Darkness Rises: Persecution of the 'Other'

A popular trend in our society and politics is to demonize and then persecute those labelled as the 'other'. In most cases the 'other' happens to be someone from a minority religious community or a so-called lower caste or someone who speaks a language not native to the region. Sometimes the 'other' tag might even rest on an individual or a group for differing in age, educational qualification or lifestyle. In the worst cases, the viciousness towards the 'other' results in murders. In less horrifying but nevertheless inhuman scenarios, the hatred manifests in isolating the 'other'; depriving him/her from the opportunities for education, livelihood, even companionship and parenthood. The hatred and its expressions are always justified in the name of culture (as if culture has been static since the dawn of civilization or any culture is above the tenets of humanity), tradition (as if there had never been any toxic traditions that were rejected with the progress of time and declared as illegal) and religion (although no religions encourage deceit or cruelty or mindless ostentation over kindness and empathy). Not too long ago in my past, I had been a target of insurmountable hatred. I could never comprehend why I got identified as the 'other' as there were no differences concerning religion, caste and mother tongue between me and my tormentors. Although I managed to escape, by luck or divine providence, from the virulent outcomes of this hatred, the scars refused to heal. It made me realize that if someone like me - educated,  salaried and more priviledged than many of my countrymen - can be at the receiving end of such senseless atrocities, what sort of injustices have to be borne by the marginalized on a daily basis. Another positive takeaway from my experience is, perhaps, a greater sensitization against all forms of oppression, narrow-mindedness and unconstitutional behavior directed at the 'other' even if the reason for his/her categorization is not connected to mine.