The Indian government’s diplomatic clout is not legendary. Most NRIs would be of the opinion that if things go horribly wrong in a foreign country, the Indian missions are not likely to move mountains. Whether it is bed-rocked in truth or not, this perception is further underscored by the generally held conviction that the Western nations drive a far harder bargain.
The killing of six Indians from Punjab in Manila has not sparked much interest either in the country or in the level of pressure placed on the Philippines authorities to fast track the investigation and provide some modicum of security to the Indian community.
The observation being made that this could be a reprisal for betrayal in a gang war involved in money laundering and a currency racket does not absolve the need to get to the bottom of things.
The Indian government and the media have been pretty much blasé about it all and the story has slipped off the pages without much of a commotion.
In pretty much the same way the biter has bitten after a mob in the southern high-tech city of Bengaluru stripped and paraded a female Tanzanian student because she was inconveniently in the vicinity of a car accident caused by a Sudanese citizen. The horrific act defies logic and to just pick on another person from that continent and cause such physical and mental trauma smacks of savagery. The simple truth is that if the huge Indian diaspora wants to be treated well it is necessary to start at home as the gracious hosts Indians are supposed to be traditionally. When foreigners invited to the country become the target of blatant racism, then there is a dire need to up the ante and institute exemplary penalties.
This holds good for any nation where the respect for human life or for those from alien lands is suspect and treated by another measure.
In this time and age, when technology and the presence of the internet is truly creating a global village as once stated by Marshal Maclughan, to be able to engage in acts of hatred based on color, religion or even wealth and rank is to encourage a modern fascism that will impact negatively on the perpetrator as much as it has on the victim. Life is a circle.
It is one of the cruel ironies that when we should be all on the same page fighting the common enemies of mankind the level of divisiveness seems to be increasing rapidly. The ability to trigger mass communication in real time in millions is a great strength. It is also a great threat when it is used to push agendas of evil intent and violence.
