Naftali Bennett- What to expect from the new Israel

 

 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ousted after a dramatic series of events after his political rivals stepped up amidst growing tensions as an aftermath of recent Israel-Palestine conflict. 

 After weeks of speculation, negotiations and turmoil, Benjamin Netanyahu was finally replaced by hardliner Naftali Bennett of Yamina party.

Son to American immigrants, Naftali Bennett was born in Haifa, Israel. He is a former commander. He was also a former leader of Yesha which was a main settler movement in West Bank. Bennett entered the national politics of Israel in 2013 where he revamped a pro-settler party and served as minister of defence, education and economy in multiple tenures of Netanyahu government.

Netanyahu-Bennett equation

He had named his eldest son in 1976 after Netanyahu’s brother died in Israeli raid to free hijacked passengers at Entebbe airport of Uganada. His relationship with the longest serving Prime Minister of Israel is rocky since the beginning. He worked as a senior aide to Netanyahu in 2006-2008, when he was an opposition leader. However both of them departed on bad terms.

 

Naftali’s ideology and political standing

He is strongly against the creation of state of Palestine just like his predecessors. He has called the move as equal to suicide for Israel. He is a staunch supporter of Jewish settlements in West Bank. While this is the case, he has never supported the claims of Israel over Gaza.  

He made annexation of parts of the territory captured by Israel in 1967 war. This move made this a major feature for his political career. However the annexation plan was discarded when Israel made its ties with UAE formal.

Naftali’s accession to power could be a blow to the hopes of global community and people of Israel and Palestine for a negotiated peace. He has never shown any leaning towards the peaceful negotiations to end the conflict.

He is a hardliner when it comes in matter of dealing with militants of Palestine. He even endorsed death penalty for them. In May 2021, he accused Hamas of murdering the civil lives of Gaza.

He favours liberalisation of economy. He has shown his interest in cutting government red tape and taxes.

Also he is liberal when it comes to religious issues. He is liberal in issues of gay rights and the relationship between religion and state in a country where Orthodox rabbis wield strong influence.

When choice was a sin

 

In a landmark verdict of 2018, the Supreme Court of India gave the freedom of choice inherent to every citizen of India to the people whose love knew no boundaries. Set backward by social norms, general apathy and depressing shame, the homosexuals came out of the closet with a trumpet of victory blowing loudly at the horizon. The rising sun which started with anxiety set with beautiful colours of setting sun when the verdict hit the newsstands. The judgement of Supreme Court struck down the colonial era Section 377 and allowed the decriminalizing consensual sex between same sex adults. There were loud cheers, quiet fist pumps, sweet feelings, salty tears and the essence of freedom enveloped the hearts which felt at ease. Finally the freedom.

It has been two years since the judgement was announced and the changes needs to be evaluated. It will be wrong to say that the writer understands what has changed and what has not, but for a moment let's just look at the facts.

Section 377

The Section 377 was included in Indian Penal Code by British Colonial government in 1860s criminalizing unnatural nature of sexual intercourse. It mentioned the voluntary intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, animal.

It had a provision of imprisonment of up to 10 years along with a fine as deemed fit against the offence.

Requirement of change

Before the legalization of homosexuality, there was not provision in Indian law for civil partnerships or for the recognition of the same sex marriages. Same sex couples were not permitted to adopt children jointly as a couple.

The law had left individuals open to harassment, beatings and blackmail. Many were and are still forced into loveless, sexless marriages. Many remain as pariah, away from families and loved ones in fear of facing backlash at an emotional level.

Wind of change

The issue caught eye of storm in 2001 when Naaz Foundation approached the Delhi High Court with a PIL which had decriminalized sex between consenting adults of the same gender by holding the penal provision as "illegal". The case however was dismissed in 2004 saying that there is no cause of action and purely academic issues cannot be examined by the court.

In 2009, Delhi High Court bench decided to repeal Section 377 saying that it violates fundamental rights to life, liberty and equality as mentioned in Constitution of India.

However in 2013, the Supreme Court overturned the 2009 Delhi High Court judgement saying that criminalizing homosexuality is not against Constitution

In 2016, the apex court heard the writ petitions filed by dancer Navtej Jauhar, journalist Sunil Mehra, chef Ritu Dalmia, hoteliers Aman Nath and Keshav Suri and business executive Ayesha Kapur and 20 former and current students of the IITs.

Same sex marriages are not legally recognized by the Government of India

In 2011, Haryana court granted legal recognition to a same sex marriage involving two women.

What has changed?

Before the verdict, the institutional resources have grown in considerable number for the LGBTQIA+ community to reach out for. The counsellors who earlier approached the orientation as a form of illness, have changed or are trying to change their attitudes towards the individuals. Instead, they are mobilising the process of adjusting and coming in terms with the fact for the families.

Olympian sprinter Dutee Chand became first openly gay athlete in 2019 where she triggered a series of conversations where the attitude of society towards homosexuals came to front. She openly discussed her stories and tried to normalize it for the society.

Bollywood is reacting cautiously but somehow progressively. Fire (1996 film directed by Deepa Mehta) faced violent backlash from the audience where movie was banned from playing in theatres. The movie was allowed to be played only after court intervention. However, in 2019 ’Ek ladki to dekha to aisa laga’ was received with watered down response from those against homosexuality. In some of the recent web series available for Indian audience, homosexuality is being openly portrayed by star celebrities.

The legalizing of homosexuality has led companies to advertise their friendly and non-threatening working culture which promotes safe haven for sexual minorities.

Long way to go

The black-tinted glasses of what is considered as normal needs to go to give a way to more kaleidoscopic one. There is a need to treat LGBTQIA+ as citizens of India and treat them under the same Constitution irrespective of their orientation.  

Right to own and inherit property, nominate their same sex partners on hospital and insurance forms, receive legal recognition of same sex relationship and marriage. Many petitions have been applied for the same

In 2019, transgender activist Grace Bhanu filed a PIL in Madras High Court seeking reservation for transgenders in education and public employment.

In April 2019, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court upheld the marriage between a man and a trans woman, who approached the court after registration authorities refused to recognise the union, saying that a trans woman couldn’t be considered a bride under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

 

A lot has changed and still a lot needs to be changed.

इस तरह खो गया हूँ मैं अपने वजूद मैं

अब ख़ुद को ढूँडता हूँ मैं अपने वजूद में

कुछ इस तरह से ढाए हैं हालात ने सितम

गुम हो के रह गया हूँ मैं अपने वजूद में

नायाब' इंक़िलाब-ए-ज़माना की है दलील

बदलाव देखता हूँ मैं अपने वजूद में

- जहाँगीर नायाब

जब आप प्रेमचंद को पढ़ते है

क्या होता है जब आप प्रेमचंद को दोबारा कई सालों बाद पढ़ते है? पूरी मानसरोवर या सिर्फ़ कहानियाँ या गोदान या कोई और उपन्यास।  आज से करीबन १०० साल पहले लिखी हुई किताबों से उम्मीदें होती है कि वह उस ज़माने की झलक दिखाई दे। लेकिन प्रेमचंद उससे कुछ अधिक ही दिखाते है। उन्होंने कई ऐसी कहानियाँ  लिखी है जिनसे समाज का ऐसा चित्र सामने आता है जो कि किसी इतिहास की किताब में भी नहीं मिलेगा।  आखिर हमें कैसे पता चलता कि मुलिया के साथ वही होगा तो पन्ना के साथ हुआ, लेकिन पिसा  रघु। कैसे पता चलता के खेती पसीने की वास्तु है और रघु मारे अपने कमज़ोर शरीर के ऐसा कर नहीं पा रहा था।  क्या किसी को पता चलता के आखिर ज़ुबैदा ने सलीम के साथ वाली ऐशो-आराम की ज़िन्दगी छोड़ शरीर के बाज़ार का रुख क्यों किया ? खैर, ये तो अभी भी हम नहीं जानते के नमक कितना कीमती है। आज भी खाने का स्वाद बढ़ाने वाले नमक के कारीगरों का क्या हश्र है। 
प्रेमचंद ने भारत में पाए जाने वाले सभी सिरों को पकड़ा है।  उन्हें जितना लगा, जहाँ जैसा लगा लिखते चले गए।  कदापि वह इस बात से अनभिज्ञ रहे होंगे के जो उन्हें किस्से कहानियां लग रही है वो दरअसल सच्चा इतिहास है जो स्कूलों-कॉलेजो की किताबों में जगह नहीं बना पाया। समाज का इतना सूक्ष्म, यथावत वर्णन आखिर इतनी आसानी से किताबों की सीमित भाषा थोड़े ही कर पायेंगी। 

प्रेमचंद को शायद उम्मीद थी किसी तरह की मदद की। उनके शब्द इतने ज़ोर ज़ोर से चिल्लाते रहे, पर आखिर क्यों? वो सबके बारे में कहते रहे लेकिन उनका मकसद समझ नहीं आया। क्या उन्हें लगा था कि उनकी कहानियाँ पढ़ कर कोई हामिद की दादी के घर सरकारी योजनाओं का पुलिंदा फेंक आएगा या उन्हें लगा कि कोई बुधिया के कफ़न का मोल समझ लेगा। प्रेमचंद आज होते तो क्या उनकी कलम से स्याही की जगह खून नहीं निकलने लगता। वो गरीब आदमी था, दीन- दुनिया की आज जितनी खबरें हमारे पास है उसके पास नहीं थी।

शुक्र है। 

क्या प्रेमचंद एक प्रवासी कामगार होते? क्योंकि हमारा लेखक तो उस ज़माने में भी गरीब था। शायद काम की कमी होने की वजह से वो भी अपने गाँव  पहुँचने  की कोशिश में दो रोटी अपनी छोटी सी कपड़ो की पोटली में होली में लिए गए नए प्लास्टिक के खिलौनों के साथ बाँधता।  फिर अपने साथियों के साथ कड़कती धूप में मिलों  का सफ़र करने निकल पड़ता ये सोच के कि गाँव  में रोटी-नून तो मिल ही जायेगा। शायद उसके  लेखक और कुछ नहीं लिख पाता।  सरकारी रिकार्ड्स में एक लाइन में अनाम दर्ज हो के रह जाता। प्लास्टिक के खिलौने रास्ते के किनारे फेंक दिए जाते क्योंकि अब उनका क्या लाभ। 

सोचो तो ज़रा कि अगर आज किसी राजनितिक दल ने अगर प्रेमचंद को अपना कैंडिडेट बनाया होता तो मंच पर झूठ बोलते बोलते क्या उनका गला न सूखता. ज़रूर सूखता, हो सकता है पानी पानी चिल्लाते हुए वो किसी पास के घर में घुस जाते। लेकिन शायद उन्हें वहाँ पानी नहीं मिलता क्योंकि सर्कार ने पिछले पाँच सालों में इस गरीब बस्ती से सिर्फ मैला ढोने वाले उठाये है।  शायद फिर भी कोई दरियादिल अम्मा अपने पानी वाले राशन से प्रेमचंद को एक गिलास पानी दे देती, लेकिन फिर बाहर निकलते ही शायद कोई उनका खून कर देता. क्यों? क्योंकि चुनाव आ रहे है, पार्टियों को मुद्दा चाहिए। हमारा सच्चा लेखक प्रेमचंद उनके किस काम का, पर का खबरों में वो हिन्दू बन जायेगा जिसे किसी मुस्लिम ने मारा होगा।  फैक्ट-चेकिंग नहीं होगी।  नहीं पता चलेगा के जिसने मारा उसके बैंक अकाउंट में उसी राजनितिक पार्टी के अकाउंट से काफ़ी रूपया गया है। उसका धर्म हिन्दू ही था। फिर कई बार कई धार्मिक व्यक्तियों के अकाउंट में लेनदेन होगा।
प्रेमचंद का प्रेत पहले की तरह अब भी किसी गली में अदॄश्य खड़ा चिल्लायेगा, लेकिन इतने शोर शराबें  में कौन उसकी सुनेगा।  फिर एक बच्चा अपनी माँ को ढूंढने घर से निकलेगा, प्रेमचंद उसे एकटक देखेंगे। वो भी प्रेमचंद को अपनी बड़ी बड़ी आँखों से देख तोतली आवाज़ में पूछेगा- "बताओ तो हमारी अम्मा कहाँ  है।" प्रेमचंद का प्रेत खून से लथपथ हो जायेगा जब पीछे से आती गाड़ी उस बच्चे को अनदेखा कर सामने कुछ और लेन-देन का काम करने जा रही होगी। 

पर प्रेमचंद ढीठ है। वो कुछ करना बंद नहीं करेगा। उसका प्रेत अब भी चिल्लाता है, कहता है लाशों को उनके घरवालों के पास पहुँचा  आओ, कोई पुलिस को बुलाओ, कोई अम्मा को बचाओ। कान फट रहे है उस लेखक के चिल्लाने से। 

हुआ क्या है?

खून बहा क्या?
मिश्रा पंडित या मियां अशफ़ाक़ रहते थे जहाँ,
कोई खबर आयी क्या वह से?
कल वहां से धुआँ उठता देखा था दोपहर में,
सूरज छुप गया था उसे धुएँ के डर से।
काफ़ी देर तक इंतज़ार किया था उसका,
बाद में पता चला के वो तो क़त्ल कर दिया गया था।
ख़बर पढ़ी थी अख़बार में ,
बड़ा अफ़सोस हुआ।

सुना कि सफ़ीना के बच्चे को मीरा के पति ने मारा,
सच है क्या?
उसकी माँ पागल सी हो गयी है,
उसी मीरा के प्रेम के सहारे जी रही है,
मोहल्ले में किसी अनजान को देख चीख पड़ती है,
कहती है उसके बच्चे को मारने वाले आ गए।
सब परेशां है उसकी इस हरकत से,
अख़बार का कागज़ तो कुछ और ही कह रहा था।
मिश्रा पंडित याद है?
कल बाज़ार में मिले थे ,
अजीबोग़रीब हरकतें करते हुए ,
मियां अशफ़ाक़ के यतीम बच्चों सँभाल रहे थे।
 
अजीब पागलपन सवार है सबके सर पे,
एक दूसरे की मदद में लगे है।
कल के खूनी वाकयों के बाद भी,
राजनीतिक पार्टियाँ अपना सर खुरच खुरच के खून निकल रही है अब।
इतना ख़र्च करने के बावज़ूद ये हालात कैसे!

अब मियां अशफ़ाक़ के बच्चे मिश्रा पंडित को पापा कहने लगे है,
सुबह मदरसे में क़ुरआन पढ़ शाम मंदिरों की घंटियां बजाकर खेलते है।
मीरा और सफ़ीना सुबह की धूप सेंक रहे है ,

दूर फिर कोई धुआँ उठाने की तैयारी में है।

ABUSE

A dreaded word, yet one of the least discussed topics except on Television where it creeps up on screen only when there is some incident shocking enough to gather more viewers for the shouting anchor.
A problem so lightly tossed out of the light as if it doesn't exist. A problem which has been changing the lives of people since ancient times, for the worst.
Abuse exists in almost everyone's life, just in various forms. It could be verbal, physical, mental, sexual, visible, hidden etcetera.  It could be a simple derogatory comment from a co-worker or classmate or a beating that a child took from a drunk parent for no reason. It could be mild intimate touch to rape. It could be done by enemies as well as the people whom you thought were close to you as friends, family or relatives. There is no way to define what abuse would feel to a person. A person might be feeling abused just after being touched simply but the dictionary's definition would call it just a touch.
Abuse is hidden from the society because there is no collective conscience on the definition of abuse which exists to help the victims. Seeing the Ying and Yang has made the society believe that the victims must be at some kind of fault to let it happen to themselves. The thought is so deep-rooted that we were unconsciously growing up inhaling the same ideas.

Why do we need to talk about it?

There are people out on roads, in classrooms, in offices, in homes, in markets and maybe in the chair next to you who kept mum about his/her abuse. Who felt that maybe it was his/her mistake that something happened. There is a high chance that the victim doesn't even understand that he/she has been abused because we were not taught that feeling uncomfortable by a touch, word, look and a person could be a form of abuse as well.
It has been so low-keyed. Abuse is not always extreme but its result is. The scars are hard to let go and very visible to the victim and a lack of understanding increases the problem tenfold. If you are being touched, stared, talked to in a way which makes you uncomfortable, then you are being abused.
Abuse doesn't happen just to the vulnerable. It also happens to those who stand tough amongst others. When abused, the stronger ones retreat to their shell and hide the instance because people have mocked their weakness in the past, Will the world believe that they have been abused?
Would it be so hard just to accept that anyone could be a victim of abuse and anyone could be an abuser?
Not even every abuser knows that he/she is abusing the person in front of them. They tend to accept is as a part of their behaviour and hence it becomes a natural thing for them. For some of them, it is a way to display power when they feel weak or just tell the world that they are strong. Make it clear to them that what they are doing is an act of abusing and it hurts.

Why did I feel the need to write something about this today?
Because it happens to us all and all of us are suffering.