I write this primarily for the young protesters of today as well as those who might be confused by the government’s (and the Sangh Parivar’s) propaganda. Its is necessary to see how ill-informed, illogical and deceitful this propaganda is because it is being propagated by responsible persons bent upon creating more tension in Indian society. High officials of state do not normally create hatred among those who give them the mandate to govern. But that is what we have come to expect from this government. This is the cruellest, most deceitful and brutal government of India that I have seen in my life. And they mistake their cleverness for wisdom. I am posting these comments to help my fellow Indians see through this poisonous atmosphere.

In my youth (most notably in 1968) there was another worldwide uprising. One slogan from the Berkeley campus remains relevant today: “If you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own.” The current upsurge in India is the biggest since 1974; and it also resonates with a mass movement for action on global warming, for democracy and human rights everywhere. All political action is not submerged in issues of identity – look around you and see that there are other movements too. Hong Kong and the Climate Strike, for example. Remember that the Hong Kong popular protest has faced off a totalitarian regime.

We need to overcome divisiveness. Remember, the politics that seeks to play upon the worst human instincts – towards blind hatred and prejudice – is leading us toward extinction; neither towards military glory nor national greatness, but massive pollution of water, soil and air, death and destruction. Give it up, it will not lead to a bright future, but only darkness. 

The Gujarat CM’s observations illuminate the Sangh Parivar’s view of the world: nations are identified by religion, and anyone of xyz religion can or will be at home in a country whose religion is the same as theirs. This is nonsense and flies against political reality. (And do we even need to comment on his arithmetic: 150 countries for Muslims to go? Really?) Would a Christian from Nigeria be at home in say, Mexico? (Presuming they were allowed to come and camp there?) Why has the Donald Trump administration debarred immigrants from Latin American countries (most of whom must have been Christian) from seeking refuge in the US? Is the UK’s choice of Brexit an example of Christian solidarity? Doesn’t it indicate that languages and cultures are more important determinants of nationality than religion?

If there were any Islamic religious solidarity, why would the Turkish government ruthlessly oppress Kurds? Why would the Kurdish resistance fight against ISIS? Why has the Saudi Arabian government launched a bloody war against Yemen? Are all these countries’ borders open to any Muslim from anywhere?

Why are there 2.3 million Hindus in the USA?

Why has the Hindu share of the US population doubled in 10 years?

The utterances of our leaders have reached the depths of vulgarity and shamelessness. They regularly refer to members of religious minorities (especially Muslims) and all those who criticise or oppose them as subhuman. This is typical of Nazis and racists.

The home minister of India referred to undocumented migrants as termites during this year’s election campaign (he was then president of the BJP). The BJP’s Gujarat secretary refers to opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Bill as insects. Our prime minister, no less, tells us we can recognise protesters by their dress. (There are lakhs of demonstrators who cannot be identified by appearance: see this young man show his Hindu sacred thread to a policeman). Why have they lost all shame? Why have they discarded even the pretence of decency? Is this the Sangh Parivar’s preferred culture? Is this the civilisational revival that appeals to their followers? 

To show you the difference between decency and meanness, between a truly great man and these petty tyrants, read this moving letter by a father to his newborn daughter. Baldev Singh Mann: ‘My darling daughter!’

And this letter to by the 1995 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature: Advice to the Young.

It is blatantly false to say the people cannot be victims of persecution if they share a religion with the oppressors. Pakistan’s history is full of examples of its government persecuting Pakistani Muslims  the prime example being the run-up to the emergence of Bangladesh. Were not East Bengalis – both Muslim and Hindu – murdered in thousands by the Pakistani military? (Some readers have accused me of ignorance or dishonesty as regards the 1971 East Pakistan genocide: actually, I lived through that period and left the Naxalite movement in protest against the CPI(ML)’s refusal to face reality. Those who wish to study the matter further may read the world-famous report that first exposed the genocide). Did not the Khalistanis murder Sikhs who opposed their politics? Was not Mahatma Gandhi murdered by a Hindutva fanatic whom some in the Sangh Parivar still revere as a great patriot?

Nations cannot be identified by the religious affiliation of their citizens. The UK is headed toward break-up because sooner or later, Scotland will attain independence; and Northern Ireland will merge with the Irish Republic. Christianity will not keep the UK united, just as Islam could not keep Pakistan united. The Tsarist Empire of the 19th century was held together not by religion but by loyalty to the Tsar. After its mid-century decline became evident in the Crimean War, the Russian government adopted the policy of Russification; meant to impose Russian language and Orthodox Christianity upon the peoples of the multi-ethnic empire. This attempt signified an internal weakness and led to greater tensions, which ended in the collapse of the empire in 1917. 

Any attempt to impose religious homogeneity as a determinant of Indian citizenship and political uniformity upon Hindus to satisfy the moronic utopia of the RSS is bound to lead to social and political disintegration. The RSS says it considers the entire Indian population to be Hindu: suppose all of us are not agreeable to your definition, then what follows? Violence and intimidation? Why should we love only India’s forests and rivers, not the Amazon, the Pacific, and the Arctic, all of which are in terrible danger from global warming? Is there Hindu air, Hindu water, Hindu earth? Why do you persist with this nonsense when the earth is on fire? We cannot nationalise God. Neither can we nationalise the air, the oceans, and time itself – and we are running out of all three. India does not need to follow the (failed) European concept of homogeneous nation states. (More on this failure may be read here.)

I salute all the protesting students and youth, ask them to reach out and make alliances with people young and old, with workers and peasants, families and friends. Remain non-violent, stand up for inclusive democracy, non-violent protest and a more humane and sensible economy. Try and meet and give moral and material help to people who have been injured or traumatised by police action. Many will also need legal assistance.

A cautionary word: do not let “isms”, icons and partisan loyalty hinder united action. There are bound to be differences about capitalism and caste, community and gender. Bhagat Singh, BR Ambedkar, Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Bose were great personages, but no one is or was infallible. We may carry on a debate while remaining focused on the issues before us. Democracy and socioeconomic reforms are for living people, not those who have gone. Remember them, but do not attach their names to yours. Think for yourselves. This is my considered advice after decades of political activism.

Keep making news of your own! The world is watching.

This article first appeared on Dilip Simeon’s blog. It has been lightly edited for style.