In a nation chasing progress, it is old wounds and ancient battles that still draw blood.
INDIA IS THE only country in the world that remains obsessed with the past, where people literally want to dig out the skeletons of those who might have been villains in their time. No other country—not even those with lower development indices like poverty and illiteracy than ours—witnesses heated debates and even violence over events that happened centuries ago.
One such instance is the famous Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba in Spain, which is among the top tourist attractions in that country. Originally constructed as a mosque in the 8th century during the Islamic rule of Al-Andalus, it was later converted into a Catholic cathedral in the 13th century after the Reconquista.
Mosque Cathedral Of Cordoba
Despite the change in religious ownership, much of the original Islamic architecture—including its iconic horseshoe arches and intricate mosaics—was preserved, creating a striking fusion of Islamic and Christian styles. Rather than becoming a flashpoint of religious conflict, the monument today stands as a symbol of Spain’s layered history and architectural harmony, attracting millions of tourists each year from all over the world.
Elsewhere too, there are hundreds of old monuments, many of which feature architectural elements belonging to different religions. The world has moved on and is talking about the future—the impact of Artificial Intelligence, cutting-edge advancements in technology, missions to Mars, infrastructure development, and the effects of the trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Here in India, the Hindu-Muslim narrative dominates newspaper headlines, and TV anchors shout and scream over the issue. In the process, the old ethics of not naming communities in reports about communal attacks or riots have been summarily thrown out the window. Naming and shaming a community is the new normal.
Now, you have a Union Minister from West Bengal openly exhorting people to come out with swords to deal with rioters in Murshidabad. He reiterated his stand when questioned by an anchor, asserting that there was “no option” since the security forces had failed to control the situation—which had led to the deaths of three people and forced hundreds of others to seek refuge in shelter camps.
No one can defend the rowdyism and violence that took place in Murshidabad—or, for that matter, in any other part of the country—but a Union Minister asking people to draw swords and take on members of a particular community is also unacceptable. Political leaders on either side of the divide are expected to calm tensions and appeal for peace—not incite violence.
The state government led by Mamata Banerjee should have anticipated the possibility of mobs turning violent after the enactment of the controversial Waqf Act. The writing was on the wall, but the state’s intelligence agencies either proved to be incompetent or deliberately looked the other way during the build-up to the violence.
Newspaper reports detail the hate campaign launched by members of one particular community using fake or false reports on social media platforms. The state government should have acted swiftly to suspend internet services and convened leaders of various communities to resolve the issue.
Murshidabad violence
Mamata Banerjee has placed the blame on central security agencies like the Border Security Force for their failure to control the situation. However, she also needs to turn the spotlight on the local police and state intelligence agencies. The central intelligence agencies, too, allowed the situation to simmer, which eventually led to the unfortunate violence. Preventive arrests were needed if there was a genuine will to prevent the flare-up.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, known for his strong-arm tactics—particularly where a communal angle is involved—had no qualms in stating about a community that “laton ke bhoot baaton se nahin mante.” Even a dumb person can make out what the Chief Minister was hinting at.
His selective targeting of a particular community is no secret. Recently, his police swooped down on a group of protestors opposing the Waqf Act. They were neither indulging in violence nor even taking out a protest march.
All they had done was wear black armbands in protest. Yet the state police filed FIRs against them, and they were produced before a local court, which demanded sureties and bonds worth ₹2 lakh from each. No media outlet took up cudgels on their behalf or questioned the government’s action. One wonders whether we are truly living in a democracy.
There is hardly a day when the Hindu-Muslim narrative does not make headlines. Earlier this week, even the Prime Minister questioned the Congress—asking that if it is so concerned about Muslims, why hasn’t it made a Muslim the party president?
With the country aiming to become Viksit Bharat by the time it celebrates its centenary of independence, it is high time we talk more about the future and improving the living standards of our citizens, rather than digging up the past. 
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Vipin Pubby
The author, a freelance journalist, is a former Resident Editor of Indian Express, Chandigarh, and reported on the political developments in Jammu and Kashmir, North-Eastern India, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab in his long, illustrious career.
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