2012 had been a year of uprising and anger. Whether it was against a defunct government, social injustice or violent men, there was always an undercurrent of animosity that defined the popular response.
Complex issues like violence against women, corruption
or terrorism obligate careful deliberation by a mind steeped in equanimity and
purified by wisdom. These are essentially social problems that demand a social
solution. As the building blocks of society, every family has a significant
part to play in social transformation. What we require desperately are
enlightened social reformers who can gently nudge us in the right direction.
I fervently hope and pray that 2013 will usher in an era of peaceful and meaningful public involvement in politics that is worthy of a maturing democracy.
Anger is the most visible symptom of a turbulent mind
rendered impotent by irrational thoughts. When justice has been thwarted and
legitimate protests suppressed, what has not been allowed to be articulated
peacefully finds expression through violent means. As a society, we Indians are
prone to repressing difficult emotions and need to be taught to communicate our
grievances effectively without aggression. Scientifically, it has been proven
beyond doubt that exposure to aggressive role models influences the behaviour
of observers negatively. As such, the whole world is witness to the effects of a
global gun culture that breeds young murderers. Even more baffling is the solution
of fighting this, not with abolishing guns but with providing more ammunition. Our
knee-jerk responses to rape betray the same insanity.
I fervently hope and pray that 2013 will usher in an era of peaceful and meaningful public involvement in politics that is worthy of a maturing democracy.