The attack on theatre artiste Subhankar Dassharma in North 24-Parganas is not just a case of mob violence. It is a symptom of a deeper disease: the politicization of identity.
Dassharma was beaten after he refused to lie about his religion. "Yes, I am a Muslim," he said. For that honesty, he was kicked, punched, and left unconscious. The question "Muslim?" preceded the assault. The answer sealed it.
This is new and dangerous. Even during the Left Front and TMC regimes, Dassharma notes, he was never targeted for dissent in this way. Now, a person’s clothes, name, or faith are enough to invite violence. That a theatre group performing ‘Kizad’- a play by Varavara Rao, was attacked adds another layer: culture itself is being policed.
The state’s response so far has been procedural. An FIR, CCTV checks. But the larger question remains unanswered: Why are citizens made to fear stating their identity in public?
India’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and expression. Yet on the ground, these freedoms are shrinking. When vigilantes decide who is "us" and who is "them," democracy is reduced to a loyalty test.
Dassharma said he will continue to wear black, red, saffron - "all colours." That is defiance. But individuals should not have to be defiant to be safe. The government must act decisively against hate crimes, ensure police accountability, and send a clear message: in Bengal, and in India, your faith is not a crime.
Security is not just about CCTV. It is about ensuring that a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, or an atheist can walk home at night without fear. Until then, questions like "Muslim? Does it matter?" will continue to be answered with blood.