on keeping silent

While I am the laziest person I know when it comes to politics, I feel it is time for me to stop being quiet. We are living in a day and age when the point-of-no-return is fast approaching, or maybe even gone.

I think the state of the world is such that there are a lot of relevant issues that need a revolution, that need us to step up and do our bit. A lot of people around me already do their bit, and being a chronic over-thinker, I've always thought "Will this make an impact?".

But something I learned. Not doing anything won't make a positive impact. So, it is time for me to stop doing nothing about it.

Feminism.

Climate change.

Secularism.

(anti) Casteism. (anti) Racism.

Freedom of speech.

Every life matters. Migrant workers lives matter. The sewage cleaners lives matter. Black lives matter. Our lives matter. All lives matter.

These all matter. And I’ve not stood up ever because to me these are obvious things. But if people like me don’t make noise, the idiots will win.

While I personally don’t care if the human civilisation survives or even needs to (c’mon, we are not even a rounding error in the 13.7 billion year old universe), that does not mean I should not care about the world around me, today. I don’t think it means I have to go sit in front of the parliament, or write flagrant posts.

I don’t know what it means, or what I should do. I do know not doing anything is not part of the answer, and here's my start.

My name is Arvind, and I believe everyone has equal rights, and the right to equal opportunity.

I am a feminist. Even as I try to understand how easy I've had it as a guy and how oblivious I am to a lot of unfairness to women around me. This is not a zero-sum game. This is about equality.

I believe in equality. While I grew up in privilege, while I've never had to worry about a roof over my head or food on my plate, how does that make me better than anyone else out there? I don't think it does. It simply makes me luckier. Every life matters.

I believe in freedom of speech. I believe in secularism. And because every life matters, how can we continue to afford losing our freedom of speech?! Or the freedom to practice whatever religion we want (or none at all)?

This divide-and-conquer is how the First Indian War of Independence started. The same-old tactic is being used on us today, and we continue to fall for it. We are the same. We are different. We are one.

This post is simply for me to stop doing nothing. This is not a call-to-action for anyone. You do what you think is right. I just cannot sit quietly and keep living my life, and not lend my voice, as small as it might be.

I would love to learn more about these topics. The place to start is probably history. Those of you who are more knowledgeable than me on this, do direct me to a one or two resources that I can start with.

Thanks for listening. Do share with one or two or three of your friends, if relevant.