The Government's Astute Tactics

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 7 July 2025 "Kisi Ko Tabaah Karna Ho Toh Uss Bad-Bakht Ko Koi Bada Ohda De Do." (To destroy and eliminate an individual, give that ill-fated person a higher rank) Qurratulain Hyder, Urdu Novelist Seeing BJP's somewhat changed and mellowed attitude towards Shashi Tharoor and Asaduddin Owaisi, I'm reminded of what the great French writer, filmmaker and visual artist Jean Cocteau wrote decades ago, "The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is truly free. First, society begins by trying to beat you up. If this fails, they try to poison you. If this fails too, they finish by loading honours on your head." Jean Cocteau's quote asserts the innate inclination of societies to confine those individuals who embody true freedom. It unveils the disturbing tendency within society to quell any autonomy that deviates from the norm. When confronted with an individual who refuses to conform, society resorts to aggressive measures, attempting to forcefully suppress their liberation. Should physical violence prove ineffective, society then turns to insidious tactics, seeking to poison their spirit through manipulation and deceit. However, if even this fails to subdue the unyielding spirit of freedom, society ironically shifts its approach, showering the non-conformist with accolades and honours in a futile endeavour to co-opt their revolutionary ideals. It's like, "Baat Nahin Maani Sarkaar Ki Toh Vazeer Bana Diya" (When refused to obey the whims of the government, he was made a minister !). Cocteau's piercing observation illuminates the struggle faced by those who dare to defy societal norms, highlighting the lengths society (in this context, the current political dispensation) will go to suppress true freedom. The government also has a tacit as well as shrewd motive behind this 'glorification' of certain individuals, esp. from the minority community. Here, I'm not mentioning the name of the distinguished army officer and the recent military spokesperson for Operation Sindoor. You know and also understand. Remember the famous philosophical dictum, "One is only vulnerable when exposed." This dictum encapsulates the delicate nature of vulnerability. It suggests that vulnerability arises from being open and exposed to the world. When we reveal our true selves, our emotions, or our deepest desires, we become susceptible to judgment, criticism, and even heartbreak. While vulnerability is a necessary condition for personal growth and connection, it also carries risks. It encourages us to weigh the potential rewards against the potential consequences, empowering us to choose wisely when and with whom we choose to expose our vulnerability. By putting certain individuals on the highest pedestal, the government makes them vulnerable and exposed to scrutiny. In short, their fall is (this) government's rise. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/government-astute-tactics/d/136101 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism