Mahatma Gandhi once said “When slogans are used for wrong purposes, their meanings too are misunderstood and they become curses instead of boons.” Keeping this statement in mind, we realize that hate speech propagating worldwide is often defended by phrases like “freedom of expression” or “freedom of religion”. However, when our freedom becomes a source of intimidation or terrorism to another group, it no longer holds the meaning that it was intended to. For example, In India, during the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests, a pro-CAA BJP leader, Kapil Mishra, said the following infamous lines at a rally, “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro salon ko”. In this statement, which roughly translated means “look at these anti-nationals, let’s shoot them”, he refers to the Muslim population as anti-nationals and associates patriotism to their killing.
A Man standing in front of an entirely burnt area. Photo Courtesy: The Atlantic
Within a week of this speech, violence broke out in Northeast Delhi which caused the horrific 2020 Delhi Riots where 53 people lost their lives, two-thirds Muslims. As Hindu mobs burnt, tortured and killed Muslims in the pogrom, chants of “Jai Shree Ram” (all hail lord Ram), “Vande Matraam” (Praise the motherland of India) and “Jai Hind” (All Hail India) were extremely prevalent. The discourse used to display hate through these otherwise positive phrases brings us back to the statement Gandhi’s argument made about using boons as curses. The way in which the killers used language as a way to justify their actions led them to create an “Us vs Them” mentality where you can justify almost anything if you consider the other to be your enemy who needs to vanish for you to feel safe.
Following similar footsteps, we are witnessing a bigger scale, more current human rights crisis at the moment, with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin uses discourse t
Following similar footsteps, we are witnessing a bigger scale, more current human rights crisis at the moment, with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin uses discourse t
Ukrainian service members in Kyiv, on Feb. 26. Picture Courtesy: Bloomberg
to manipulate facts and propagate false information and propaganda. He repeatedly refers to Ukraine as “artificial” and claims that Ukraine is “not even a state”. According to Putin, Ukraine is an “illegitimate creation” and an act of theft from Russians and Ukrainians who still want to be under Moscow's rule. Putin claims that Ukraine and other soviet nations were manipulated into gaining independence from Moscow’s rule. However, his statements could not be farther away from the truth because an overwhelming majority, including east Ukrainians, who Putin suggested were forced out of Russia against their will, voted to establish an independent nation.
to manipulate facts and propagate false information and propaganda. He repeatedly refers to Ukraine as “artificial” and claims that Ukraine is “not even a state”. According to Putin, Ukraine is an “illegitimate creation” and an act of theft from Russians and Ukrainians who still want to be under Moscow's rule. Putin claims that Ukraine and other soviet nations were manipulated into gaining independence from Moscow’s rule. However, his statements could not be farther away from the truth because an overwhelming majority, including east Ukrainians, who Putin suggested were forced out of Russia against their will, voted to establish an independent nation.
Russian Prime Minister Mr. Vladimir Putin. Photo Courtesy: The Atlantic Council
Putin’s inappropriate language, however, is not a new affair. Previously, the president was known for using vulgar language against French presidents and the western world. While some might pass this for general rudeness, the way it has progressed can only be called alarmingly dangerous. The beginning of this series of unfortunate events was right after he was elected prime minister and he uttered the phrase “We’ll drench them in the outhouse”, referring to Chechen Militant Islamists. This expression was originally used for prisoners who would get their heads plunged in the toilets as punishment. Soon after, Putin started a running “joke” against French Presidents and breaking their male reproductive organs. His jabs have only increased in recent years, as he called America’s European Allies by their soviet name : satellites, which is how Soviets used to refer to Axis powers in WWII. According to The Atlantic, "No previous Soviet leader, neither Stalin nor the often crude Khrushchev, allowed himself to refer to the West in the terms that Putin has used. Zabaltyvat’ (“to bury in bullshit”); vrut (they “are bullshitting”); naduli, prosto naglo obmanuli (“they have swindled [us], shamelessly deceived”); protivno (“disgusting”); idite vy [na khuy, or “f*ck yourselves”]".
Putin’s aggressive speeches, used to manipulate facts, generate sympathy and instill false fear against everyone else makes the perfect recipe for discourse and hate. Similarly, the continuous exclusion of Muslims in India and painting them as the "other" has instilled fear and loathing against them. This language doesn't invite aggression, it incites war.
Sources Cited :
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/world/europe/putin-speech-russia-ukraine.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/vladimir-putin-dirty-language-cursing/622924/
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