In fear we live, in fear we breathe

Contrary to Nietzsche who had once complained that the world had lost its charm, as people did not fear enough, today, we think otherwise. Today, we have too many fearful photographs in the media to be charmed by…

There was a time, when airport security in the US searches used to worry me. There was a time when I used to worry about why we would not be able to defend ourselves from states that wanted to dictate their terms and conditions. Today the fear is no longer about an outsider stripping me at the airport; today the fear is no more about a foreigner ripping me of my resources. Today I fear what we witness in the media; today I fear the camera as photographs clearly indicate that the enemy is from within.

Let's talk about a few recent pictures.

The camera never lies.
The first picture is of Mr. Moudud Ahmed at a press conference. The honourable lawmaker certainly did not charm the nation when the BNP asked for scrapping the trial of war crimes. That unjust demand itself instilled a deeper sense of fear within me. Now, I fear the creation of a whole new genre of monsters that will be devoid of conviction.

Just when the Dhaka split episode had begun, just when the popular emotions were riding high against the position, the press conference of the BNP demanding something that runs completely contrary to the emotion of the citizens, one cannot help but wonder, if there are enemies within the opposition who contribute to such sabotage.

Like it or not, the country is being run by someone who has an expertise in playing board games. Our honourable prime minister is either that expert or just plain and simple lucky as her score card, in spite of the recent decision to split the city, will definitely read better than the oppositions even if only on one count: war crimes.

The second picture that instilled fear in me was the picture of a few lawyers removing photo of late president Ziaur Rahman at the office of Supreme Court Bar Association on the 3rd of December 2011. Not only had they protested hanging Zia's picture, they also had equal wrath against honouring Bhashani and Osmani. What was even scarier was the deputy attorney general's comment stating that none could hang photo of anybody beside Bangabandhu's.

Now, it is true that history views all these leaders from multiple lenses. But what are not acceptable are the bias and the lack of generosity. Why would emotions lead our reason when it comes to the nation? Are these lawyers subscribing to a Grand Operatic emotion? The pictures of the passionate lawyers proclaiming love for Bangabandhu, unfortunately have done a greater disservice to the government.

This is what we do. We shame our leaders, our friends and ourselves by acts of violence. By acts such as these, we not only shame, we also evoke the fear of losing our rights to imposition, our love to imprisonment, our commitment to legal entrapments. Adherence to passion is acceptable but sacrifice is far more impressive. That is where we can bring in the reference of "ethical passion." The followers of the position must learn a bitter truth: Passion is not an event, but an energy that exists within us all the time. Passion simply needs to be channelled and cannot respond to quick fixes like violence, rage, sarcasm or insult.

The third picture was of Hassan Syed, the man who allegedly had tortured and blinded his wife Rumana Manzur. Syed had been found dead in the bathroom of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University's (BSMMU) prison cell. Rumour has it that he could have killed himself but nothing has been confirmed as yet apart from his suffering from a cardiac failure. I tremble while reading the news. I fear the hands of justice slashing us from various corners other than the mundane and the known. While I pray for the salvation of the departed soul, I cannot help but fear how many Rumanas will be subjected to domestic torture and how many will be victimised in the process.

The fourth picture is of the ex-mayor being picked up by the police. Recent incidents of the police violating their honour code have not come as a surprise to us. May I humbly remind us that absolute loyalty pays well for the time being and if, by chance, in spite of running the risk of being derided, the police apply their conscience placing them in uncomfortable and often dangerous positions, and in case if they choose conscience, then they would be sure to win laurels from the mass, even if not from the ruling establishment.

The fourth picture was of the new ministers…

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to walk in Kobirhat, Noakhali for an hour and fall into pits every two minute. The honourable lawmaker of that area is none other than Mr. Obaidul Kadir, the newly appointed minister for communications! The second shot was of the ex-commerce minister grinning from ear to ear as his new appointment as the minister of civil aviation and tourism has assured him a safe exit till the next election as after all, Biman cannot soar to the skies within a brief span of two years after being raped for the last 40 years! Suranjit Sen Gupta, the complicit critic's face was the best; he has promised nothing more than the trains running on time! The only heartening picture was of Abul Hossain, the ex-minister for communications walking the carpet in shame…this time without the usual smile on his face.

With a massive majority and with all the right slogans and convictions in place, the Awami League had started its epic journey towards establishing a meaningful democracy. Perhaps, as ordinary citizens, we want no more from the government other than its journey not being marred by petty decisions, which imbibe fear in us. In spite of the majority of the civil society having supported AL, today that number seems to be dipping. That is not good news. Worst of all, my fear is that this has happened simply because of isolated events of violence that have stemmed from absolute absence of respect towards any other views other than a monolithic frame that a few members of the party adhere to.

But, with or without assurances from the position, how do we, the ordinary citizens battle our fears every time we look at snapshots like these in the newspapers? The answer should be in the word: "courage". Contrary to Shakespeare's Caesar who believed in courage being a quality one has or does not have, I believe that courage is a decision that we ourselves ought to take for greater good, ignoring the immediate urge to gratify self-interest. We also need to remember that fear needs victims without whom it loses its force. The more fearful we get, the more victims we create within ourselves. Through media that lends flesh to our fears by cultivating dramatic scenarios, as viewers and readers, we too have a tendency to rely on high-risk information than the low-risk ones. We love horror films; we shudder every time we watch 'Silence of the Lambs.'

But that is art, which does not hurt life. In reality, off-putting photographs evoke fear in us, thrash our spirits, break us down and in the process tear down our trust with which we go to the polling booths and call our shots for only a day, every five years.

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Rubana Huq, Managing Director, Mohammadi Group.