I come from one of the most privileged sections of India: Hindu, Upper Caste, Middle Class, Heterosexual Male.
While caste and religion do not mean anything to me, I know that they affect my reality. I have avoided many struggles because of my background, yet I know that when national and global fascism rises, it doesn’t discriminate.
Some people will be better off, but none of us will be safe because a mob doesn’t discriminate. All the mob cares about is assimilating more people, and if you refuse to be assimilated, then you are the enemy.
Fascism always suffocates whether the color is saffron or black.
Fascism in countries like Germany, the US, and the UK didn’t actually rise, but the curtain of democracy fell because of the Palestine issue.
On what basis do I say that these countries are fascists? Well, how can Germany ban pro-Palestine protests? On what basis did the UK and US order air strikes on Yemen? They didn’t even put the matter to a vote.
In my own country, right-wing extremism was a reaction to many things, whether it be a lack of self-esteem in individuals, multi-generational trauma of partition, religious fanaticism, and the incapabilities of the previous government.
When I see such events unfolding, I feel that our world is facing doom, and one of my first reactions is to write about it. If I cannot organize my thoughts on the recent events, then I cannot do anything else. That is why I said to myself, “Write today. Do not delay. Who knows what words will be outlawed tomorrow?”
About the author
Chirag Saxena is the author of ‘Reinventing the Wheel’ and a content marketer by profession. He takes great interest in philosophical questions.