‘The TookKit’
Like many Indians, I have been grappling the last few days whether the arrest of a 21-year-old activist — Ms. Disha Ravi constituted a violation of human rights in India or as the esteemed Historian Ramachandra Guha put it — a fear in the Central Government of young idealistic Indians. Was applying the sedition law really a necessity? Or was she guilty?
So, I am going to try and attempt placing the facts of the case as unfortunately these days these much-vaunted experts on either side of the spectrum allow their passions rather than reason to calibrate their judgment lenses.
I also seek to place on the record I do not identify myself as a card-carrying member of any wings — either right or left!
- The Issue is Not ‘The Toolkit’:
The issue out here is not whether ‘The Toolkit” is a nefarious anti-national document that threatened the very security of our nation and whether we as a nation are not strong enough to survive an ‘Excel Sheet’. Afterall, this country has survived invasions since the inception of warfare dating back from the times of Alexander to as recently as the Chinese incursions!
The issue is not even whether Disha created the document or edited two lines. The issue as I see it is simple. She had no business sharing it with people who are not even Indians to start with. As much as I have great respect for Greta Thunberg for her ride right across The Atlantic and the success Rihanna achieved with her brand — global citizenship is not a passport for interfering in the internal affairs of any country. Especially when you are a functioning democracy with no record of genocide or any other form of ‘cides’!
If they think it is — maybe Greta and Rihanna can start by tweeting about the vaccine nationalism followed by first world countries — where stockpiles of the Covid vaccine six times the required amount are denying helpless nations in Africa and Asia the first line of defense against the greatest pandemic we have known in our times. An area where they are surprisingly silent or rather hesitant to tweet!!
2. Tweetstorm Are Still Information:
Maybe ‘The Toolkit’ is only a document detailing how to enable a Tweetstorm. It is indeed your fundamental right to protest. I may disagree with your viewpoints — but I will always strongly defend your right to oppose mine. However, as a Superhero character once said — “With Great Power Comes Greater Responsibility”.
While there was nothing subversive in ‘The Toolkit’ per se — the fact is there were links to subversive organizations whose sworn mission in life is to tear apart India. The problem with majority of the ‘GEN. Etc. Etc.’ these days is that freedom for many has been reduced to fancy acronyms and Instagramable hashtags with a failure to appreciate the price others have paid for ensuring that freedom.
In a world without gatekeepers — at least ensure you are not opening the floodgates of misinformation. Revolutions can be triggered in social media chatrooms — but lives are still lost on streets. And there are no filters on this!!
If still in doubt, just ask the 500 odd Senators and Congressman in the US who went scurrying for cover on Jan 6th.
3. So Did a Toolkit Really Threaten A Nation?
The Mo Dhaliwals of the Poetic Justice Foundations of the world are very comfortable tweeting about the third world problems with a Scotch in hand and in their comforts of their air-conditioned offices. But here are some facts about Mr. Mo.
On 17 September 2020, Dhaliwal had written that he is a Khalistani, going on to say that Khalistan is a living, breathing movement. On 3 June 2020, Dhaliwal had also uploaded a picture of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale — a known terrorist.
For those who don’t know what Khalistan is — it was one of the early terrorist movements from the 1980’s that sought to break up India. And for those who are probably too young to remember — terrorist organizations like the ones Mo swear by took over 12,000 Indian lives in a manner terrorists do best — A Crass Disregard for Mercy and Humanity! I think India’s most prominent lawyer who argued for human rights succesfully in the International Court of Justice would surely know what he is talking about -
Even Shekar Gupta — a known Anti Modi Editor and journalist of repute has confirmed -
“how well-meaning activists might have unwittingly got caught up in the international farmer protest activism infiltrated by Sikh separatist individuals and organisations”
The fact is Mo is known supporter of terrorists moonlighting under the guise of human right activists! The world stood by the former President George W Bush when he said, “You are either with us or the Terrorists”. So why apply a different yardstick to India — the world’ largest and greatest democracy!
So, while the ‘Soul of India’ is too strong to be shaken up by ’A Toolkit’ — the fact is Disha and her associates exercised poor judgement by collaborating with the author of a toolkit whose open agenda involves the dismemberment of a country. Simply put — they should have known better, thought better and acted better!!
Sorry Disha — but collaborating globally on climate activism — an issue that affects us all is not a greenlight for inviting the support of known terrorist sympathisers for internal political dissonance!
If any doubt — ask a certain Thomas Roe who came to India in the 17th century requesting a simple trading license on behalf of his monarch and the rest is history!
4. A Word About the Farm Laws:
It has been 50 years since Indian Agriculture has seen any real reform. It is still locked in days when even landlines did not rule the roost. Forget ubiquitous terms like 5G connectivity, AI and IOT. As someone who has studied the problem quite diligently — allow me the liberty to state the landscape and the problems related to Indian Agriculture are too vast for an Ambani, Adani or any other ‘ani’ to singlehandedly control the fate of 85% Indians. One may always take a socialist view of subsidy support, but I assure you our country is simply not rich enough to provide limitless subsidies.
And one needs to understand where these subsidies all these decades have led us to. Whether in form of direct benefit transfers or free water or electricity or loan waivers — the truth is it has not stopped farmers from committing suicide. In other words — the subsidies have miserably failed. The need of the hour is structural reforms, investments, innovations and any change that is required to put food (& wealth) in the plates of those who strive day in and out to feed us first
One may very well remember what Napoleon said “You Give A Man a Fish — You give him food for a day. You Teach him out to Fish — You give him food for life”
At least there is now some serious reform in this sector to start with. Whether these reforms work or not — only time will tell. And the voters always have a choice to vote them out. Just as they did as of yesterday morning in state of Punjab — where they did not vote for the ruling central party that implemented these laws. And if our democracy was not functioning — maybe the EVM’s (Electronic Voting Machines) in this state would have acted differently!
5. But she is only 21?
Ask the 21-year-old 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab or 27-Year-old Oklahoma Bomber Tim McVeigh who really did think age is a just a number
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility — but with Great Responsibility comes Greater Accountability…..
Age then cannot be used as an excuse!!
However, that said and in my humble opinion, — it is preposterous to suggest Disha and her associates are involved in a conspiracy to destroy the nation. She committed an honest mistake for which she should be forgiven. If not for the simple reason — she is only 21.
It will also serve the Media well not to glorify her arrest as an attack on environmentalism. She was arrested for a cause entirely different and nothing to do with any stance related to Mother Earth. In other words — ‘A 21-year-old was arrested who also happens to be a Climate Change Activist and not because she is a Climate Activist’.
So, I request the likes of Ramachandra Guha and other journalists to pay attention to facts. Because that’s what eminent historians and respected journalists are expected to do. At the end of the day -
“Truth is Truth Because It Can Be Verified”
