The Cruelty of Words

Just recently, I was reading about Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Rajasthan, where he referred to the assassinations of his grandmother and father, and also to the possibility of his being killed in the same manner.

First of all, let me clarify that I am not a political critic. But being a person who is still able to empathise, I certainly feel sorry for someone who must have undergone a great deal of trauma from a very young age.In no way am I referring to his oratorical or management skills, his credibility or financial assets, his love life, or even his current position as a Congress leader. Like a lot of my fellow Indians, I agree that there is much more he needs to do to prove his mettle politically and win the trust of the people.

But seeing him being verbally assaulted in this manner and brought down to the level of a ‘buddhu’ or ‘pappu’, I certainly feel sorry for the person that is Rahul Gandhi, who seems to me to be a victim of circumstances. True, he has lived in the lap of luxury all his life and is part of a political dynasty that may not be easily digested by many. But all that comes to my mind when I think of him is the phrase, ‘poor little rich boy’.

Speaking of victims, my dears, it certainly looks like we Indians are a sadistic lot when it comes to victimising victims. Mind you, I am not just talking about those unfortunate people who are victims of major physical crimes. I am also referring to people like you and me who may be victimised emotionally and psychologically for a word spoken or an action taken unwittingly.

We could be victims at school, at the workplace, in a bus, at a public gathering, or even in our own homes. But irrespective of the degree of victimisation, what I feel is that we belong to a peculiar culture that has developed its own effective ways of dealing with the suffering of victims.

We believe in taunting, demoralising and demeaning them thoroughly, mostly using the weapon of words, which can force them to remain victims throughout their lives. Never mind the age, gender or sex of a victim. Never mind the magnitude of their sorrow or troubles. Never mind their circumstances or the reasons why they were victimised.

We are proficient at offering them not just our generous sympathies, but also making sure that we judge, criticise, condemn, warn, taunt, moralise, sermonise and watch over them all their lives — just to make sure that they never ever forget the fact that they are victims.

Coming back to Rahul Gandhi, as a young politician, he may or may not be able to survive this massive onslaught by over-eager Indians belonging to various political camps and ideologies. But as an individual whom I feel is ‘more sinned against than sinning’, I hope he finds his peace sometime in life.