Communalising anything

Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu has attracted the attention of the national media when a suicide by 17-year old Lavanya M, a class 12 student of Sacred Hearts Higher Secondary School in Michaelpatti in Thanjavur, hogged the limelight when she died on January 19 after consuming poison. According to reports, Lavanya made her last declaration before a magistrate that was recorded on video on January 16 before her death. However after January 20, one person identified as Muthevel, district secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Ariyalur uploaded a video clip on social media that went viral. In the clip uploaded on January 20, the deceased accused the warden of scolding her, forcing her to clean hostel rooms and also promising to look after her studies if her parents allowed her to convert. The recorder (supposedly Muthuvel) was heard asking whether it was because she did not agree to convert that she was tortured? In response she responded “maybe”. Another video surfaced on January 27 where the victim made no mention about conversion. To goad her, a man was heard asking whether the convent stopped her from wearing a bindi? The girl replied ‘No. And also clarified that the headmistress of the convent had nothing to do with the issue. The details of what police ascertained from the case was that the deceased had a problematic relationship with her parents especially her stepmother. She was reportedly suffering from depression but what drove her into taking poison was definitely not because she had been tortured to convert. However, the BJP in Tamil Nadu concluded, even before investigation concluded, that it was all due to attempt at forcible conversion. Even a majority of the media both print and electronic, highlighted more about the alleged attempt to convert while ignoring the fact that police, after primary investigation, maintained that conversion is not the issue but family problems. The entire issue was being communalised by the BJP in a state where all religious communities-Hindus, Muslims and Christians- live in a harmonious relationship. All religious communities in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have shown remarkable tolerance and even the local political parties have been mindful to not cross the bounds of religious tolerance. According to Pratap Mehta, a noted writer and thinker, the failure of the media to challenge and question the government is exacerbated by the way several of its organs actually promote and actively spread communal poison. In an interview with Karan Thapar, Mehta said the government at the Centre has given legitimacy to communal tendencies which, earlier, were latent but suppressed. The rise of hate mongers in India today, is also a consequence of the government’s tolerance to hate speeches directed at minorities and transversely, the government’s intolerance to protests by minorities. The Thanjavur issue is a case in point where any issue involving perceived wrongdoing by minorities against members of the majority community, is taken on a national scale to send reminder that the majority community is in danger. The case will be handed over to the CBI as demanded by the BJP, a move that is seen to pitch Tamil Nadu versus the Centre.