Next: An exodus

A rumour is a weapon, not a mere string of words. It can sometimes become more effective than an actual weapon that kills and destroys. Which is why, psychological warfare is a specialised area in military science and strategy.

India is not fighting any overt war right now, and no such threat is looming on the horizon. Yet, the events of last week have come as a chilling reminder of how effective a rumour can be if the enemy chooses to use it in his armoury of weapons. Within weeks of violence erupting in the Bodo areas of Assam, we've seen this unprecedented, unbelievable and frightening phenomenon of hundreds, if not thousands, of people from the North-East making an exodus to their home states from Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mangalore and other places.

The ominous message of the rumour that caused this exodus is this: "Beware. If this is done to our people, we'll do this to your people."

The fact that fake and doctored images of violence "done to our people" were used to incite passions only goes to show that this was a well-planned psychological assault. The implicit threat to the Indian state and Indian society is clear: "Forget about sending what you call illegal immigrants in Assam back to Bangladesh. We'll strike fear in the people from the North-East, studying and working in other parts of your country, and make them go back to their states."

I've used the phrase 'your country' in the above sentence deliberately. Those who masterminded this psychological warfare on our sisters and brothers from the North-East clearly don't regard India as their country—certainly not India in its present political, geographical, secular and demographic reality. They hate this India, and want it to be transformed into a nation of their theocratic and fanatic vision. A small glimpse of this hatred could be seen in the menacingly violent protest action organised by them in Mumbai on August 11. They didn't spare even the sacred memorial that honours the martyrs of India's War of Independence in 1857. That war remains the finest chapter in India's history of Hindu-Muslim unity against alien rule. But anything that celebrates, and seeks to further cement, Hindu-Muslim unity is anathema to the protesters' separatist vision.

... contd.

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