The brutal incident in
France is undoubtedly a serious attack on a society and the enlightened values
that it 
stands for. In the last few hundred
years French society –with some eminent thinkers and philosophers, has been
pivotal in our attempts to understand and create a just and equitable world,
the foundation on ideas of modernity. The individual rights and liberty is the foundation
on which progress of the societies are hinged, it opened up an amazing world
that questioned the primacy of entitled world. A framework that sought to
create just, wherein, individual liberty was paramount. The people around the world,
particularly the oppressed lot, owe it to a large extend to France that
provided space to some amazing thinkers. One would add that though these ideas on
enlighten worldviews were present in most societies around the world, even in
what is deemed as ‘most primitive’, but these were far and wide, blip here and
there, and were mostly subjugated by dominant barbarity and rarely could find
much outlet to thrive. It was in West, specifically France, that these found wider
acceptance and became a way of life. It therefore became the framework that
inspired and fuelled individuals to attain amazing heights. The modern values
that were hinged on enquiry and frank, persistent, questioning of nature of
things became foundation to egalitarian values. Technological advancements
were to a large extent possible because of ideas of individual liberty and rights that consolidated these. The world
owes French society a lot, and it is this foundational idea, this culture that is
being attacked.
Entitled world is much
dangerous, as it has prejudices inbuilt. Religion becomes just another clever idea
that gestates on feudal values. The reason why enlightened thoughts in
religions rarely percolate, and if ever, confined to narrow section, individual space, a
painful existence. That brings to a very pertinent question: Why don’t ordinary
Muslims convert to some other religion or non-religion? They have all the
reasons, indeed they should, to avoid these miserable realities. As much as
lower section of Hindus must convert to Christianity as it promises better
opportunities of education and progress. There is no change of god, there
really never was, it is choosing the circumstances that makes one feel better. I
guess it is the enlightened people or the oppressed who understand the value of
these. Human beings are born into humanity and not into any religion. It is
therefore incumbent on the society to provide space for choices herein. Everything
must be questioned, few years back, restraint was the word I favoured on these
matters, but things are changing as the world is. Even the basic norms of aesthetics
are being questioned. Restraint cannot be cloaked in tolerance of brutal and fear
of worst. This blackmail has to be resisted for the sake liberty and values
that it upholds.
