The Paradox of Mourning and the Silence of the Oppressed
A Reflection on Civilizational Memory, Minority Persecution, and Strategic Realities
In the theater of global politics, the death of a leader is rarely just a funeral; it is a mirror held up to the fractured soul of the international community. Following the killing of the Ayatollah of Iran—who had been actively bombing neighboring Islamic countries—we see a surreal divide. While no country in the Middle East has mourned him, a segment of the population in India demands that the Prime Minister send condolences. This dissonance reveals a deep-seated tension between ideological ties and the reality of a regime's actions.
The Illusion of Consent and Inhuman Laws
We must look closely at the women of Iran, even those who appear to support the regime. They are subject to laws that can only be described as inhuman. A similar tragedy unfolds in Afghanistan under the Taliban. There may be "huge support" for such regimes within their borders, but does that support validate the laws? Of course not. A law does not cease to be inhuman simply because a population has been conditioned, or coerced, into defending it. Support for a regime is often a desperate strategy for survival, not a reflection of justice.
The Selective Justice of Regime Change
Perhaps the most glaring inconsistency lies in how the international community addresses cruelty. In Pakistan, regimes have allowed minorities to be subjected to such immense cruelty that they are forced to either convert or flee. Why does the US President not initiate a regime change there? The plight of the minority—the forced conversions in Karachi, the desecrated temples, the hijacked lives—is treated as an internal "complexity" because the state holds strategic or nuclear leverage. Intervention is reserved for those who threaten the interests of the powerful, while the truly vulnerable are left to endure "immense cruelty" at the hands of those who are technically labeled as "allies."
Civilizational Memory: The Hindu-Jewish Bond
Most Hindus in India hold a soft corner for Israel because they recognize a shared history of atrocities. The Jewish people have faced documented horrors and have made sure the world never forgets. In contrast, the historical suffering of Hindus often lacks global reckoning, silenced by the domestic votebank politics of India. The way Israel deals with its enemies is something many Indians admire—a refusal to be victims of history any longer.
Regarding Iran, while we work our contemporary ties meticulously, we must remember that the Peacock Throne did not fly there on its own. The massacres of Nadir Shah are a historical lesson that must never be forgotten. We shake hands with the contemporary state, but we exercise historical caution.
The Dismal Picture of Domestic Politics
Recent events have highlighted a troubling rift in Indian politics. We see the Prime Minister standing in solidarity with the UAE—condemning attacks, condoling the loss of lives, and supporting the safety of the Indian diaspora. Simultaneously, the principal Opposition party has issued a statement standing with Iran, unequivocally condemning the assassination and citing international law. This is a dismal picture of votebank politics, where the Opposition fails to stand by the government during a time of regional volatility, choosing instead to signal to specific domestic constituencies.
Geopolitical Realities and the Inevitable Tragedy
India prioritizes strategic autonomy. The Chabahar Port remains crucial for our access to Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. We support the people of Palestine and the people of Israel alike, but we do not side with terrorists. We must recognize that Hamas used hospitals, schools, and public places to hide and attack, making the resulting collateral damage an inevitable tragedy. India sides with the security of nations, not the tactics of those who use humans as shields.
Until we address the "immense cruelty" in places like Pakistan with the same fervor we apply to other global conflicts, the international order remains a system of convenience, not a system of justice.
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