Do we really need political opinions?

Just like my limited knowledge of astronomy or rocketry, I have really scanty knowledge on this topic as well. Though I don’t really need to understand how a rocket propels, I’m required to know and have on opinion on politics – no thanks to my civics lessons in school, we were taught how the constitution was written, but did not explain how bad the situation currently is. But the more frustrating part is when we are forced to have an opinion or take sides in the war between ‘left-wing’ or ‘right-wing’.

“While normal Hindus have India’s interests at heart, the abnormal ones lay store on the Muslim interests in India!” – B.S. Murthy

Until a few weeks ago, I did not know what left wing or right wing was. I’ve heard those terms casually thrown around during prime-time news debates but I never felt the need to know more about them. I think this disinclination evolved through the years of media influence that had given me an image that politics is as corrupt as it gets. I still remember the days when politicians were regarded to gods and how my grandparents were loyal to one party regardless of what the tabloids said. But, I assumed that politics will change by the time I get to vote and that there won’t be blind followers for any party or person so the wisest one would win. Back then, political parties lured innocent people who believed that their heroes were good off-screen too. Now, it’s just a different level of crazy with money and power making the calls.

I remember being in high school and deciding what I wanted to be when my relatives suggested preparing for IAS exams. I instantly knew I wasn’t going to consider it ever because the mere possibility of bootlicking the ones in actual power made me cringe. It seems unfair for all those government employees who sat there after working hard and writing exams and then finally listening to the unqualified politicians who rose to power through fake flattery, worship, and betrayal. Maybe, you can argue that not all of them are bad. I agree, maybe there are really good people who want to do good for the nation. But, do we really believe they stand a real chance in a society that trades their conscience for money?

Even though we wish to have a neutral ground on such matters, some sections of the society exist to only rule through divisions. I wonder how I can even choose sides at this point. I wonder how to decide who is right or who isn’t. Though I take huge pride in the diversity of the country, it is hard to tell which side has been good and keeping up to their word. When the British left India, they had already sowed the seeds of religious warfare and we still face the after-effects of Hindu Muslim sentiments while they lived harmoniously many years before the invasion. Right-wing politics is based on the idea of ‘Hindutva’ or Hinduism-based politics which works in their favor because of the majority of the population in this bracket. Their politics and ideologies are characterized by tradition, nationalism, and authority, and have found huge support through the culture that governs language, race, caste, and religion – all of which we were “born” with while the left-wing believes in liberalism, equality, progress, and reform.

Depending on the circumstances that we grew up in, we might be inclined toward one of them. But when it comes to the debate on who is right or wrong, I usually prefer to keep my mouth shut – one, because I don’t think there is a clear winner and two, because I’m afraid that someone with the opposite view might get easily offended. Isn’t it so common and easy these days to offend someone’s sentiments – I wonder how insecure are these people. I thought that the days of wars are far behind us – that gaslighting, rallying, and damage to public property are things of the past. But, I am wrong.

While we are being forced to take sides, I also do wonder if we really have the freedom to do so.

Would the other side accept my decision or call me ‘anti-national’?

Would they talk about ‘Sanatana Dharma’ and not practice ‘Ahimsa’ or would they talk about progress and sacrifice people to draw attention?

Would they talk about justice and violence in the same sentence?

It is beguiling to even begin thinking but the question here is whether we should have an opinion or not. I believe that it is okay to not take sides but we need to be aware of what’s happening around us to take an informed decision. It is important to understand that the world isn’t black or white and we need to open our vision to degrees of the gray around.