Republic Day's Lingering Questions: The Uncomfortable Silence on India's Republic
The celebrations marking India's Republic Day have concluded, yet profound questions about the nature of our republic persist with unsettling clarity. If the republic represents a genuine connection of empathies, if it stands firmly upon shared commitments to justice, equality, dignity, and fraternity, and if it truly includes every citizen without exception, then we must confront an uncomfortable reality: too often, this ideal republic appears conspicuously absent from our national discourse and actions.
Concerning Incidents That Challenge Republican Values
Recent events have starkly highlighted this troubling gap between republican ideals and ground realities. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma openly urged citizens and election authorities to target Bengali-speaking Muslims, derogatorily labeled as "Miyas" and falsely branded as infiltrators. This represents a clear instance of communal dog-whistle politics that directly contradicts constitutional values.
Simultaneously, in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district, an FIR was registered under stringent anti-conversion laws against five Muslim schoolgirls. The complaint stemmed from CCTV footage showing them playfully placing a burqa on a Hindu friend after coaching classes. Registered on the Hindu girl's brother's complaint, this incident occurred under the governance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, raising serious questions about the weaponization of prejudice.
The Critical Question: Is Minority Othering Acceptable?
This brings us to the urgent, fundamental question: Is the systematic othering of minorities by elected officials or emboldened citizens acceptable within our republic? The question becomes particularly pressing when such actions occur under state governments that should be guardians of constitutional values.
While some opposition voices criticized Sarma's rhetoric ahead of Assam elections, the Moradabad incident generated minimal political ripples in Uttar Pradesh, where no immediate elections loom. This selective outrage reveals deeper structural issues within our political discourse.
Understanding the Silence: Why Don't People Unite Against Division?
The more pertinent question might be: What prevents citizens from collectively opposing divisive politics? Several complex factors contribute to this silence:
- India's profound diversity creates both richness and division, with fault lines of caste, class, language, region, and community hindering solidarity formation
- High perceived costs of speaking out against powerful governments, evidenced by disproportionate targeting of political opponents through agencies like CBI and ED
- Criminalization of dissent through terror charges against students, labeling of academics as "urban Naxals," and rhetorical equating of opposition with anti-nationalism
- Lack of critical mass against minority othering in a vast country, allowing ordinary citizens to overlook troubling developments
The Opposition's Complicity and Timidity
The political opposition shares significant responsibility for these republican silences. Opposition parties frequently appear either complicit or timid when confronting divisive politics. Historical records show Congress and regional parties have also presided over communal violence and minority-baiting, often viewing minorities as patronage recipients rather than rights-bearing citizens.
Today, this legacy manifests as conspicuous silence on Muslim issues, driven by a pessimistic binary: the belief that advocating for Muslim rights alienates Hindu majorities. Rahul Gandhi's silence on the Moradabad FIR and Congress leaders' absences from significant protests like Shaheen Bagh exemplify this political calculation.
Governance Complexity and Accountability Gaps
India's multi-tiered governance structure creates accountability swerves that powerful governments expertly manipulate. While the current administration evades responsibility for discrimination, it fully claims credit for welfare schemes. Meanwhile, the Sangh Parivar's extensive network ensures grassroots ownership of governmental achievements.
Simultaneously, minority communities resist permanent victimhood narratives imposed by both dominant politics and opposition expectations. Indian Muslims, like all citizens, seek better lives through education and skills, navigating political exclusion while asserting their rightful place in the nation.
The Digital Divide and Fragmented Public Sphere
A new line divides India's republic: the separation between digital haves and have-nots. Within the digitally connected, smartphone algorithms create fragmenting echo chambers that breed cynicism and disbelief. In this landscape of conflicting narratives, incidents like Assam's targeting rhetoric and Moradabad's FIR occur while the republic's voice grows faint.
As we reflect on Republic Day's meaning, we must acknowledge that the celebrations' conclusion doesn't diminish these fundamental questions. The republic with a small "r"—the living, breathing commitment to equality and justice—demands our constant attention and collective voice, especially when it seems most absent from our public discourse and political actions.
