Telangana 64: Love Thy Rapist

One commenter writes on my blog:

The very basis of Telangana movement is hatred towards Andhra and Seema people. This is sadly true. If that were not the case Telangana would have formed long ago.

That is so sad that some Andhras have to blackmail us this way.   It is like British saying to Indians, ‘as long as you hate us, we will not give you freedom’.  I understand that many Andhras got tired of my examples from Indian Independence movement.  Therefore, I will give you other analogies.  It is like White Americans telling Black Americans, ‘as long as you hate us, we will keep you as slaves’.  And for those who think our relationship is not that of Whites and Blacks, here is another analogy.  It is like a rapist telling the victim, ‘as long as you hate me, I will continue to rape you’. 

Is it not the time for Andhras to introspect instead of asking Telanganas to stop hating them? Ideally, it should have been that Andhras ask themselves, ‘why do Telanganas hate Andhras? Is there a reason why Telanganas may be very angry with us?’  Why there are no Andhras who admit their guilt, apologize, and make amends?  Why doesn’t a single Andhra leader or commenter suggest implementing GO610 right away to win the hearts of Telanganas?  Why do they continue to coerce us, blackmail us, and ridicule us, our agitations and our leaders instead of making attempts for reconciliation?

Don’t Andhras understand that their continued domination and their apathy to our concerns is the reason why we are angry with them?  And that’s why we want to get separated?  How can you say to us that you will not allow us to separate until we stop hating you? How is that possible?  How is it possible for a slave to start loving his master with the hope that love will change his master’s heart?  Shouldn’t it be reverse?  That the master should start loving the slave so that the slave changes his opinion about the master?

Is it not true that British should amend their ways so that Indians stop hating them?  Is it not true that the White Americans should make the first move towards reconciliation so that Black Americans stop hating White Americans?  Is it not true that the rapist should make amends so that victim would eventually stop hating the rapist?

How can you put the onus of making first move onto the victim? What kind of devious thinking can make you think that way?  Is it how all Andhras think?  If so, Telanganas are up against some of the most devious and sinister peoples on this planet!  And if that is case, the current nonviolent agitations of Telanganas can never bring change in our opponents.

Peace works when the opponent respects you for your peaceful agitations.  Nonviolence worked against British, but might not have worked against Japanese.  Peaceful methods by Blacks worked against Whites, but might not have worked against Nazi Germans. 

So, the question is who are we up against, British or Japanese, American Whites or Nazi Germans?  This is not for us Telanganas to answer this.  It is for Andhras to answer this.  Will they respect our people’s movements and eventually allow us to separate?  Or will they behave ruthlessly against us suppressing each and every agitation of ours?

I continue to believe that most Andhras are ordinary people who are humane, and that they would not want to see Telangana ruthlessly coerced and submissively defeated.  I believe that most Andhras would be reluctant to rule over us, and when they understand our plight, they will not support the domination of Telanganas any longer.  I believe they will oppose their leaders who are carrying this domination on their name.  I sincerely hope that’s the kind of opponents we have in Andhras.  And it is in the actions of Andhras that will decide whether my beliefs are indeed true.