Judging Others

In recent times, we’ve read in newspapers and on electronic media about people being targeted for the food they eat, the clothes they wear, or the faith they practise. The list goes on and on. Intolerance towards those who are different from us is on the rise. What may begin as a simple disagreement, if not nipped in the bud, can take an ugly turn, leading to violence—even deaths.

Incidents of lynching and other forms of violence are alarmingly on the rise. Sadly, it often starts within families. Parents are guilty of comparing their children’s lifestyles today with the way they lived in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, which leads to arguments and friction. Children, too, can be insensitive to the feelings and expectations of their parents, giving rise to turbulence and conflict in the home.

India has much to be proud of. We are the world’s largest democracy. We are one of the fastest-growing economies. Literacy rates are rising. More people have access to clean drinking water, resulting in a marked improvement in our health indices. The purchasing power of our citizens is increasing. Perhaps most remarkably, India is one of the few nations where people of all faiths and belief systems have traditionally lived peacefully for centuries.

I was once conversing with an American friend on his first visit to India. He spoke about how each state in the U.S. has its own laws. During our conversation, I told him that if I travelled just one state over to Maharashtra, I wouldn’t be able to read the signboards on the buses; the food, language, and culture would all be different. This made him wonder how such a diverse society can still live together in harmony!

There’s a story in the Bible about a woman caught in the act of adultery. According to ancient Hebrew law, both the man and the woman were to be stoned to death—perhaps as a deterrent to others. Yet, in this story, only the woman was brought to Jesus; the man was let off. This was likely done to trap Jesus. If He told them to release her, He’d be disobeying the law. But if He ordered her stoning, what of the love, compassion, and forgiveness He preached?

As all eyes and ears turned toward Him, Jesus made a remarkable statement: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Gradually, one by one, everyone left—convicted of their own sins.

How true is the saying: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Indeed, we must deal with the log in our own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else’s.

Our strength lies in our diversity. We must accept, accommodate, and respect one another’s value systems. It is easy to condemn others, but as the old adage goes, “When you point a finger at others, the other three point back at you.” If we insist on holding tightly to our own positions without understanding others, living in harmony will be impossible.

India has always been a unique nation—a seemingly heterogeneous society living in peaceful coexistence. We are the birthplace of three major religions: Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The world sees India as a land of peace and stability. At no point in our independent history have our democratic values and credibility been seriously questioned.

We must continue to live peacefully, respecting one another. In our families, parents should recognise the strengths of the present generation, and our youth must value the wisdom and experience of their elders. Our focus must shift from the nitty-gritty of differences to the larger vision of unity and mutual respect.

With more than 75 years of independence behind us, it is time for India to lead by example on the world stage as a mature democracy.

Here’s a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behaviour:
“Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.” (The Message)