India is paving its way toward a renaissance
sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh stated, with a desire to “keep senses in fervour", that there is no need to injure anyone else’s thinking or belief in our zeal. Whatever those who believe that this entire event is just an election gimmick should consider, the crowd that has been gathering in Ayodhya for the past week and its behaviour demonstrates that we are experiencing a cultural renaissance. If this had not happened, Diwali would not have been celebrated on 22 January in Bengal and Bihar, both of which are known for casteism and sectarian discord.
In terms of politics, we must remember that every political party engages in politics, and politics is not about sacrifice but about acquiring power; therefore, it is preferable to limit this conversation to cultural change. For those who have forgotten, I humbly remind them of the Renaissance in Europe, which began in the 15th century. This was a period when both capitalism and socialism were prospering.
Machiavelli and Shakespeare were both born during this period. Leonardo da Vinci and Donato Bramante made an indelible mark on art during this period. Europe is currently in decline, but Mahato sees this as India’s time to thrive.
One more point to note here. Europe took 6–7 centuries to recover from the era of social, cultural, and economic deterioration that occurred following the fall of the Roman Empire. We gained Independence only 77 years ago, after 1,400 years of slavery.
Civilizations cannot turn in such a short period, yet we are paving the way for a renaissance. Surely, no one can stop us from constructing fresh and wonderful stories for ourselves. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal.Milestone Alert!
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