Recently, I came across a video that occurred surrounding the Qatar world football cup. It seemed like a mass boycott of Israeli media by the public. The reporter standing in front when seeking the opinions of the match people just denied the byte if the media house hailed from Israel. Indeed, the generation has witnessed the inhuman atrocities in Palestine by Israel, encourages the actions and also celebrated the humiliation that Israel had to undergo. But in some days if at all Palestine comes to power and gives back to Israel what it served them, do we find any difference between the both.
Indeed, denying a media byte in a national telecast might be accepted as a form of solidarity, but is it a cent per cent justifiable in aspects of human dignity and as far as the psychology of an individual reporter? Never! It will be a form of public shame to the reporter. In national television, it might be a strong message against Israeli atrocity but at the same time, it is also an attack against an individual’s self-esteem and confidence.
Staying away from home, in my search for a house to stay in, an individual asked about my home town. On hearing Mangalore, the man’s sudden reply was “Mangalore is turning out to be one of the worst cities in Karnataka.” Being a Mangalorean myself it was not easy to accept it, but at the same time a kind of pride which I always carried to state myself as a Mangalorean turned out to be a matter of fear. An instilled fear made me think, “Will I be denied of the domicile because I am from Mangalore.” There are also stories of individuals who live by changing their actual identification in case of name and faith as it is turning out against their career and livelihood. A recent viral video of a student from a reputed college in Mangalore is the best example of taking for granted, the actions of discrimination, prejudice and humiliation based on one’s language, religion or place of birth.
As the world is more global we are emphasising more on being rooted and local. Being rooted in the culture and tradition of the nation is appreciable but being ignorant of human lives and dignity isn’t. As the Constitution says, let’s promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities. And enlighten ourselves by reminding ourselves that, ‘nationalism is not awakened just by attributing slogans. But by being dutiful on our duties towards the nation.’
