #KalburgiMurder and opposing people quoting #KashmiriPandits and #1984riots......btw even google couldn't produce any statistically measured and documented data on Intolerance in India. :)
Our constitution provides for a "secular state" with "freedom of expression" (I picked these two, as they are most relevant to current debate), which essentially means that you are free to pursue your religious beliefs and also express your views on any matter freely...This framework allows any act of intolerance to be dealt with legal system...
So Wouldn't it be interesting to see some report of
"recorded crimes which can be directly attributed to intolerance"? And if we have any such report over a number of years, we can use that to make some concrete comments on ongoing debate...
Now all this leaves scope for confusion...
And there lies dilemma of majority of people like you and me....the 98% ......
That missing 2% is what comprises "Fringe brigade".... 1% on either side...
Ok don't hold me to these numbers... I just cooked them out of thin air for sake of convenient argument... :)
Now that fringe 1% on either side is not only convinced on their respective ideologies, they also make every effort to convince confused 98%....
Now my view is that this 98% , irrespective of their religion or race simply wants nation to progress economically so that their children can have a better future...They are "Tolerant" in every sense of the word...they want to coexist...Problem is they are confused on "Rules of coexistence" ...This is not really surprising considering that anyways "rules of coexistence confusion" has its roots in building blocks of any society... which is "Family"....isn't it fair to say that "there is some element of intolerance" in every family?...so you have Saas-Bahu sagas, husband-wife tussle..brothers fighting, parents-children conflicts etc...in some cases this intolerance also takes violent turn, and I think it will be appropriate to club them in 2% "fringe element" basket.
In essence this 98% may be confused on "rules of coexistence" may have "difference of opinion on variety of topics including eating habits"....and hence "slight undertones of intolerance" but I think as long as they don't resort to "violent means" it's ok...we can always hope that next stage of evolution will probably take us beyond these concerns...It will be nice to have 100% tolerant society but utopia only exists in stories and movies not in real world..
In the interim, one important job of the government is to handle that 2% fringe element group, with iron hand...I see an opportunity for Mr Modi to make a strong statement by ensuring that all "Intolerance+violence" cases are handled on top priority and end the debate once and for all....
Post Script:
A google search "Which country is most tolerant?" leads you to a page describing "Canada" as the most tolerant country...This is as per "World Values Survey"....India prominently features as "Least Tolerant countries"...However questionnaire used in the survey was more suited for measuring racial tolerance hence may not be very appropriate measure to settle current debate.....
And before you rush to blame this on our PM Mr Modi, mind you this article dates May 15, 2013 so survey must have taken place prior to that...and wasn't it UPA govt ruling country than? ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/15/a-fascinating-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-racially-tolerant-countries/
Another google query specifically for "religious intolerance" leads you to "Pew Research Center" page. Pew Research Center analyzes extent to which government and societies around the world impinge on religious beliefs and practices. In social hostilities index India ranks poorly as "Very High". In government restriction index not very encouraging "High".
Two things, one as a Indian, I would like to believe that this is wrong, second even if it were to be true, mind you this data also pertains to 2013.
Again, I think it is completely uncalled for to blame current government and Mr Modi for rising intolerance.....
In conclusion, I would like to leave you with some thoughts --
Difference between "Intolerance" and "Intolerance+violence"
Question whether Indian society itself is more intolerant than its global peers?
Can it be proven beyond doubt that current government is encouraging intolerance and government elements are participating in Intolerance+violence?
While the debate on intolerance is still on and drawing new participants each passing day, I thought it will be interesting to see if there is any data exists which could answer the debate on Intolerance in a more scientific way...
So statisically speaking, you can only say "Intolerance is rising" if you have clearly defined definition for "Intolerance" and "Historical measurable data" which clearly shows a remarkble change...
Dictionary definition of "Intolerance" is "Lack of tolerance;unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect opinion or beliefs contrary to one's own"
Going by definition I think "Intolerance" is more a social issue than a legal one...It becomes a legal matter when this intolerance leads people to use violence to enforce their ideology.
So question is whether Indian society is "Intolerant" compared to other nations?
If yes than can present government be blamed for promoting intolerance?
Has there been an increase in violence directly attributed to intolerance?
Now in this entire debate, while both sides have quoted number of incidents (Intolerance+violence) to strengthen their theory, however one thing is pretty clear that no one so far has produced any reliable data to either prove or disprove this Theory of Intolerance... So what you really have is one set of people quoting "isolated incidents" like #Dadrilynching #KalburgiMurder and opposing people quoting #KashmiriPandits and #1984riots......btw even google couldn't produce any statistically measured and documented data on Intolerance in India. :)
Our constitution provides for a "secular state" with "freedom of expression" (I picked these two, as they are most relevant to current debate), which essentially means that you are free to pursue your religious beliefs and also express your views on any matter freely...This framework allows any act of intolerance to be dealt with legal system...
So Wouldn't it be interesting to see some report of
"recorded crimes which can be directly attributed to intolerance"? And if we have any such report over a number of years, we can use that to make some concrete comments on ongoing debate...
Now all this leaves scope for confusion...
And there lies dilemma of majority of people like you and me....the 98% ......
That missing 2% is what comprises "Fringe brigade".... 1% on either side...
Ok don't hold me to these numbers... I just cooked them out of thin air for sake of convenient argument... :)
Now that fringe 1% on either side is not only convinced on their respective ideologies, they also make every effort to convince confused 98%....
Now my view is that this 98% , irrespective of their religion or race simply wants nation to progress economically so that their children can have a better future...They are "Tolerant" in every sense of the word...they want to coexist...Problem is they are confused on "Rules of coexistence" ...This is not really surprising considering that anyways "rules of coexistence confusion" has its roots in building blocks of any society... which is "Family"....isn't it fair to say that "there is some element of intolerance" in every family?...so you have Saas-Bahu sagas, husband-wife tussle..brothers fighting, parents-children conflicts etc...in some cases this intolerance also takes violent turn, and I think it will be appropriate to club them in 2% "fringe element" basket.
In essence this 98% may be confused on "rules of coexistence" may have "difference of opinion on variety of topics including eating habits"....and hence "slight undertones of intolerance" but I think as long as they don't resort to "violent means" it's ok...we can always hope that next stage of evolution will probably take us beyond these concerns...It will be nice to have 100% tolerant society but utopia only exists in stories and movies not in real world..
In the interim, one important job of the government is to handle that 2% fringe element group, with iron hand...I see an opportunity for Mr Modi to make a strong statement by ensuring that all "Intolerance+violence" cases are handled on top priority and end the debate once and for all....
Post Script:
A google search "Which country is most tolerant?" leads you to a page describing "Canada" as the most tolerant country...This is as per "World Values Survey"....India prominently features as "Least Tolerant countries"...However questionnaire used in the survey was more suited for measuring racial tolerance hence may not be very appropriate measure to settle current debate.....
And before you rush to blame this on our PM Mr Modi, mind you this article dates May 15, 2013 so survey must have taken place prior to that...and wasn't it UPA govt ruling country than? ....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/15/a-fascinating-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-racially-tolerant-countries/
Another google query specifically for "religious intolerance" leads you to "Pew Research Center" page. Pew Research Center analyzes extent to which government and societies around the world impinge on religious beliefs and practices. In social hostilities index India ranks poorly as "Very High". In government restriction index not very encouraging "High".
Two things, one as a Indian, I would like to believe that this is wrong, second even if it were to be true, mind you this data also pertains to 2013.
Again, I think it is completely uncalled for to blame current government and Mr Modi for rising intolerance.....
In conclusion, I would like to leave you with some thoughts --
Difference between "Intolerance" and "Intolerance+violence"
Question whether Indian society itself is more intolerant than its global peers?
Can it be proven beyond doubt that current government is encouraging intolerance and government elements are participating in Intolerance+violence?
