Why do we need Universal Heroes?

Everyone has a picture of an ideal person he wants to follow. There can be many heroes who inspire us to pursue our life goals. There are some heroes, who inspire people irrespective of the class, creed and community. But being in a small community, people always feel easier to associate with those who are close to their region, caste, religion & country first. 

Many of us have seen our elder brothers and sisters doing phenomenally well in their life and career. It is easier to identify ourselves with them because we have seen them grow. For an outsider we ask questions like:-

What did they do to succeed?

What was their daily routine?

What was their reading habit (if an intellectual) or playing habit and so on ?

In the modern times, this curiosity finds a solution where you can follow people on social network and get a hint of their interests. It is a great way of learning. I personally have followed people like Markanday Katju, Ramchandra Guha, Paul Krugman, Sam Pitroda etc. and it gets a sneak peek into their lives.

But, when you see some of the privileged individuals who got into good colleges, you start saying they succeeded because they were privileged and got better opportunities. While when you see someone from your neighborhood achieving that feat, you say if he can do that so can I.

Then there are communal biases attached to the success. Before B R Ambedkar dalits never had the courage to assert themselves and by his example many dalits from the community emerged. Although Ambedkar can be a hero to any person who is interested in Polity, Social Progress, and Law but as a community hero he did a great deal of service to the dalits in inspiring them.

What I see in Indian Muslims in some of the backward areas of the country is that they have lost this believe that Muslims can reach to the higher echelons of public life. A major reason for this feeling among masses is the lack of local heroes. There are not enough examples which the kids see and aspire to become. 

After partition in 1947, most of the educated and elite class of the Indian Muslim population migrated to Pakistan and there was a vacuum in terms of leadership and examples of repute. After 67 years of independence, the country has produced many exemplary persons but at local level the numbers are still less.

I see a strong bias in the history being taught, when we don't see enough Muslim heroes in the text books while their contribution in the freedom struggle and social upliftment was immense. Many of the leaders who were associated with the Muslim League are shown as separatists or even that thing is hidden until you read some deep history. 

While such demands will definitely increase the rife as to why should we differentiate heroes on the communal lines? If somebody is interested he should read selective history as per his wish?

Unfortunately, this is what is actually happening. The Dalits are trying to educate themselves with the books on dalit literature and accuse mainstream for an unfair treatment. 

Same is with Hindu revivalism which is being taught in the with special focus to their heroes. This bifurcation and selective appropriation of facts is dangerous and it will lead to separate heroes for separate people. All this is happening on the garb of cultural preservation. 

India is a country of immense diversity and a person born in India can learn so much from this. Born in a country of one language, one race, one polity there is hardly anything to learn.

Here we have the opportunity to learn from Geeta, Bible, Quran, Guru Granth Sahib and have the opportunity to interact with them. With such diverse classes present in India, we learn about the social problems in a much better way. Being a democracy with political parties ranging from left to right offer a political understanding to the people. 

But when we come to see the heroes, they have been made limited as per the wishes and divided in different camps. Communists have their own heroes which a non communist may not be aware of. A right wing person does not know about the contribution of Muslim Heroes. A north indian person will not know about the heroes of south india or north east area. 

This breeds the divide between people as they can't assimilate with the other person. The idea of India is a composite one. 

We need heroes from all over the country and to be known across the cross sections of society. We need universal heroes with local appeal and local heroes with universal appeal.