Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025 09:00 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Feb 18, 2025 16:49 [IST]
Recent
communal remarks against the KHAS community by an individual from the other
side of the Teesta River have ignited deep emotions, prompting calls for a
boycott of the KHAS Foundation Day celebrations. The anger is justified. Hate
and racism should never be tolerated. However, before deciding on a course of
action, we must ask: What will truly strengthen the KHAS community? Will a
boycott serve as an act of empowerment, or will it weaken the very foundation
we seek to protect? While emotional responses are natural, history and logic
suggest that the most effective resistance is not always the most immediate
one.
Many
in the community see the boycott as a necessary and justified act of defiance—a
symbolic rejection of hate speech and discrimination. Their argument is that
without strong measures, such remarks will continue unchecked. While this view
is understandable, the long-term impact of a boycott must be considered. A
boycott, though well-intentioned, is often a reactionary measure—one that may
ultimately do more harm than good. It risks shifting the focus away from the
rich cultural heritage and contributions of the KHAS people and onto an
individual whose divisive rhetoric does not define us. Instead of standing
tall, we risk retreating, allowing anger to dictate our course rather than
reason and strategic action.
Scientific
studies in mass psychology suggest that collective outrage often leads to
impulsive decisions rather than effective long-term solutions. Reactance
theory, for example, states that when people feel their identity or values are
under threat, they tend to react with extreme measures—boycotts, protests, or
social ostracization. Yet, research also shows that such reactions frequently
backfire, granting undue attention and power to the very source of the
controversy (which in our case is the individual).
Boycotting
KHAS Foundation Day could shift the focus from celebrating the rich history and
contributions of the KHAS people to a single act of protest. It risks making
the KHAS identity about resistance rather than resilience. Instead of
demonstrating strength, it may be perceived as a retreat—ceding ground to
divisive rhetoric rather than standing tall against it.More dangerously, it
opens the door for external forces to manipulate the narrative, turning an
otherwise proud moment of celebration into a fractured display of internal
discord.
As
of now, no concrete evidence suggests that these communal remarks were part of
a larger, politically motivated agenda. Until concrete evidence emerges, it
would be premature to assume a larger political conspiracy. Doing so risks
elevating their hateful rhetoric to a level of influence it does not deserve.
Our response should be measured and strategic, rooted in legal recourse and
intellectual discourse rather than emotional withdrawal.History teaches us that
strong communities do not retreat in the face of adversity; they engage,
challenge, and shape the narrative. The KHAS people have never been defined by
reactionary measures. Our identity has been built on resilience, intellect, and
cultural pride. The best response to ignorance is not silence or withdrawal—it
is the loud and undeniable assertion of our existence, our contributions, and
our historical legacy.
Boycotting
the KHAS Foundation Day in response to communal remarks is like refusing to
sail because of rough waters—one ends up stranded instead of steering through
the storm. True strength lies not in retreat, but in engagement. Rather than
boycotting the KHAS Foundation Day, let us transform it into a platform for
discourse and empowerment. Let this moment be an opportunity to reinforce our
unity, not fracture it. Imagine using the grand stage of our celebrations to
engage in public discussions, where scholars, historians, and legal experts dissect
the significance of the KHAS people—both historically and in contemporary
times.Going a step further, we should consider organizing an international KHAS
convention—a week-long event titled “KHAS Gyan Manthan”—where KHAS intellectuals
from around the world gather to analyse and establish the contributions and
historical significance of the KHAS people. This would not only serve as a
powerful counter to divisive rhetoric but would also cement KHAS community as
an integral part of the land and of its shared history.We
must not allow the words of one individual to dictate the course of an entire
community- let our response be one of
wisdom, not reaction. The KHAS community must choose resilience over retreat,
unity over division, and strategy over impulse. Let KHAS Foundation Day stand
as a testament to our strength—not as victims of hatred, but as architects of
our own legacy.
(Views
are personal. Email: hari.b.sharma23@gmail.com
)
