​Today, the world’s largest democracy is navigating incredibly difficult times. We witness news of mobs lynching and taking the lives of innocent humans without a second thought to the gravity of their actions. It forces us to ask a painful question: Have those who perpetrate such violence stripped themselves of their own humanity?

​Not long ago, people across our nation identified as citizens first. Today, many have retreated entirely into rigid religious identities. Even the highly educated have frequently become pawns in deep political propaganda. Both internal and external politics have fractured our daily lives, while sensationalized media narratives and partisan agendas turn our collective struggles into a spectacle. Instead of focusing entirely on the milestones required to become a truly developed nation, we remain stagnant in our developmental metrics.

​Divisive rhetoric flows freely from leadership, and the media continuously loops narratives designed to breed hostility. Meanwhile, our core institutional systems often appear frozen in inertia—seemingly indifferent unless a tragedy strikes close to home. It is no surprise that the past few years have seen a massive rise in citizens seeking lives elsewhere, looking for stability beyond our borders.

​If an “eye for an eye” philosophy remains our guiding law, the entire world will eventually be blinded.

​The Shield of the Constitution

Online campaigns like #NotInMyName rise up to protest this violence, drawing support from prominent public figures. Yet, even these appeals for basic human dignity are met with targeted harassment, vitriol, and demands to alter one’s faith. Have we completely lost our collective anchor?

​As a citizen, my urgent appeal is not to any political faction, but to basic humanism. We must consider the legacy we are leaving for our loved ones before we allow anger to dictate our steps. Your compassionate, everyday actions are what contribute to the true beauty of our nation.

​None of our foundational faiths endorse the slaughter of the innocent; those who commit violence in the name of God fundamentally misunderstand the very scriptures they claim to defend. For me, the ultimate civic religion is our constitution, an unyielding framework that exists to safeguard democracy, equality, and human rights.

​Look beyond the noise of political parties and act in support of national development and humanism. We must protect the soul of the country.

​Let us stand firmly by the democratic rights of every citizen. Jai Hind.