Last time I checked, I am still living in a democracy: Ram Subramanian

‘Of the Peace Lovers, For the Peace Lovers, By the Peace Lovers’. Tremendous support is flowing in for the #ProfileForPeace campaign activist Ram Subramanian has started on the social media. He interacted with Spectralhues about the campaign, the required change that it can bring about and the growing intolerance and hate. Following are the excerpts of the interview:

1) Social media is witnessing tremendous support for your campaign #ProfileForPeace. Tell us and our readers a bit about it. 

On the 22^nd of this month (October), I changed my profile picture on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with a small message on it. I did it because a few days before that a local political outfit decided to ban Pakistani artists from entering India. I didn’t want them to be a representative of my voice so I decided to speak for myself. People began to resonate with the call for peace and started changing their profile pictures with similar messages and in a matter of 24 hours it went viral in both India and Pakistan.

2) What change, according to you, can this campaign bring about? 

If enough people change their profile pictures to a #ProfileForPeace picture, then the government knows what people from both countries truly want. This is the voice of the people. Regular people don’t want war and don’t want governments that don’t listen to them anymore.

3) What is your take on the growing intolerance level and hate in the country?

A lot of it is stage managed by political parties. Sometimes it’s the ruling party and sometimes it is the opposition that wants to displace the ruling party. People are tired of the politics of hate. I know that I am… have had enough of it. Earlier it used to work because people were unaware. In the Internet generation, that is right now, everyone is aware of everything.

We are not stupid anymore and if those who govern us think we are, then it is their ignorance at work.

4) Do you think the attitude towards Pakistanis needs to change? How do you think can that happen?

People have no problem with Pakistanis. Most people don’t think about them because we are busy with our own lives. We are made to believe they are evil like they are made to believe that we Indians are evil. Change has to come from the governments of both countries. The fact that they have dragged this conflict for so long (67 years) shows their incompetence as leaders. War is a result of failure of the leadership to arrive at a solution via dialogue. People are becoming aware of that and are questioning the leadership of their respective countries. I am doing just that. I wanted to give the leadership of both countries the proof that people want peace and ask them to act according to our wishes. Last time I checked, I am still living in a democracy.

• About the Author

About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash