Mumbai, April 27: India is on its edge! An unlit matchstick can spark a riot, an accidental stare can cause a scuffle, and a rumour can cause Gods to drink milk. We are highly suggestible today, and a million so-called triggers, many imaginary, are waiting to manifest on social media platforms or on the streets. In this background, one needs to look at the alleged Lenskart, Air India, and the TCS controversies.

Religious symbols worn are no longer extensions of one’s attire, or calming spiritual objects, but today they are ideograms of identity, power, and also assertive weaponry. This may emanate from psycho-social insecurities, desire to show religious dominance, or a consequence of cultural slavery from within and without for hundreds of years.

Conspiracy of Silence:

To me, the issues here are not about religious coercion, rape, denial of cultural rights, and a conspiracy to crush a religious identity and force them into religious conversion alone. It is the conspiracy of silence of the larger populace that is hugely worrying.

Many would have known the torment early, but they kept quiet. Unconsciously, in the deeply embedded loudspeakers of the........

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