By Richa Sharma
To Indians, confusion is a tradition inherited from our ancestry. Blame this addictive practice for confusing terrorism, rebellions, insurgency, and intolerance as synonymous. Partial knowledge or selective knowledge hasn’t allowed us to understand that these terms may or may not be related.
Terrorism, for example, means creating mass terror for several reasons whereas, rebellions are usually uprising of the oppressed. All terrorists are rebels but not all rebels are terrorists.
Here’s how all these terms are different but may be united through Violence.
| Key terms | What we think | What it is actually | Examples |
| Democracy | A type of government. | A government of the people, by the people, for the people. | India, Denmark |
| Republic | A union of public. | A state in which the head of government is not a monarch or other hereditary head of state. | India, China |
| Terrorists | People who attack other people. | People who create terror among the masses. | Al-Qaeda, ISIS |
| Rebels | People who always argue. | Politically, people who raise voice against issues. | Protest against the Nirbhaya case |
| Insurgency | A revolt against the government. | A rebellion against authority who are not belligerents. | Naga insurgency in North East India, Maoist |
| Belligerents | People who are aggressive. | A nation or person engaged in war or conflict. | World Wars |
| Sedition | Spread of hatred. | Speech inciting people to rebel against the Government. | Arrest of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi |
| Intolerance | A synonym of ignorance. | The unwillingness to put up with disagreeable ideas and groups. | Religious disrespect |
- Dual Aspect of Rebellions
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar were partners in crime during the freedom struggle. They assassinated John Saunders to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. As they were jailed, they gained popularity and continue to inspire youth even now. No, I’m not asking you to get jailed and show how inspirational they have been.
These revolutionaries before independence would have been considered as Terrorists by the British. Britishers faced the aftermath of the revolts and protests. Therefore, Terrorism and Rebellion can be subjective.
- Another Issue Created Revolutionaries
India is accused of not having a consensus about its issues against women. Contradicting this, during the Nirbhaya rape case, India had mass revolts against the accused. Indians fought together for the justice of the victim. Rebellions like these aren’t against the country but they help in making it a better place.
We need not follow exactly what they did but know that the side effect of not condemning against the wrong is cowardice.
- Terrorism Can Only Terrorize
Al-Qaeda is a global militant Sunni Islamist organization. They came together as mujahideen, warriors fighting to defend fellow Muslims. Their understanding of Islam is terrorizing not only others but even Muslims rather than unifying or defending them.
Haven’t you wondered why there aren’t any Wal-Marts in Afghanistan? It’s because there’s a Target (to “defend”) on every corner. Now, did they mean by “defend fellow Muslims”? In the name of defense, they have only terrorised people across the world.
- Is Water a threat to global security? No, but Ice IS. LOL
ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, follows takfiri doctrine, by which this Islamic State is committed to purifying the world by killing vast numbers of people. This group is formed by Holy people who are so desperate to purify that they cleanse the body by killing people. Their saintly belief is that one has to support ISIS to be rewarded in heaven.
We cannot ignore that unlike the revolutionaries, who fight against the powerful so that they do not misuse it, terrorists misuse their mission and power itself.
Revolt against the unacceptable but do not terrorize to claim acceptance of your ideas.
Image Credits: Google Images
