Of late my thoughts have been veering towards the Indian psyche. Why do we behave like a mob? Why do we behave differently when in a crowd? When the numbers are with us, we are a different set. Emotionally charged, without rationality and mental balance. I have often seen people at mass rituals and at communal ceremonies behaving like cannibals. Shoving, pushing, abusing and threatening each other .
Two incidents come to my mind. First one is the fiasco that happened in Mumbai on 1st of Jan 2008. A mob molested some foreign nationals. A mob of 40 -50 men, molested a woman and injured the guy trying to guard her. I wonder how all the 50 lost track of rationality and common sense. I understand these words are out of place. But given the mythological connection that Indians have, this is surprising. Why couldn't at least one person realise, its wrong? Why didn't at least one man get back to his senses and try to control these lusting lechers?
The second is a more common place incident that happens between all smokers and non smokers. I was travelling in a train to my native when a mob got placed near the exit and started smoking. After warning them for a couple of times, I lost my nerve and shouted at them. The mob started abusing me. After ridiculing about my "urban" attitude and asking the TT to check my ticket in case I am an illegal traveller, they started causing discomfiture. The problem is, I was on the right side of the law, them on the wrong side, they start abusing me and yet there is no avenue where I can go, lodge a complaint and see that the erring are punished. Now this is frustrating. Even so if you are alone and facing a crowd and others are having fun at your ex pence. Apart from these examples I am sure there are million others where the mob dominated individuals drawing strength from their numbers. Why do people behave like this?
I think one reason is the inability of the common man to win through reason and righteousness. It's because justice is not given its due share of importance. Its because the redressal mechanisms are in a sorry state and getting justice is either too slow a process or is impossible altogether. Its because the law abiding is made to look like a fool while the others jump the law with impunity. Its because there is no avenue where people can get justice safely and quickly. Its because there is fear of violence or of financial drain.Or in some (more now) there is fear of death. Like in case of Manjunath or Lalit Kumar. In such a scenario, people team up and live in mobs. The strength of numbers gives them safety. Mob law prevails and the strongest wins. In such situations anarchy pervails and it would be very difficult to reign over them.
Now comes the question of a solution to this problem. Should the wrong doers be severely punished or should the government try to cleanse the people's psyche of wrong doing? Which is easier to implement and which one is a lasting solution? While the first one is easy to implement, it only teaches the mobs to collect more numbers so that punishment becomes impossible. About the later solution, how can it ever be implemented? Can people be taught to abide by law without fear of punishment? I don't know. But I dream of one idea. Can we do something so that being on the other side of law becomes "uncool"? Can we turn the tables on lawlessness by honouring law abiding citizens? Can corrupt officials be shamed before the society by embarrassing their nears and dears? Can the idea of being right be celebrated?
Think of it.
I go to Tirumala, the abode of lord Srinivasa regularly. The temple is always crowded with millions of people trying to get a glimpse of the divine deity. There are people who get recommendation letters for special darshans ranging from break darshan to VIP darshan. There are also people standing in the queue for 48 hours to catch a glimpse of Lord Srinivasa. Can we drive home a point to the masses that the god likes people who fret their way to the sanctum than those who bludgeon their way through corruption or money power? Can we create an idea that taking one sacred Laddu legally and distributing it to friends brings more good fortune than distributing tens of illegally purchased laddus? May be this would create a sense of fear if not guilt in people. May be this wouuld give "right" a chance of survival, may be it will work. I am sure we can educate people in many such ways and celebrate good deeds. When doing right is made acceptable to masses, they wouldnt do wrong enmass. When masses are right then individuals wouldn't think of crime; I think this is a more lasting solution than the other.
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