We are living in a world where intolerance in its worst form manifested as violence against people of opposite gender, of different races and religion, of different colour, of different nationality and of different political views is becoming omnipresent. Therefore it has become imperative for the world to guard against such a big threat as intolerance. It is with this grand idea that UNESCO is observing 16 November as the International Day of Tolerance.
Tolerance for ideas and opinions different from that of ours is one of the basic foundations on which democracy rests. What we see all over the world, particularly in India, is that there is intolerance among political parties on people that differ from their own beliefs and opinions. For the successful functioning of democracy we need to imbibe the spirit of tolerance. Such tolerance to opposing ideas and opinions is necessary to inspire freedom of thought and expression, which is a prerequisite for economic and social development.
We Indians, on virtue of being born in the land of the Mahatma, have the moral responsibility to take the leadership in preaching and practising tolerance. Let this be the day we re-commit ourselves to this great universal value.
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