It’s only words

Social, economic and scientific development of human beings can be attributed unarguably to the development of communication methodology by our ancestors. People used to communicate by various means, including body gestures and various pictorial depictions. This lead to the evolution of languages, which have always played a vital role in our progress. Written literature, generally used as a long term communication medium, can still not substitute the spoken words. Many times over, a spoken sentence can have a larger impact than a written one. Today’s generation can understand this in a better manner, after all, we have so many people saying so many things, and those so many things are leading to so many outcomes, but these so many outcomes usually have only one destination, that is “Naught”.
It is only through his speech that Adolf Hitler could gather his army, Mahatma Gandhi could address thousands of Indians, and Martin Luther King Jr could fight for a noble cause. Even Hindu mythology is not aloof from the importance of speech. It is widely believed that Vedas were initially passed orally from one generation to another. This is why they are also known as “Shrutis”. Bhagwat Gita is said to be a verbal communication by Lord Krishna to Arjun. Even Hindu, Islamic, Christian and Sikh prayers often employ our tongues, than just eyes. No wonder, why everybody makes extensive use of this tool to achieve almost every goal. No wonder why Osama bin Laden releases a new audio/video every now and then, giving a new reason for Bollywood, which releases maximum movies every year, to envy him. George Bush gets a spat by media persons in India and China, for his alleged comment on suddenly emerged eating habits of people in these countries, and Parvez Musharraf or Mr. Gilani of Pakistan give all the winners in Laughter Challenge show a run for money, by commenting that cross-border terrorism is not a reality. Speech is a tool that never fails and gives instant result. Consider the statement made by so called “protector” of Maharashtra people and culture, Mr. Raj Thakrey about North Indians, then about Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, then telling North Indian Students to leave Maharashtra and gaining instant popularity (it doesn’t matter how tainted it is in the eyes of rational educated people). Then there was a case of some south Indian actress Khushboo commenting on pre-marital sex (yes, the same so called controversial actress, otherwise I would have never known her like many others). Aamir Khan, L. K. Adwani, Arjun Singh, Bal Thakrey....the list never ends. Everybody has something to say, and a lot many people have got a lot more to do afterwards, from clogging already deadlocked courts to running on the streets with naked swords in their hands.
I so wish that these educated people, who comment without thinking of a consequence, brought to justice by a speedy trial. People who enflame the fire of communal, racial, or religious outbursts be the first ones to face what normal people face in the form of riots. I have a better option for those who file a court case for a petty personal belief of a self proclaimed celebrity..... “mind your own business”, and those who try to defend these comments by pretending to be Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in their statements, “We have Right to Speech”, to learn about the Constitution of India, where Fundamental Rights are not taken for granted. They have a set of conditions attached.
It is a shame that everybody is trying to be God for a small section of people and Demon for others, as in both the cases, his or her statement is going to fetch him or her immense popularity, that is required in order to be a celebrity. Gone are the days of “Panchatantra” and “Hitopadesha”, where it was a basic teaching to think before speaking. Today, you just need to speak, and others have to act. Thinking, if any, is saved for planning on what to speak so as to spread maximum unrest among those whose speeches have never made an impact in recent past. It is really only words that cause infinite damage, in every form.....direct or implied.