The Prime Minister spoke a few days ago, standing tall and confident at the start of the winter session, and he asked the opposition to set their negativity aside.
It sounded wonderful. It sounded noble.
I almost clapped.
Almost. Because before anyone can set negativity aside, one must first understand what positivity really is.
Positivity is harmony. It is peace. It is prosperity. It is love, compassion and kindness. It is laughter shared over a cup of tea, neighbours chatting at the gate, and friends agreeing to disagree but still meeting for a meal. It is warmth. It is goodwill. It is everything we once had and everything we have somehow lost in the last ten years.
So, when the Prime Minister spoke of negativity, my mind travelled back. I remembered a time when my closest friends could sit across a table and argue till midnight about politics and religion, and afterward we still hugged and laughed and went home smiling.
Now the same friends avoid each other.
They glare. They block each other on phones and on WhatsApp. They whisper behind backs. And I wonder how this great nation of unity allowed itself to be divided so easily.
What happened to us? When did we let this poison creep in? I recall neighbours who once shared meals and festival sweets. Today they do not speak. They cross the street to avoid each other.
Who taught us to hate so efficiently?
It did not happen by accident. It happened through careful sowing.
Seeds of division were planted and watered every day.
And now the country is asked to set negativity aside.
What a lovely call, what, a noble request. But I wonder who should really receive that advice. Should it be the opposition alone?
Or should it be spoken to the side of the House that holds the largest numbers and the loudest microphones? The side that has shaped the tone of every debate and every television shouting match. The side that believes victory is measured in noise rather than in peace.
Maybe before giving such a sermon, the good Prime Minister might consider installing a giant mirror facing the treasury benches. A tall shiny one. One that shows every face clearly. Let every member look into it before pointing a finger across the aisle. Let them ask themselves one question. Did I bring unity or division? Did I add peace or spread anger? Did I heal or did I wound?
If that mirror could speak, it might whisper gently. ‘This Christmas Season as a month of peace dawns, set your own negativity aside first..!’
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Wonderfully put Bobby! Reading it reminded me of a song we learnt in school eons ago.With words that went something like this.
” When you point your finger at your neighbour, there are 3 fingers pointing back at you!”
Our schools cultivated unity, peace and harmony besides teaching the usual lessons and having extra and co- curricular activities.
Exactly Kay, thank you!
The opposition considers ruling party as their enemy and there i lies the root.Why don’t they discuss on every issue deeply in parliment when time is given.They feel BJP in power as shameful for Bharat.They should dissect each act of government.We are worried of not having good opposition.