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Let's Learn from Bangladesh...

Robert Clements Robert Clements
09 Dec 2024

Most Indians are shocked by the violence against Hindus and the destruction of temples in Bangladesh.

Even as our minds look with disbelief, remembering the sacrifice of our brave soldiers liberating Bangladesh while fighting a war on two flanks, we need to also look at our own country with the same disbelief as our own people disrespect and try to destroy the name of the man who freed our country from the British: Literally, a one-man army, who fought an unconventional war, and freed us from the shackles of the white colonisers.

They ruled with a heavy hand, just as Bangladesh was crushed by the might of the Pakistan army, till Indian troops walked in and set their neighbour free.

But now India sees not gratitude but betrayal, just as those who revere the Father of the Nation see the same man being betrayed by many inside our country.

Another important fact we need to learn from is how minorities feel when the country they call their own bully them. What a sense of hurt we feel when temples are attacked, not just in Bangladesh but anywhere else in the world.

"They have a right to!" we scream. "Protect our place of worship!" we shout.

But hush, listen to those same words spoken by people in our own country. Do you know how they feel when their places of worship are attacked? A church desecrated, a mosque brought down.

By whom?

By brothers and sisters of people belonging to the same nationality!

Again, betrayal, right?

Our country, which could be a beacon of light to the rest of the world, to show what peace and brotherhood actually are, is being destroyed by selfish politicians, and oh yes, the same may be happening in Bangladesh…

But…

… before reacting to such incidents abroad, we should instead be in a position to shout across the border, "Muhammad Yunus! Look at us and emulate us!"

But can we say this? No! Which is why they are also getting away with murder, because they are doing what they see across the border.

To be able to stop such acts, we need to lead by example. Yes, there may be stray incidents here and there, but we cannot have national leaders themselves polarising the country with venom that spouts out of their mouths.

What we see happening in Bangladesh against us could soon be the beginning of such despicable acts in other parts of the world. Slowly but surely, sporadic acts of violence are happening all over against us because they see us doing the same.

Let us put a stop to this, and show the world how India is a country that has learnt to live in unity through diversity.

For this, we need to learn from what is happening in Bangladesh before it is too late..!

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