We are a generation which has gone through many poignant and tragic incidences in our country—gang rape cases, unemployment, a global pandemic, etc. And at the same time, we have broken through many stereotypes and conventionalized topics which were pretty evident before two decades or so. In a way, we have made and provided so much history in such a short era of time, which, in some instances, we should be proud of, and in other, ashamed.
One such stereotypical case, which we thought would have been overcome, is that of interfaith/inter-caste love. As a teenager, I always imagined that our country was way past all those demons of ‘India’s past’, but it is really shocking to see people still take actions and words against this issue strongly, and without any remorse, shame or guilt.
Saying and acting are two very different things, which is the case happening here. Everybody loves to speak, debate and write articles about equality in all aspects, including caste, religion, gender, etc. But very few apply them in their lives, and especially in their own families. It is like equality should be seen in other major portions of society and government, but is ruled out in their very own household.
Love is something we have been taught about from the time we opened our eyes in this world. We were taught how to discriminate and segregate love by our society. But even after educating people through protests, books and social media, still, people, a majority of them voice their negative reviews on this topic. Also, they speak against those who support such issues, as can be seen in Tanishq’s latest advertisement controversy.
Reviews include threatening remarks like ‘Love-Jihad’s’ promotion through such ads, etc. when all they did and showed was love being shared beyond realms and constraints of religion and caste. Equality. And to go against it, when we are in a decade where we had numerous protests and awareness about how equality should be spread in all directions and all aspects, is something that should be a) ashamed of and b) worried about.
If an ad portraying such a beautiful message is manipulated and twisted into something so bad and negative, it will affect the youth who are growing up amidst all this. They will take it in the same way these negative views are demonstrated and would apply it in their future versions.
And if this is to happen, I really think that it’s no use gathering around streets with peaceful marches, voicing out slogans of equality and freedom, when you can’t even portray the same positivity in your own household.