A year of anger

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.

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.

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.