Crisis of Intolerance

What we confront today is, above all, a crisis of intolerance. It is the fountainhead of our problems, for failed marriages, broken homes, social strife, and religious bigotry. Intolerance leads to irritation, irritation to anger and anger to violence and hatred. If hatred is the child of intolerance, self-righteousness is the father of intolerance, an almost visceral feeling that one is always right.

Tolerance cannot be transplanted particularly in an adult mind. It has to be germinated, nurtured and nourished from the embryonic stage, from childhood, at home and at school. Our most basic instinct, that we are always right, even more the other man is always wrong has to be tempered and tamed. Conflict and contention are inherent and inseparable from life. They have to be managed without resort to violence and injury to others and turned into a creative force.

What role can education play ? Well it essay a good role. A child should be taught that there are no absolutes; there are at least two sides to every situation; no one is ever completely right or wrong, good or bad and in life there is always a middle way of compromise and conciliation. Above all taking things for granted or being taken for granted is not going to help either of them. Character building and conflict management ought to be the main purpose of education. Stability and tolerance in modern societies are possible only if religion is restored to its original place and intent. Religious leaders of all faiths should take the lead in this endeavour. Technology should be kept on short leash and used to alleviate suffering and to better the lot of the weak and vulnerable.

We cannot talk about human species and human nature in abstract terms. It is but a conglomeration of all of us, no more, no less. In the ultimate reckoning, we have to look inwards for solutions. Buddha said on his deathbed "be a lamp unto yourself". Lord Krishna took pains to educate, instruct and guide Arjuna on where his duty lay. He did not proclaim "I say it; so you do it". A few days before Godse put a bullet into the already broken heart, a distraught Gandhiji said "follow your inner voice". Are we up to it or are we condemned not to listen?