I heard this phrase from a few during my travels in many states off late: ‘Larger Goal’. It is used these days with varied types of references. Even when perhaps some of us were not born, it was used. “For the larger goal of getting independence from the British Empire immediately, we have no option but to divide India into Bharat and Pakistan.” (The underlined meaning was: We cannot wait any longer, so any compromise is fine). We all recently heard the same ‘Larger Goal’ thing when our Government kept on speaking with Pakistan while Pakistan kept on killing our soldiers brutally. The Government said, “For the larger goal of peace in the region, we will continue peace talks despite whatever.” (The meaning here what public perceived was that – We as a nation are projecting ourselves as a weak and feeble country).
Interestingly, ‘larger goal’ is not limited to such larger arenas! See this: A young bright boy of 18 was on his way to the US of A for further studies. Parents from a small village in the south were not able to even come to the city to see him off. The bright young boy met me and others in the city and took off. For the next day’s programme, I was in his village. I decided to meet his parents at their home. Seeing their little shack, I recalled my home in the village when I was small. Roof showing pieces of sky in between many places, walls made of clay and dry leaves —cracked unevenly and a little durrhi (long mat) to get guests seated as and when they come. As a little boy in the school, my feeble effort to hide the torn part of that durrhi was always noticed… Similar house. The US going boy’s parents were thin and frail. I asked them as to why they had sent their only son so far away. His father replied in his own language which meant, “For the larger goal of making his future bright”. The parents had sold off all their belongings however meager they were for that trip and his fees. A dream of a well educated and well off son was in their eyes, they were to live alone in the village. Both were right at their places. Both had larger goal in their hearts.
I returned to Delhi from that little village and there were heated discussions on the upcoming Bill which is named by many ways. Some term it ‘Communal Violence Bill’ and some term it ‘Anti-Riots Bill’. The argument of those who are eager to bring the Bill: For the larger goal of maintaining peace and protect the minority, it is must.” (Meaning? To hell with the majority! We don’t care for you. We care for our vote-bank that is minority.) This is a topic of another separate article so I wouldn’t elaborate on it right now.
Then there was another travel and yet another meeting – now, in the east. Traveling all night I reached there and looked at the people gathered in the hall. Professionals, youth, middle aged, women… all. The current issue there was the monthly stipend given to maulavis by the CM there. All were angry and hurt. Suddenly a young professional stood up and said, “To look secular, she is doing it and we must oppose it.” All agreed. Then came the topic of eternal Hindu faith: Ram temple at Ayodhya and also another topic of jailing innocent Hindus in some states. The same young professional again stood up and said, “For the Larger Goal, it is essential for us to look so-called secular so that many allies will join hands. So it is ok if some Hindus have to be sent to jail and also not to speak on the typically old type of history — to look secular.” There was pin drop silence. Then there were some whispers. Before there were internal heated arguments, few of us changed the topic… For the larger goal! After the meeting, many met me and expressed shock at that professional’s line of larger goal. We were not supposed to argue – for the larger goal.
So, coming back to the ‘larger national goals’ and issues, there was yet another ‘larger goal’ which got slapped upon all of us. That was minority reservations snatching 4 per cent from 27 per cent OBC quota. The so-called larger goal as was publicised: “Progress of the minority so that they can come into the main stream financially and educationally.” To justify these goodie-goodie words, a huge structure of various committees and commissions was established. Media debates were sponsored. Most majority Hindus as always, watched helplessly while some of us protested risking to be tagged ‘anti-development’. Some approached the judiciary in legal process and to the pleasant surprise of the majority Hindus, the Supreme Court termed that so called quota based of the fancy larger goal as ‘unconstitutional’. Obviously, the next step of those dejected is the Communal Violence (or whatever you name it) Bill. They too have a larger goal not only to ‘look’ secular but to hurt Hindus so that their minority vote-bank cheers up and votes for them.
All in the name of ‘Larger Goal’! Hindus are for long waiting for the polity that takes Hindu wellbeing as its prime goal and not any other achievement as the ‘Larger Goal’. In fact, Larger Goal is always hazy. Either there is a goal or there is not. Everything else is ambition, dream or compromise. Some glimpses of this absolute goal of Hindu well-being are seen here and there but before they see the broad path of conviction, resolve and action, they vanish in thin air of hallucinations and fancy words. But Hindus are hopeful. Hindus stand united hoping that the absolute goal will be their well-being from the bottom of the heart. Ultimately, we all live for it!
