Let's Reason Poem by Alok Agarwal

The act of migrating from aristocracy towards democracy is marked by coming into prominence of ‘freedom'. The word ‘freedom' encompasses freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom of expression and freedom of press.

In the current Indian diaspora, what we are witnessing is a drift from healthy ground of debate towards a society that is skeptical of criticism.

There is no longer any debate on ideologies but on the people who create them. If I speak for 'Janta curfew', then I am pro-Modi and if I am against them I am branded as against-Modi. There is no environment for intellectual debate. People just love brandishing.

Most supporters will go to extent for calling people who don't support his ideology of 'janta curfew' as pro-pakistani, anti-national, anti-liberal and what not.

Some people are making claims that the event of taali, thali and ghanti will spark of vibrational energy leading to death of germs. Seriously arghh! ! !

I don't know what impact does this have on Corona - and as a matter of fact there is no recorded scientific paper to support this.

We just love walking along pre-defined paths. Bhed-chaal.

Some people who are freer than me are calling it 'kudrat ka kaher'. It is nature's way to seek revenge for the atrocities committed by humankind on mother Earth. What impact does this have on us? Even if it is true that nature is seeking revenge, then also isn't it our moral duty to save mankind. I mean that this is just something out of context. It is analogous to someone asking you about your name and you answer that you live in India.

Everything is now turned into a brand that has a commercial value. Nirbhaya has also turned into a brand, though amid Corona it has garnered less of prime-time media footage. If you support hanging, it's normal as it is the feeling of the masses, but as soon as you oppose hanging of the convicts, then you may even expect mob-lynching.

It is the views that must be debated not the person who is expressing his views. The credibility of a particular statement is the statement itself not the author who has penned it.

Debate is whether the hanging is justified for a particular crime or in this case 'rarest of the rare' conundrum. The role of media is to provide a platform to people to express their views, but they themselves express their own views. It is common to see media houses to brand people as either pro-rapist or anti-rapist. By linking the act of hanging with the act of raping totally diverges the point of discussion. The sad part is that, it is done by media. This is something which is reaped by politicians.

I remember a time that if you criticize some policy of BSP government, then Mayawati would tactfully call you anti-dalit. She would change the fulcrum of debate so cleverly that the opponent has to retreat.

This is the same as brandishing Rahul Gandhi as 'pappu'. You brand someone as pappu, and then you don't need to bother what he is saying. If he says, wash your hands to prevent Corona, and then people are like what's the scientific proof. But if the same is said by Modijee, then people are like washing hands will not only fight off germs, it will also make your hands soft, provide employment to numerous people who are part of soap industry, will boost economy amidst falling GDP; and God knows what not.

Just put a label of 'I-phone' on any phone and it will sell like hot cakes. I have an I-phone and the only thing I use is WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and sometimes use it call people who don't have I-phone.

Why do we need I-phone? Because it is developed by Steve Jobs who was one on of the pioneer in this field and the quality of I-phones is very good, it has fast internet (as if cellular network has nothing to do with it) , blah-blah-blah and all sort of reasons - some of which have no reason.

It is this power of reasoning that needs to be nurtured. The scientific temper needs to be imbibed in the masses.

We must act now and learn to question, accept the questions and seek the answers; for this is what distinguishes mankind with other life-forms.

Let us justify our reason for being a human.