78th Independence Day special: From Students to Girl Child, facing Tyranny of the Majority

India, as it celebrates its 78th Independence Day, is a complete mix of proud historical storytelling with many failure outcomes. While we celebrate the formal freedom from colonial rule, a deeper liberation remains hard to find. The Constitution, a cornerstone of our democracy, was intended to be against tyranny. But there lies tyranny within itself.

Student protests for fair exam conditions have recently gained attention, yet their concerns often take a backseat in the broader political discourse. Despite their crucial role in shaping the nation’s future, students are frequently marginalized as a demographic due to their age. This oversight underscores a systemic issue where younger generations are often relegated to the periphery of decision-making processes, hindering their ability to raise issues for their rights and aspirations.

As India is mourning and protesting against the heinous act in West Bengal, India often sees a cycle of protests against horrific crimes, like the recent rapes in West Bengal or any injustice. While these protests are important, they only address the symptoms. The real problem lies deeper: the ongoing “tyranny of the majority.” This means that the powerful few control society, few ideologies that favour the powerful exist, and few structures that have remained dominant for many years only exist, leading to injustice and suffering for many.

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The Tyranny Unfolds

The Tyranny of Majority is not only an idea of rigidity but of the long yearning of a seed that has turned into a hydra-headed beast. It is often seen in our lives through various avenues – language, religion, gender, culture etc. It is seen between intra-communities that exist under the umbrella of Homo sapiens and even within inter-species.

Starting with a small example, English is often imposed as a linguistic supreme, while indigenous languages struggle for recognition. India, a microcosm of this global trend, witnesses a similar battle between Hindi and regional tongues. In the case of Religion, India is a minority for being the only Nation where Hindus have a significant population whereas, inside India, many small communities feel the wrath of ultra-nationalistic tyranny.

Understanding other divisions such as Gender, a fundamental axis of power, has been skewed in favour of men for centuries. The false nature of this tyranny is evident in the subtle conditioning, from toys to career choices, that privileges the male perspective. Even as we tussle with various forms of gender-based violence, the underlying structures of power remain largely intact. The LGBTQ+ community bears the brunt of this tyranny, their identities marginalized and criminalized in many parts of the country. The very notion of gender and sexuality as fluid constructs is met with hostility and resistance.

Beyond the human realm, the tyranny extends to the natural world. Species extinction is a stark reminder of our dominion over other life forms. The pursuit of human progress, often at the cost of ecological balance, shows our anthropocentric worldview.

The Roots of Tyranny

The tyranny of the majority is not a sudden eruption but a gradual encroachment. It is seeded in our minds, nurtured by societal norms, and perpetuated through institutions. Starting with the literal understanding of the majority to increase the population and the relentless pursuit of population growth, often driven by communal and nationalistic agendas, is a facet of this tyranny. The slogan “Zyada baccha paida kijiye, hamari kaum ki awaaaz ki misaal banegi” encapsulates the dangerous logic of using human beings as mere pawns in a power struggle.

In the case of students, across the country are confused about their future. They have become the prey of majoritarian thought to acquire successful careers. No support to follow their dreams, but to follow a meagre Government service for a so-called “Ideal Life”. If we look at the course structure followed by various institutions across India, many courses exist with no facilities and ultimately with no future outcomes. The few sets of educational journeys have only favoured different career prospects. The medieval idea that the majority follows, regarding strict norms in educational options to have a successful life, has created students in a worried state making joblessness, and student suicide a common phenomenon.

In case of various events in gender-based violence are a chilling reminder of the deep-rooted patriarchal structures. The patriarchal structure is also a subset of majoritarianism, where be it women or men, many celebrate it. The focus on hormonal differences has served to justify and perpetuate male dominance, obscuring the systemic nature of gender inequality.

The same has been towards Environmental and Ecological concerns. The Tyranny of Homo Sapiens as the lone dominator of the Earth have created havoc in the world. The idea of a natural world where all can co-exist is just a good theory to study in the High school curriculum. The dominance of the majority, the historical injustice etc have fueled one action over another. The human-wildlife conflict, climate crisis etc. even don’t find their place in discussion among people, because it’s about the Tyranny of the Majority. There will be protests if it attacks the livelihood of Humans, not because any other species is on the brink of extinction or facing the greatest effect of climate change.

The emergence of voice is only available who stay in the majority. The whole idea of Democracy is a half-baked success if only true representation lies with the majority. It’s not about the majority, but about a voice arising from even marginalised. The idea that all ecological entities have value on this only living planet Earth is yet to develop fully. The human understanding to co-exist is undervalued by the idea of domination, a perfect idea to live in the world.

As BR Ambedkar, the pioneer of the Indian Constitution mentioned in his writing such as Prospects of Democracy in India, (1956) “The roots of democracy lie not in the form of Government, Parliamentary or otherwise. A democracy is more than a form of Government. It is primarily a mode of associated living. The roots of Democracy are to be searched in the social relationship, in terms of associated life between the people who form a society.” The sense of togetherness and sharing the earth should be homogenous or at least promoted in the same way.

Breaking Free

To dismantle the tyranny of the majority, we must challenge the very foundations on which it rests. This requires a paradigm shift, a recognition that we are part of a larger ecosystem, interconnected with all living beings.

The illusion of strength in numbers must be replaced by a commitment to justice and equality. Whether it is the fight for gender equality, the protection of marginalized communities, or the preservation of biodiversity, the common thread is the struggle against oppression. It is imperative to amplify the voices of the marginalized. This includes not just women and LGBTQ+ individuals but also indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and the voiceless creatures of the natural world. The idea of the majority is not just restricted to the number of individuals but also various ideologies that capture the human mind. Every ideology should have a space to follow and also to change if the situation permits. 

Ultimately, the battle against tyranny is a battle for human consciousness. People following sort of rules and regulations are only specific in the times they were framed. Starting from crisis to new opportunities, everything changes. The whole prospect of following the same norms will just create barriers. It is about recognizing our interconnectedness with all life forms and embracing a worldview that prioritizes empathy, compassion, and sustainability.

As India stands on its 78th Independence Day, let us strive for a true liberation – a liberation from the shackles of the tyranny of the majority. Let us create a society where every individual, regardless of gender, religion, caste, or species, has a space to live. Let us build a nation that is not just free from colonial rule but also free from the tyranny within.

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