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'Zindabad - Murdabad' - Repositories of mental illness

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 9/17/2020 10:59:38 AM

MAHADEEP SINGH JAMWAL Without much brain storming, we can define a slogan as a shout of encouragement or as a cheer. 'Zindabad' and 'Murdabad' slogans have taken their flights carrying the mentalities of the politicians' and their stooge's and nothing but repositories of mental illness. 'Zindabad' chanted in favor and 'Murdabad' against their opponents, where 'Zindabad' is encouragement diet and 'Murdabad' is a discouraging soup. We find that in politics sloganeering words of 'Zindabad' are initiated by the stooges of the individuals to encourage those blind followers who stand trapped by politicians to follow them in shouting 'Zindabad' and it gives a satisfaction to the person in whose favor 'Zindabad' is chanted. The 'Zindabad' is like the clapping during a 'Kavi sammelon' that encourage the poet for their creation but in political set up, the 'Zindabad' and clapping imbibe false prints in a leaders mind that he is doing well. This is also a flattery tactics adopted by the stooges to prove their loyalty and this helps them to set their own agenda of self interest. The managed gathering helps these stooges and their leaders to flash back in the society of their importance and acceptance in the society. Zindabad literally means "Long live". The politicians should discourage this practice of 'Zindabad'- 'Murdabad', as when a group (loyalist) chanting wishing "long live' at the same time at some other place a group (rebels) might have been chanting otherwise as 'Down with'. 'Murdabad' slogans are managed shouting and chanting to discourage those not falling to the lines of political ideology and not sharing the platform of the managers of these rallying cries. 'Murdabad' slogans are also chanted to create an atmosphere of hostility against rebels and to encourage loyalists of the political managers, to discard, abandon and dispense those not falling to the lines of political masters of these managers. We trace the history of word 'Zindabad' tagged with word 'Inquilab' and forming a famous slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' (Long live revolution) given by Syed Fazl-ul- Hasan also known as Maulana Hasrat Mohani, in 1921 but first raised by Bhagat Singh who shouted it after bombing the Central Assembly in Delhi. But when 'Zindabad' was tagged as a butter toast with particular political leader, no historical reference we come across but now it is daily sop for leaders by their stooges and leaders also feel their chest fully expanded when word 'Zindabad' touch their ear drum. Technically too the word 'Zindabad' except giving a feeling of popularity and satisfaction (pseudo) had no other effects of blessings. Had the word so magical or full of blessings the 'Cemeteries' world over would have never any indispensable person. In the scientific age these words carry no value but even then theses words are so assimilated in the minds of everyone that we start shouting 'Zindabad' just at the appearance of a person with political cap or wearing and forget that many of these have occupied the seats in Parliament and in Government facing cases of serious offences. At least a law abiding person will never say 'long live' for these criminals. At the same we start shouting 'Murdabad' against even a peon who manage the entry doors, if we are asked to wait even for five minutes. Practically speaking we have lost all humanistic manners and feel these words as most powerful tool with us to attract the attentions in both ways. Can we link such fanatic sloganeering to the illiteracy? We have to introspect on this aspect also. The Indian Constitution guarantees various fundamental rights to an Indian citizen. One such right is the Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution. Freedom of speech and expression enables a person to express his opinions freely with certain reasonable restrictions. When we 'raise slogans against a government employee or someone else, we fail to follow the decency and morality code of dealing with government servants/ other fellows. Decency is referred to manners; it is a sense of right and wrong. This also require introspection by the authorities, who attract 'Murdabad' sogans against them from non-political society and those deprived of proper attention by the authorities to their burning day-to-day problems. Generally seen that society resort to this method of attracting attention of the authorities as well as coverage by media, when their frequent requests to redress their genuine problems are not heeded and denied access to their offices and sloganeering is followed by road blockades, locking the offices and 'Gherao' of such irresponsible authorities. These acts stand defined as a criminal act. But at the same times these are the only available tools with the common man. The government office holders forget that they are public servants and are paid from the government treasury, wherein the money flow is from the tax payers and from the public and is public money. We cannot keep our self on the top of the speaking decency table, as whenever we are on the roads, sloganeering 'Murdabad' we are a part of the crowd and crowd has no leader to follow or to get his advice. Here we have to keep in mind that while addressing somebody, we have to be self aware that the use of words ought not to offend others. Just introspection for a while will save many a blushes afterwards and help avoid ripples in our relationships. Judiciously, refined, civilized and sometimes polished words spoken could be of help. Many of the peculiar situations could be saved if we just think before speak. We shall imbibe positive mindset. As per words of Rita Mae Brown, a US poet, novelist and activist, morals are private, decency is public. We have observed that the use of such indecent words as 'Murdabad' that are morally crude and reflection of ordinary senses, when shouted against reasonable persons, create seeds of arrogance and that is not healthy sign for the society. When we can't stay silent on a particular issue, expressing our views through civil protest is a positive way to make a difference. Gathering with other people to collectively speak out against wrongdoing is a fundamental right and a powerful way to bring about change but decency acts as catalyst. Concluding we must be respectful at all times. A protest can be a very effective way to exercise free speech, make our voice heard and bring about change. However, being disrespectful to those against whom we are protesting can undermine and hurt the cause.