A strange world of ours and of hatred.

Introduction 

The word hatred may seem small, yet it encompasses so many human vices that, under its influence, people forget even the fundamental definition of being human.

Perhaps that is what troubles me most about hatred.

It is just a word.

Six letters long.

Yet behind those six letters, there lie anger, resentment, intolerance, prejudice, cruelty, a desire for revenge, jealousy, contempt, and sometimes the shocking mindset of treating another human being as unworthy of respect.

Hatred rarely stays confined to the heart alone.

It can affect the way we speak.

The way we think.

The way we see others’ perspectives.

How we treat others.

How we deal with their mistakes.

How we justify our own actions.

And, perhaps most worrisome of all, we stop seeing the other person as a human.

Hatred: Deeply imbibed inhumane trait

Growing up in India, I used to witness such extreme examples of discrimination around me that I often asked my mother and teachers why we behaved this way—especially considering we were citizens of the same country and looked more or less alike. 

Yes, I admit I held onto colorist views—and that was simply because, in all the stories I heard at that age, demons and villains were always portrayed as dark-skinned.

The hollow basis of social discrimination

As I grew older and began studying on my own, I realized we had created the rules of discrimination and were blindly following them.

Social hierarchies and caste-based discrimination have deep historical roots in India, while the forms they have taken have changed over time. 

And as I grew up, I realized that while casteism certainly exists in India, there is also widespread social discrimination based on skin color, religion, region, gender, and even mother tongue.

Not only that, but discrimination in India also occurs based on power, position, and bank balance.

Hatred: Social Harmony at Stake

I recently came across a social-media video that appeared to show a socially powerful woman treating an elected female representative in a manner that many viewers perceived as reminiscent of untouchability. 

Having spent my childhood surrounded by a good education, good company, a nurturing upbringing, and good books, I have always viewed discrimination in society as wrong. Naturally, I harbor no hatred towards anyone based on some random societal norm.

I want a social system where mutual hatred never even arises.

I may choose to distance myself from people whose behavior I find harmful or deeply unpleasant—and I have become more cautious about such interactions since COVID—but that is very different from discriminating against someone because of their caste, color, religion, gender, region, language, or social status. 

Discrimination: Isn’t it inhumane?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination

If we are citizens of the same country—or even if we live in different parts of the world—we must ask ourselves: how can we harbor feelings of hatred toward one another? In such circumstances, achieving progress becomes impossible, doesn’t it?

Countless brilliant writers, thinkers, and scholars must have written innumerable books to raise their voices against hatred; yet—despite their tireless efforts—circumstances never seemed to change.

Hatred breeds only hatred, triggering a cycle of inhumane behavior that ruins everything.

The fire of hatred often flares so quickly that it destroys much before anyone can distinguish right from wrong—leaving nothing behind but regret.

Driven by the obstinacy of hatred, people find joy in the pain of others; one wonders what kind of peace such hateful individuals derive from inflicting suffering, yet when they face retaliation born of that very hatred, they suddenly start invoking humanity. 

Society needs to understand that negative actions and bad habits inevitably lead to a bad end, and ultimately, you could fall victim to them yourself.

The alarming state of hatred in the modern world.

Hatred is not a feeling that easily transcends into something sublime. 

In today’s modern world—given the environment of hatred that has developed, or rather, the hateful atmosphere manufactured by a few individuals to gain power and subsequently advance their agendas—all those involved ought to pause and reflect on the fact that the vast majority of the population is suffering as a result.

If people don’t speak up out of fear, it doesn’t mean everything is moving in the right direction; people are in distress. 

And if you have to resort to hatred or violence to maintain your position, then your esteemed position is utterly powerless.

Whether offline or online, a sharp rise in hate crimes is being witnessed across the globe. 

The primary victims are minorities, women, and children, who are often too helpless to raise their voices against their oppressors.

Hatred: An Unbearable Burden

The path of hatred is extremely difficult. 

First, you must suppress the human being within you. 

And then you have to select your target. 

Since one cannot simply harbor hatred for someone with ease, you have to stoop so low mentally that—even while grappling with your own struggles—you set them aside to focus solely on the object or person you hate.

It may seem unusual to you, but the truth is undeniable.

I have often wondered why anyone would willingly shoulder such a burden.

Because I do not know how to hate.

I can feel anger. I can feel pain. I can experience betrayal or disappointment. I can walk away from the person who has hurt me.

But hatred is different.

Hatred tells us to keep fueling the very emotion that is causing us pain.

And yet, hatred finds its way into human life so easily.

Why?

Perhaps because hatred gives direction to our hollow distress.

When you begin to live a life consumed by hatred, it makes no difference whether or not you have a direct connection with the person you dislike; you go on hating blindly. 

Eventually, you reach a point where you desperately long for someone to say something good about you—but you find no one; such is the inevitable outcome of every instance of unjustifiable hatred.

Where is the justice?

Today, hardly anyone can answer this question. 

Moral values ​​and principles have been blatantly disregarded, and many victims of hatred have become so exhausted that they have stopped raising their voices altogether. 

Human rights organisations are working only on paper, and people are already in distress over a series of mounting issues.

Often, those subjected to hatred strike back. 

Whereas sincere and honest people frequently choose to step away. 

Forgiving and forgetting is one thing, but when you decide not to respond to hatred, you mentally triumph over the malicious mindset that works against humanity at every level.

I understand that others’ wrongdoings can deeply affect us. 

But we must remember that they do not define who we are. 

We each have the strength to rise above our circumstances and shape our own paths.

If someone hurts us, we should not become the kind of person who hurts others.

If someone acts without humanity, we should not abandon our own humanity in response.

Revenge is not the answer to hatred.

Those who commit wrongs, harbor malicious intent, or encourage wrongdoing— they destroy the fabric of society. 

In such times, standing on the side of humanity instills in us a meaningful resilience, enabling us to outnumber these antisocial elements without becoming mentally unsettled.

Even in my childhood, I never responded to hate with hate. 

Today, I can say that choosing not to carry hatred has given me something precious: peace of mind. 

I am happy, calm, and relaxed, and I hold no malice toward anyone; my peace of mind is safeguarded. 

That alone is a blessing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Humanity and Hatred

1. What is the difference between anger and hatred?
   Anger is an emotional response that can arise when we feel hurt, disappointed, threatened, or wronged. Hatred goes further by allowing negative feelings toward a person or group to become deeply rooted and sustained. Anger may pass; hatred can become something we keep nurturing.
2. How does hatred affect society?
   Hatred can contribute to prejudice, discrimination, cruelty, hostility, and retaliation.When individuals start to see others as unworthy of respect and dignity, hatred can harm relationships and diminish the sense of humanity in society. 
3. Is choosing not to hate the same as forgiving someone?
   Not necessarily. Choosing not to hate someone does not mean excusing their actions or forgetting the harm they caused. We can acknowledge wrongdoing, establish boundaries, seek justice, or walk away while still refusing to carry hatred within ourselves.
4. Can we disagree with someone without hating them?
   Yes. Disagreement is a natural part of human life. We can strongly disagree with someone’s opinions, behaviour, or actions while still recognising their basic humanity. Respectful disagreement allows us to maintain our principles without allowing hostility to consume us.
5. Why should we choose humanity over hatred? Choosing humanity helps us respond to wrongdoing without allowing it to change who we are. We may not be able to control how others behave, but we can decide whether to respond with cruelty or to retain our compassion, dignity, and humanity.