A unique feature of India’s intellectual tradition is that the point of view of the opponent (purvapaksha) must be taken seriously — not because one loves the opponent but because one needs to understand the opponent better if one has to win an argument. That is how the tradition of samvad (dialogue) constitutes a major component of this long-standing tradition. The opposite is coercion and violence, which are outcomes of a monologue possessed by those who ‘own’ the truth! The latter as a trend can be witnessed all over the globe, across histories. Today it is found among conflicting nationalities, religious communities or ethnicity — whether it is in Israel, Nuh, or Manipur.
As Gaza bleeds, there is no objective statement of truth that can explain the large-scale violence and human tragedy that is engulfing the country. While some find fault with the initial point of ignition by Hamas, there are others who are worried about the quantum of destruction that the Palestinians have faced. Either we are carried away by the immediate turn of events, or faced with the challenge of finding the structural cause of the entire Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Similar is the case with Manipur, though the quantum of violence is far less.
