Pranab expresses concern over increase in violence arising out of differences

Former president Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday (October 23) said that he was concerned about the “increase in violence” arising out of differences among people while delivering a lecture at the North East Institute of Advanced Studies on its Foundation Day.

“Today, I notice, with great concern, there is an increase in violence arising out of differences. Consequently, our ability to co-exist in harmony has greatly suffered,” Mukherjee said.

He spoke about the increase in violence via video conference from Delhi in memory of the institute’s patron Justice (retired) KN Saikia on the topic of Tolerance in Indian Society.

“This type of violence not only perpetuates physical harm but mental, intellectual and socio-economic destruction as well. There is an utter disregard for the life of fellow humans; there is mistrust and hatred; there is suspicion and jealousy,” he added.

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The Bharat Ratna awardee said that peaceful co-existence, compassion, respect for life, and harmony with nature forms the foundation of our civilization.

“Every time an individual, child or woman is brutalised, the soul of India is wounded. Manifestations of rage are tearing our social fabric. Every day we see increased violence around us. At the heart of this violence is darkness, fear, and mistrust,” he lamented.

While defining tolerance, Mukherjee highlighted, “Tolerance, as I envision it, is essentially a state of mind. I strongly believe that it is a manifestation of our age-old belief in ahimsa. Ahimsa has been the core of Indian ethos and Mahatma Gandhi has been its most vocal apostle in modern times”.

“Today, more than ever, we need to remind ourselves of that unfettering faith the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, had in Ahimsa and not just tolerance, but mutual respect. Circumstances today have forced us to ask ourselves if we have lived up to the aspirations of the Father of our Nation,” he said.

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“We must free our public discourse from all forms of violence, physical as well as verbal. Only a non-violent society can ensure the participation of all sections of people in the democratic process, especially the marginalized and the dispossessed. We must move from anger, violence, and conflict to peace, harmony, and happiness,” he advised.

Mukherjee stated that in a democracy, informed and reasoned public engagement on all issues of national importance is essential. He also said that “dialogue, not disruption” was crucial for a healthy democracy.

“Divergent strands in public discourse have to be recognised. We may argue, we may agree, or we may not agree. But we cannot deny the essential prevalence of multiplicity of opinion. Only through a dialogue can we develop the understanding to solve complex problems without an unhealthy strife within our polity,” he said.

Stating that the soul of India resides in pluralism and celebration of diversity, he said, “This plurality of our society has come through assimilation of ideas over centuries. Secularism and inclusion are a matter of faith for us. It is our composite culture which makes us into one nation.”

“India’s nationhood is not one language, one religion, one enemy. It is the Perennial Universalism of 1.3 billion people who use more than 122 languages and 1600 dialects in their everyday lives, practice seven major religions, belong to three major ethnic groups. The Caucasians, Mongoloids, and Dravidians live under one system, one flag and one identity of being Indian/Bharatiya, and have no enemies. That is what makes Bharat a diverse and united nation,” Mukherjee said.