Discuss and Debate

Gauri Lankesh shot dead.

Till yesterday I didn't know who she is. But today I know there two categories of people. One set that is happy and celebrating her murder . One set that is mourning her. 

Who is she? A woman journalist.

Why was she shot ? Because she voiced her opinion and spoke against corruption. 

Why is dissent such a problem?How acceptable are we as a society of opinions that do not match ours? Do our schools or homes give enough scope for learning to disagree? We reinforce values of obedience and treat dissent as an insult to the older generation.

How may of us have regularly asked our children..is this the way to talk? How can you talk to your teacher/ mother/ father like this?Do we let our children think critically and come up with their own ideas?

Schools largely believe in conformity. A child who asks questions in the class is considered to be a nuisance. We have classrooms full of students who would rather nod yes to the child than even risk speaking against what the teacher says.

Debate competitions happen on mundane topics. Hard core social issues are rarely addressed. Public forums in schools are usually cultural events which are inundated by song and dance programs. 

In a society where if someone criticises movie star one is met with life threats it's not surprising that journalists are actually bumped off. 

Gauri Lankesh's death is a wake up call that we need to hear loud and clear. 

Agree to disagree. Teach your children to stand up for their ideas and be strong about it. Debate without making every debate a political statement. Stand up for your right to express your opinion.