IS THERE SOME MERIT IN RAJ THACKREY’S ARGUMENT?
POLITICS | November 5, 2008 | Share
The human nature is a very deep mystery which is simple to understand. When we, as a collective society, denounce something or someone; we denounce everything associated with it or them, even though some things or some points may be worth thinking about. Consider Hitler. He, undoubtedly, was a brutal mass murderer who killed millions of innocent Jews. Anyone who has seen the movie ‘Schindler’s List’ will agree that innocent Jews were treated and murdered brutally during his regime. But we often overlook his oratory skills and the fact that he instilled self-confidence in a broken and defeated nation. No-one except Hitler could have burnt the infamous treaty of Versailles right in the middle of Berlin and re-militarized Germany despite threats from USA and USSR during the 1930s. But he was a brain gone horribly wrong and ended up as a brutal mass murderer. Same is the case with Ravana. We often forget the fact that he was a ‘mahapandit’ and a highly learned scholar.
That brings me to the focal point of this article: the happenings in Maharashtra.
The ongoing debate about the attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra by Raj Thackeray’s MNS party cadres seems to be at the centre stage nowadays. India seems to be on the brink of a civil war with Maharashtrians being pitted against people from north India. MNS of course has a big role in this. Nothing can justify the violence against innocent north Indians in Mumbai and other cities of Maharashtra. Everyone in India has a right to make their living in any part of the country: that’s the very essence of our secular and democratic fabric. And no-one has the right to destroy it.
But is there some, although little, logic in Raj Thackeray’s argument? He basically argues that people from north India come to Mumbai in thousands and put pressure on local resources. This in turn eats into the resources available for locals. Now, this argument is deeply flawed as thousands of Maharashtrians also migrate to other states and cities like Bangalore and Delhi for work. Hence, this argument is flawed here. However, the little issue that arises is about the mindset of people who immigrate to these big cities.
What I mean by mindset is the gratefulness or the love for the city to which you are emigrating. I belong to Delhi and I can safely say that it is truly a melting pot. People from all around the country come to Delhi for work, to make a living and even make Delhi their home. People from Bihar, UP and Bengal form the highest number of migrants to the city. They live, work and eventually settle in the city. But do they love the city?
I have often seen people from other states that live in Delhi, criticizing it for various reasons. They say that it’s not a very safe city or that people don’t value relationships with their neighbors at all, that it is not a very clean city or that people are always in a hurry and cold towards others’ needs. Some of this is indeed true but then no city is perfect. A city is made up of its citizens. If its inhabitants litter around, it will not be a clean city. If its citizens are illogically selfish, the city is. A city can’t become something on its own. Kolkata is said to a laidback city. Why? Only because of the basic nature of its citizens, right? But people often forget that and instead of cleaning up their acts and becoming responsible citizens, they criticize the city i.e. take the weaker and easier route out. They often create the mess and then blame it on the city officials or the government, conveniently washing their dirty hands off it.
I have often seen many Delhiites complaining that they don’t like Delhi. Now I ask them a simple question: why? They don’t find enough opportunities back home in Kolkata or UP and Bihar and come to Delhi which gives them a good living and good opportunities to grow, something that’s the need of anyone and everyone on this planet. Why can’t they be grateful to Delhi at least for that? I fully support them if they say that they like their hometowns more than Delhi. That’s logical and fully understandable. But what I can’t comprehend is that why they hate Delhi? You can’t litter around or be a passive citizen and then say that Delhi isn’t a good city. Is it too much to ask that they be grateful for at least the good living that Delhi has been able to provide them? No-one is asking them to die for the city but to hate it- is out of context.
The main tragedy of Delhi is that it doesn’t have a culture of its own. It has various pockets of different cultures like CR Park, also known as mini-Bengal or West Delhi areas which has many Punjabi families. Now this gives Delhi a truly cosmopolitan feel. You can have a feel of traditional Durga Puja at CR Park or Eid festivities in Jama Masjid area or north Indian festivals in their true spirits. But this fact also sometimes works against the city.
I just want to say that I am fully for anyone’s right to come to Delhi and make it their home or workplace and I am also against violence which the immigrants have to face in any city or country. But am I wrong to ask the immigrants to love the city? Am I wrong to say that if you are working or making a good living in Delhi but if you still hate it, then you just go back to your place: be it UP or Bihar or Kolkata or any other place? Am I wrong to ask such people not to waste their lives in a city they don’t like or love and go back and enjoy the city they do, even though they left it for a better opportunity? I don’t think I am. I know many intellectuals or elitists will frown at this point but I don’t think I am wrong if I ask all those living in Delhi to work towards making it a world-class city and be responsible citizens by doing small things such as not littering around or loving the city for at least the living it has given them.
It’s understandable for people to come to Delhi or Mumbai in search of better opportunities but it’s certainly wrong for them not to do anything for the city and instead hate it. This should also be condemned along side the violence unleashed by the MNS men.
Mayank Sharma
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Question:Is There Some Merit In Raj Thackrey’s Argument?
Answer: No.
Question: Is there a point to this article?
Answer: No.
Question: Do you have the right to form your opinions (here with regrds to a city)?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Do they always have to be a positive one?
Answer: No!
Sincere suggestion. Stop being so xenophobic. And PLEASE grow up.
“Anyone who has seen the movie ‘Schindler’s List’ will agree that innocent Jews were treated and murdered brutally during his regime.”
errr…trust me, you don’t need to watch the movie to know that. One of my close friend’s granddad died in a concentration camp.
“What I mean by mindset is the gratefulness or the love for the city to which you are emigrating. I belong to Delhi and I can safely say that it is truly a melting pot. People from all around the country come to Delhi for work, to make a living and even make Delhi their home. People from Bihar, UP and Bengal form the highest number of migrants to the city. They live, work and eventually settle in the city. But do they love the city?….”
ummm….So they should LEAVE????
hahaha…good joke!
“I have often seen many Delhiites complaining that they don’t like Delhi. Now I ask them a simple question: why? They don’t find enough opportunities back home in Kolkata or UP and Bihar and come to Delhi which gives them a good living and good opportunities to grow…..”
umm….then there shouldn’t be slums, should there? coz a majority of the people living in such slums aren’t exactly the natives…
“…. cleaning up their acts and becoming responsible citizens, they criticize the city i.e. take the weaker and easier route out. They often create the mess and then blame it on the city officials or the government, conveniently washing their dirty hands off it….”
Ever been to Mumbai in the monsoons? It is certainly not the people’s fault as much as the BMC’s for a lack of infrastructure.
“But what I can’t comprehend is that why they hate Delhi?”
You might just, if you lived like them.
“But am I wrong to ask the immigrants to love the city? Am I wrong to say that if you are working or making a good living in Delhi but if you still hate it, then you just go back to your place: be it UP or Bihar or Kolkata or any other place? Am I wrong to ask such people not to waste their lives in a city they don’t like or love and go back and enjoy the city they do, even though they left it for a better opportunity? I don’t think I am.”
You are.
wow ..u really got worked up vipul . I think you also need to grow up and critize the article ,not attack me
. Your fourth comment is a valid criticism..others r just for me so answerin to them will b a waste of my time.
about the fourth one [ concerning slums ] … no..there shldnt be any. Govts all around the country have rehabilitation progs for slum dwellers and those who encroach upon public land. These progsarent implemented everywhere unfortunately and even where they r..pppl rent their govt quarters n go bk to livin in slums. Slums are a blot on human existence. And here only the govt has a role to play..implement the policies honestly thats all.
n pray man..y r u gettin all worked up so much? Dont take the fun out of the art of debating …I will welcome if u attack the article and my replies . But if u chose to target ur guns at me…its just wastin ur time coz i dont care for any personal attack. Thank you
n now some serious stuff…. in the article, i have clearly mentioned that m against any sort of violence and divisive politics of hate… but its in my right to expect my ‘guests’ to have some regard for my home.
And yes.. mumbai monsoon rains and their aftermath r a completely diff issue. Thats a natural calamity n not under anyone’s ctrl. Talk things that are . BTW… whom did u vote for last elections ?
1)i wasn’t attacking you. only in my last comment, i did. my bad. i apologise. might have gotten carried away.
2)”but its in my right to expect my ‘guests’ to have some regard for my home…”
i think this is EXACTLY where the article is flawed. see we are all indians, and have a right to roam freely across the country. in the 21st century, you cannot assume that cities like Delhi are home only to certain people, while the others are guests. i am sure very few people in delhi today actually belong to Delhi. it is the same concept as being an American. someone must have migrated somewhere down the line. it is wrong to point and say you are a guest, and you are not…..globalisation anyone?
and as for liking cities: i really do not have to like any city.
as for my voting…i think it is my private business. but rest assured i do vote.
the idea is to stand true to the concept of “cosmopolitan” as your article calls Delhi….not just in terms of the diversity of people, but also in terms of diversity of opinions!
otherwise Delhi is not cosmopolitan, right?
I have mentioned in my article that the biggest characteristic of Delhi is that it doesnt have a culture of its own. That makes the definition of a ‘guest’ indeed difficult..but logically those who are born & brought up in delhi are delhiites..then there r students n professionals from various othr cities who come from ‘outside’…
the main issue however isnt the definition though..that may become subjective..the moot point is the one in the article. I never said that these ppl shld nt come to delhi n all…they r most welcome..to come to delhi, earn living n even like their native places much more than delhi.. If I go to say, US.. wont i love India more? All i am sayin in the end that you cant enjoy the privileges that Delhi provides and at the same time, criticize it wholly w/o doin nothing at all fr it. Do u know how many illegal colonies r there in delhi? Those ppl have come from faraway towns and hv settled here…being illegal colonies, they dnt pay city taxes but use every resource available. They arent registered voters either. And then there r slums. PPl say Delhi isnt a safe city… now hw can u explain that most crimes r reported from slum dwellers..who mostly arent locals…
About your voting, its good to know that u r a responsible citizen.
About diversity of opinions..its most welcome. I will not go on a violent spree against anyone who says he or she hates delhi. I will not even tell them to like it. If they dont its their democratic choice. It doesnt affect me or my city.
But i do believe that its fairly logical to expect ‘guests’ to feel atleast something for the city which has given them an opportunity to grow…to study higher…to a good job…the capability to send money back home n still save… Some ppl may call it gratefulness but i dont think it is. I think its a feeling that comes naturally. If i go to US, i may hate it for every other reason but at some level…i will feel good for it for the opportunity. What i say..what i am….i expect…and i am not wrong in this.
i remenber an instance from my trip to raipur last december. Some of the locals i talked to were rather angry at ‘outsiders’ from gujarat and maharashtra for the reason that those ppl just come there for the expensive wood that is abundant in n around raipur’s forests..they cut trees at their will, mk money n stay in palatial houses in raipur or just go back. Locals were rather enraged on the issue.
Now i know that this is not fully related to my article but do u see some of my point as to what m i tryin to say?
“The human nature is a very deep mystery which is simple to understand.”
I couldn’t read the rest of the article. Your first line was so counter-intuitive I can’t even start to fathom what else you’ve filled in there.
is it really counter-intuitive or u didnt get it ? i am betting on the latter . And if u want, read the article..n if u have it in u, then i invite u fr a debate .