After filmmakers and writers, eminent scientists of the country have on Wednesday, April 3, appealed to the Indian electorate to vote against “inequality, intimidation, discrimination, and unreason”.
In an open letter published on the Indian Cultural Forum, 154 scientists, including Amit Apte, Sorab Dalal and Rama Govindarajan, have underlined the importance of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. They have asked Indians to “reject those who lynch or assault people, those who discriminate against people because of religion, caste, gender, language or region…” in a veiled reference to hate-fueled right-wing politics.
The letter added, “We cannot endorse a politics that divides us, creates fears, and marginalises a large fraction of our society…”
The letter hails diversity as the greatest strength of the Indian democracy and says “discrimination and non-inclusivity strike at its very foundation”.
The scientists condemned the atmosphere created by the Narendra Modi-led government where forward-thinking individuals, rationalists and intellectuals are being persecuted. They have concluded their letter with Rabindranath Tagore’s classic words, that are especially relevant in today’s atmosphere:
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls…”
Read the full text here.