As a society, is India headed towards total anarchy?

In the land of Buddha and Gandhi, people are increasingly becoming violent, and an equal number are becoming victims of such violence

- ABHAY MOKASHI

Recent developments in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the country are a cause for concern for all those who have faith in democracy and wish to retain and maintain it. There are rising incidents of violence, of people taking the law into their hands, and of violation of law, as well as court orders. If such acts are not checked in time, we could be heading for anarchy.

Individual as well as mob violence has become the order of the day, most often over frivolous reasons. Even otherwise, violence cannot be justified, whatever the reason. It is shocking that in a land of Buddha, Mahavir, Gandhi, and so many others, more and more people are becoming violent, and an equal number, or more, are becoming victims of such violence.

The violence must be seen in the light of increasing involvement of people in religious activities. While more and more people are getting attracted to their respective religions, it reflects less of spiritualism and more of fanaticism. This fanaticism is dangerous, and so is fundamentalism when it starts adversely affecting others. We see not just religious fanaticism but also political, lingual, and that of animal and bird lovers.

There is no absolute freedom guaranteed even in our Constitution. Freedoms come with restrictions, and that is the way it should be. It is time to evaluate some of the fanaticism existing in the society, not necessarily in the order of demerit.