Politics beyond racial discrimination
IT was an exciting and proud moment for the Asians and all those who advcate for genuine democratic ideals in politics when Rishi Sunak of Indian origin became the Prime Minister of the UK.
People from almost all across India celebrated it in multiple forms ranging from all social media forums to streets to religious places and bazaar decorations with pictures of Rishi Sunak everywhere.
As a matter of fact, for Indians, it is worth celebrating that the very person whose ancestors were economically and politically exploited, oppressed and demeaned and after 75 years became the head of the government of those alien rulers who forcibly took all resources of his forefathers under control for hundreds of years and did all sorts of excesses to them.
The period of Colonialism still contains the scar of the deep wounds and cries inflicted by the imperialists on the locals of the subcontinent while many other unresolved disputes left by them as legacy if not tackled by rational minds will pose further pain to the region.
But the transition from colonization to democratization, exploitation to distribution and confrontation to cooperation took 75 years which is a positive mobilization and is unique in the history of the world.
Credit also goes to Britains for having realized that exchanging ideas, sharing thoughts and plans and exploring different options and solutions to different problems and complicated challenges of the contemporary world of science and technology is far better than enslaving and intimidating others to gain dominancy.
Politics with inclusive credentials is imperative in the globalized village for the stability of any nation as politics and economics are interlinked and to expect economic prosperity without having strong politics is unimaginable.
It is also realized that it is the man of vision and strategy in the driving seat regardless of his religious or spiritual credentials can steer the country out of economic and political challenges.
It is the beauty of democratic systems which accepts diversity and gives equal opportunities and platforms to all citizens equally based on their capabilities without any prejudice and bias regarding their origin and religion.
It is unparalleled that an Indian won the trust of the majority of the MPS of the UK for premiership; he belonged to the community which was once ridiculed and hated for superstitious religion and social beliefs.
Many Indians attributed this to the general talent of the Indians to get adjusted and find prominent places in many countries of the world which is to a greater extent true given many Indians succeeded to achieve such other positions in the world.
Also, it is a message for the Hindu nationalists who are bent to clean India from non-Hindu communities by passing laws to legally and permanently denationalize millions of people who have been living there for centuries.
The tyranny of the majority has created toxic environment in India against all those and particularly Muslims who dare to disagree or oppose the extremist narrative and laws introduced by the BJP which are aimed at sidelining and marginalizing the minorities in India.
It should be a wake-up call for the Indians to accept ethnic and religious diversity at home.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
