In the Vicious Grip of Emotional Pollution - Mrunalini Kanitkar-Joshi

Water pollution, air pollution, and noise pollution—all forms are unequivocally harmful. They are an assault on the very existence of humanity and, indeed, all life. They deplete our biological and geological resources. For sentient beings capable of emotion, particularly fear, the long-term psychological consequences of such pollution are profound. In humans, the most evolved species with a sophisticated brain and a rich tapestry of emotions, the adverse physical and psychological effects are manifold. And the irony is that humans themselves are the perpetrators of this pollution. While he is partially aware of its devastating impact—an awareness periodically reinforced by conscious citizens, environmentalists, and medical experts—he stubbornly fails to mend his ways. All these are forms of physical pollution. Experts in their respective fields constantly speak and write about them. However, the point I wish to address is that of emotional pollution. This form of contamination is perpetrated, sometimes unwittingly and at other times with deliberate intent. In today's age of social media, manufacturing and disseminating it has become dangerously easy, which is why we, as a society, find ourselves in a state of profound fragmentation. An immense anger, hatred, jealousy, and a deep-seated paranoia regarding each other's caste and religion have permeated the consciousness of the common people. We have lost our collective sense of a healthy, cohesive society. This emotional pollution has debilitated and contaminated our capacity for rational thought. Just as a body ravaged by a chronic illness falls prey to numerous ailments, debilitated by the assault of countless viruses, so too has the thinking faculty of modern man been enfeebled. We have begun to view everything through the parochial lenses of caste, religion, and gender. We have started to despise one another. The consequence is that this rage, this tendency to belittle others, and this perverse pride in one's own caste, religion, or colour escalates to such an extreme that entire communities are attacked—from their dietary habits to their religious festivals, culture, and beliefs. They are ridiculed in the most reprehensible language. And does this happen to just one community? No. People or factions from every community relentlessly attack others with verbal weaponry, fostering mutual disrespect, communal hatred, and a distorted pride in one's own identity. Platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have empowered everyone to express themselves. From the perspective of individual liberty, this is a monumental development. However, freedom must be accompanied by a sense of responsibility. In its absence, we witness the rampant use of vile, obscene language. If you observe any post on social media today and the comments for or against it, you will find people being vilified in the most filthiest, most infuriating terms. The most deplorable aspect of this is the barrage of vile, misogynistic insults targeting one another's mothers, sisters, and wives. Who gave these men the right to speak about any woman in such a manner? They feel no shame in this brazen display of a toxic patriarchal mindset, and certainly no fear. The deterrent of law, police, and society is simply non-existent. The very elders who should be paternally reprimanding the misguided youth are often the most hardened and aggressive participants. Women rarely challenge these misogynistic comments, for if one dares to speak up, she is subjected to the same humiliation. Consequently, many men and women choose silence, but this only allows the incivility and fanaticism to fester, sweeping away more men—and sometimes even women—who continue to express themselves in this deplorable manner. One can certainly oppose an opinion or an ideology, but is it not possible to present this opposition in civilised words? If we disagree with someone's viewpoint, we can state it clearly. We can debate and discuss it. But abandoning all decorum, a sense of arrogant fanaticism that proclaims "my opinion, my ideology, my organisation alone is correct" now dominates the collective psyche. Yes, a collective psyche, because not everyone possesses the courage to push an ideology on their own strength. When we ponder why this is happening, we see that if the language of our leaders—those who should be guiding society—is itself unbridled, if they lack the inclination to respect differing opinions, then what else can we expect from the mindset of the societal segments that idolise them? Just as certain political leaders are responsible for this degradation, so are some artists and intellectuals who hold significant sway over the public mind. It is the duty of politicians, thinkers, and writers to guide society without endorsing wrongdoing or belittling anyone; to ensure that no trace of casteism or religious discrimination is visible in their speech or conduct; and, most importantly, that it does not exist in their hearts. It is their duty to inculcate these values in society. The question then arises: does this entire nation lack wise, sensible people? Or is their number simply negligible? Neither is true. There exists a large section of society that thinks impartially, respects mutual opinions, and seeks a golden mean after examining both sides of an issue. This group includes not only influential personalities but also ordinary people who live their lives with integrity. However, in the surrounding cacophony, their true voice of reason is being suppressed. This segment is not aggressive, nor does it engage in factionalism. And the great flaw of this wise class is its aloofness from society, and even within their own families. Due to their nature of respecting diverse thoughts, this numerically significant group remains fragmented. They preserve their ideals and principles, but a new generation willing to adopt these virtues fails to emerge because their detachment prevents them from creating a following. Consequently, we are failing to build a society that is calm, restrained, and intellectually mature. It is not, and should not be, that only two camps exist: those who blindly follow left or right-wing ideologies, or those who either blindly accept or completely reject the traditions of their own caste and religion. Today, there is an urgent need to foster a public consciousness that strikes a balance between different schools of thought, that sheds what is unnecessary and unjust to any group, and embraces rational ideas and traditions. For this to happen, people whose intellectual capacity and conscience are awake must come together and take the lead in building a more thoughtful, progressive, and fearless society. Gaining the support of the masses is crucial for their success. Due to emotional pollution, humanity is losing its intellectual maturity, spontaneity, and sensitivity. A storm of fear rages in the minds of many conscious, ordinary citizens: are we on the verge of losing a robust, healthy social order to our mutual hatred and conflicts? Let us stem the tide of this emotional pollution in time and expand the currents of intellectual maturity. Let us amplify the faint voice of reason and gift the next generation a clear, open sky of free thought. - Mrunalini Kanitkar-Joshi (This article is the translated version of the original article भावनिक प्रदूषणाच्या विळख्यातwritten by Mrunalini Kanitkar-Joshipublished in the Sahitya Chaprak Diwali Ank 2025 )

  https://youtu.be/gfzdiiXTyLY