Somewhere along the line, we no longer focus on national integration as a goal. The country is being consumed by opportunistically manufactured hostilities. When TV debates spend 80% of their time finding fault with the habits and traits of 20% of the population, the writing is on the wall. Minorities are being demonised in order to create a false sense that they are a problematic population and unworthy of trust and that it is urgent that they somehow be contained. This serves to make citizens indifferent to their fate and they can then be persecuted with impunity. The thing is, every person thinks of themselves as inherently good, and if someone is victimised, it is a human trait to identify and protect the victim – unless you have been mentally prepared for such an action as being necessary in order to deal with the problem they present. The first act of war is defence – against an invented threat.
Mob crimes are on the rise, there is an open endorsement by the state of people who perpetrate such crimes. There is considerable alarm among citizens of India about where the country is headed. We have public figures making communally explosive remarks which are then zealously defended by organised groups of supporters of the state.
It is in this atmosphere that a tag declared #MileSurMeraTumhara on Monday evening. Beginning with sharing old songs to promote national integration, the tag meandered into the syncretic roots and reality of India. From Qawwalis about Krishna to lullabies in various Indian languages. From songs with strong advice to treasure the social harmony of the country to songs rejoicing in the meeting of two people. The tag created a refreshing space that celebrated togetherness and unity in the nation in a backdrop of daily vilification. Here are some sample tweets:
Tamil se kashmir bhale hi door dikhayi de kitna, Miljhul kar dete aaye hain sadiyon se qurbani hum #MileSurMeraTumhara
— Meera Rizvi (@SeniorCharger) April 17, 2017
Mile Sur Mera Tumhara https://t.co/cUEhl9yKZe #MileSurMeraTumhara
— Vidyut (@Vidyut) April 17, 2017
after a long time a twitter trend brings a smile to my face. #MileSurMeraTumhara
— NoOne (@meha_d) April 17, 2017
Inspired by the trend, even Vishal Dadlani recorded a song.
जब ज़ीरो दिया मेरे भारत ने
भारत ने, मेरे भारत ने
दुनिया को तब गिनती आई #MileSurMeraTumhara https://t.co/DGwal2XC8e— Aarti (@aartic02) April 17, 2017
Saare Jahan Se Accha, Hindustan Hamara. Don't ruin unity of India. Don't divide us. #MileSurMeraTumhara pic.twitter.com/IvCqfJcXNm
— Karwan (@karwan_an) April 17, 2017
Allah tero naam, eeshwar tero naam https://t.co/QcnVtzr4fw #MileSurMeraTumhara
— Vidyut (@Vidyut) April 17, 2017
कोई पंजाब से, कोई महाराष्ट्र से..
नाम कुछ भी सही पर लगन एक है
जोत से जोत दिल की जगा जायेंगेhttps://t.co/1cOwvN9uxD
#MileSurMeraTumhara— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) April 17, 2017
"Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one."
– John Lennon #MileSurMeraTumhara— TinaRG (@hiindustanii) April 17, 2017
Jain Temple, Masjid, GauriShankar Temple, Gurudwara all in one frame, there is a Church close by #MileSurMeraTumhara pic.twitter.com/JSFwx879ss
— prerna (@prernao2) April 17, 2017
#MileSurMeraTumhara During the struggle 4 freedom der were no Hindu/Muslim/Sikh/Christians. All of us were Indians!Lets preserve tht feeling
— Yasodha Jagadishan (@Yasodha88) April 17, 2017
Oh my, my. My sweetest & happiest twitter experience ever #MileSurMeraTumhara trend brought me the HAPPY WALI SMILE. Oh my #India, i love u.
— Bêhzād (@zaddistic) April 17, 2017
Finally, a Twitter trend that brought smiles on people’s faces instead of making people fight each other.
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