Breaking My Silence
Rabindranath Tagore wrote Where the Mind is Without Fear as a call against the British Raj. Today, those words have become my mantra- not against a colonial ruler, but against corruption and an unaccountable system.
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” — Martin Niemöller
I don’t know how many of you have ever felt this burning anger deep inside, yet felt like you couldn’t do anything about it- feeling powerless and helpless. I often feel this way whenever I witness injustice around me. Right now, that’s exactly how I feel. When I see students, parents, and ordinary people out there demanding accountability from our education system, it breaks my heart, yet at the same time, it fills me with hope. It makes me believe that maybe the time has finally come for us to raise our voices.
Most of us don’t really care, or maybe we do, but we haven’t been affected by it yet. Maybe we don’t speak up because we assume someone else will, so why should we? Maybe it’s because we don’t know enough about what’s happening. Or maybe it’s out of fear- the most dangerous reason of them all.
I remember reading a quote as a child that has stayed close to my heart ever since:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
— Martin Niemöller
Imagine not speaking up today because you aren’t affected by it. But what happens when one day you are? Or when your children are? What will we do then?
The change is needed now. We need to speak up now; otherwise, our silence becomes our agreement with the injustice that is going on.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote Where the Mind is Without Fear as a call against the British Raj. Today, those words have become my mantra- not against a colonial ruler, but against corruption and an unaccountable system.
I have been guilty of staying silent for the longest time, but I know I need to break that silence. I may not be in Delhi, and I may not be able to do much from where I am, but I can still speak up. I can spread awareness. I can pray and continue hoping for a better system. I can hope that one day we have educated and empathetic leaders to lead us. I can, at the very least, write about it.
This isn’t about which political party is in power. It’s about what the party in power is doing to make our lives better, because they are meant to be for the people, by the people, and of the people. And because of that, I have every right to question, to hold them accountable, and to stand up whenever I see injustice.
Let’s not wait until it starts affecting us personally. Let’s not speak up only when it benefits us. Because I don’t wish for anyone to go through what the families of those 21 children have gone through.
You don’t have to support any political party or any individual. You simply have to be a human being who refuses to stay silent in the face of injustice.
For the first time, I feel like maybe we won’t stop talking about this until justice is served. For the first time, I feel like maybe we will stand united because of the tragedy we are all witnessing. Maybe this will become the reason we finally hope for change- for a better system and a better future for the generations to come in this nation.
Jai Hind.
Jai Bharat.
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