Abhijit Naskar's Blog - Posts Tagged "inclusive-society"

Culture can either further the cause of life,
Or it can hinder life, love and liberty.
If it hinders, it belongs in the dump,
If it furthers, it is an ally of humanity.

Rigidity is drag on expansion,
For it makes chains out of roots.
Roots give ground beneath our feet,
While chains only cripple all our move.

Even a flower can’t survive in last week’s water,
Yet you expect the mind to thrive that way.
Let the mind fly higher than known heights,
And all light and life will find their way.

With all our understanding of the speed of light,
We’re yet to cross the distance from heart to heart.
With all our fancy equipment of communication,
We are yet to listen to those unheard.

You know why I put that “rag” on my head occasionally, even though I hold no compulsion for it?

Because in some parts of the world people are still medieval enough to deem us “ragheads” and “desert dwellers” as subject of fear, hate, mistrust and repugnance. I cannot change how these suited savages feel by retaliating hate with further hate. The only way I can expand anybody’s sight is by being the most exuberant raghead that ever lived.

We treat the worst of humanity by being the best of humanity. That is why I am raghead, that is why I am latino, that is why I am black, and that is why I am many more facets of human existence in one body. I am one, yet I am all. Or better yet, I am all, that’s why I am one.

Wherever someone is pushed to the wall, I am there. Wherever someone is kneed to the ground, I am there. Wherever someone is denied the freedom of choice and the freedom of love, I am there. Wherever someone is denied the common decency and dignity in life, I am there. For I am but a reflection of life oppressed, for I am but resuscitation of life oppressed, for I am but invigoration of life oppressed.

All said and done, in our headstrong struggle for inclusion, we mustn’t also underestimate everything we have achieved so far as a species. As a matter of fact, we’ve come a long way since our tribal days of division and discrimination. Let me show you how. World’s most beloved poet, Mevlana Rumi, was a muslim – world’s icon of civil rights, MLK, was a black person – world’s greatest inspiration of science, Albert Einstein, was a German Jew – and most recently, as of 2023, PM of UK and VP of US, both are of Indian origin.

So don’t tell me, we’ve achieved nothing – don’t tell me, there is no hope for integration! Integration is happening all over the world, despite the ancient impediments of intolerance and hate. Therefore, the question is not whether integration is possible – real question is, are you a part of that integration, or aren’t you! Our home is planet earth – and here on earth, we all cry the same pain, smile the same joy, and live the same love.

I wanted my mind to be accessible to everyone,
so I started translating my core ideas into as
many languages as I can phonetically make sense.
I wanted to be visible further beyond the eyes,
so, lacking braille, I started recording my voice.

I have a scientist brain, sufi heart, and a monk
spirit – I don’t need to outsource any faculty.
I am capable, I am incorruptible, I am alive –
I need no one’s charity to uphold my humanity.

No backing, only backbone.
No benefactor, only brain power.
No industry, only integrity.
No contract, only character.

Exclusivity breeds jungle, inclusivity makes society.
Vip access is for animals, accessibility is humanity.