Symbols, conventionally, are a mark or a sign which represents or signifies an idea or a clause or serves a purpose. Symbols allow people to go beyond what can be seen, by creating linkages between otherwise different concepts. However, symbols have never been restricted to a conventional “graphical representation”. Symbols take form in images, words, or even in events. For example, the Dandi March of 1930 (a significant event in Indian History), acted as a symbol that Indians where not going to tolerate British unjustness.
The power that symbols carry is unparalleled. Symbols have the power to motivate, to inspire, and in some circumstances even instigate people for a certain purpose. The source of this “unmatched” power can be understood as the weight of the issue at the core of the symbol. Continuing the example of Gandhi’s Dandi March, even though the march just broke the salt law, the core issue was British unjustness towards Indians and this issue was then represented through the image/symbol of the March and hence the mass support of the revolt got the symbol its power. Because symbols carry such power and also forge individual identities for themselves, symbols were adapted to represent everything. For example, the national flags are all symbols, with each having unique features which denote some characteristic of the respective country. Political Parties, all have a symbol or a graphical representation as to their identity. Mottos, act as symbols or representatives for idea or beliefs or approach of the concerned institution or body. Considering this overwhelming abundance of symbols around us, it becomes increasingly tough for individuals to distinguish which symbol holds weigh or has depth. For example, the Dandi March, carried weight as the march was a representative of all Indians fed up with the British unjustness and were ready to take action. It carried the weight of all the years Indians spent under the British unfairness. However, equating “Jai Sri Ram” as a symbol for one’s patriotism is wrong. The point being, patriotism, the love for one’s nation, cannot be equated with the religious belief of others. This, in turn, demands that we equate nationality with one’s belief in that particular religion. That is not and cannot be the case for a nation like India. India, being the world’s largest democracy and one of the most diverse countries in the world, preaches secularity and equality. However, that is the topic for another discussion. All symbols have a purpose and the symbols which majorly dominates our society today are Hindu Nationalism.
In the name of patriotism, Hindu Nationalism was introduced and ever since then the word patriotism and nationalism have been synonymously used. However, that is not the case. Patriotism means love for one’s nation and holding pride in one’s nation. Nationalism, however, means holding pride no matter whatever the nation does, and holding pride in being the “best”. Patriotism by its nature is defensive. Nationalism is however inseparable from the desire of power, of superiority. Hindu Nationalism, by its name, preaches some sort of extremism in the sense that “Hinduism” is the best or “ Hindus” are more superior. Now for promoting such thought you need effective measures, one which spreads quicker than any other, through the medium of speech or visual representation, symbols. And creating symbols is no issue because the majority of our population is “Hindu” and just the tag of “Hindu” along with anything would become a symbol. Take, for example, the fact that Muslims consume beef in their normal routine. However, because cows are considered holy for “ Hindus”, the simple act can be converted into “an attack on Hindu sentiments”. And just the phrase, “attack on Hindus” is enough to instigate people to take whatever actions whatever they see fit to protect themselves. And between this spectrum of offense and defense, there is something called as “offensive defense” which is majorly fuelled by the nationalist spirit and in the name of defense, one goes on the offense. Moreover, take for instance, “gau rakshaks”. Even though “gau rakshaks” have seen an overwhelming increase in support and activity but still the number of stray cows roaming around urban areas has not decreased. Care for these stray cows is not available. How they live, what they eat is none of their concern. But when it comes to, say, for instance, an accident relating to a cow, these “gau rakshaks” come to the aid as knights in shining armor to protect the holy cows and prosecute the “unholy” human involved in the accident. The act only implies that the very existence of these “gau rakshaks” is a façade, only a symbol to instigate and to gain support from people in the name of protecting the holy cow, and prosecuting those who harm her. Lastly, the fact that today our people are giving the same stature to National Anthem and chants such that “Jai Sri Ram” and this effort is also perceived as a symbol, one which promotes “Hindus”, empowers them and protects them. The National Anthem eulogizes the history and the traditions of the respective nation. Whereas chants such as “Jai Sri Ram” depicts one’s religious faith, and religion holds a right to choice with it, which is why religious chants cannot be possibly generalized as the National Anthem because a nation gives an individual identity, the individual owes the nation everything he has, but that is not the case for religion. Religion is a by-product of beliefs and superstitions of humans. Which is why equating the stature of the National Anthem and religious chants is a flawed concept, and we need to realize that all of these events are symbols, each serving the purpose of instigating people or rather believers towards extremism in forms of intolerance and the crave for superiority and being the best.
Therefore, we need to realize that events all around us, are part of a bigger scheme of things, one which we do not necessarily see and that in life there are no coincidences. There is an ulterior motive behind all actions and most of the times these ulterior motives are fuelled by personal opinions pertaining to “what I believe in is correct” and usually these motives have a purpose to spread the same message to people who may not see the entire picture but just now a part of it so as to support or take action, on the basis of the restricted information they have. And the most effective way to rightly do so is by using symbols. Symbols are short and precise, they spread easily, clearly depict what one wants them to depict (easily manipulated) and the best thing is that they can be used in such abundance that one can easily connect the impartial dots and form an uninformed assumption which pertains to the message which was being spread in the first place. Moreover, because of its complexity, these messages and intentions are so implicit that only people who truly believe in the cause or those who truly oppose it, would be able to draw such conclusions. This is alarming, because the majority of the population sees these symbols but does not connect the dots, failing them to realize the real purpose or intention and leading to the formation of uninformed views and opinions, and uninformed views and opinions are the biggest threat to any sort of public institution like the government or the society as a whole.
