Last month we ran through A to M, here is the rest.
N for Naivete. India is a naïve country. It is part of this lands DNA. Perhaps it has to do with the centuries of monarchy. Subjects were naïve enough to believe the royal propaganda that their kings were descendants of divine lineage. This naivete has led to the downfall of many. Prominent supporters of Narendra Modi ranging from LK Advani to journalists like Tavleen Singh naively believed their support would mean remaining in his good books. Advani was mothballed and Tavleen Singh has become a persona non grata. Indians assume that supporting an authoritarian cause will not eventually cause them harm, proves this national naivete.
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O for Opposition. Social opposition to the current dispensation and their ideology is far more coherent than political opposition. Political opposition has to do with increasing chances of coming to power than with protecting the Constitution. Thus, Congress-I has chosen a soft Hindutva approach while AAP has willingly morphed into BJP 2.0. On the other hand, social opposition is concerned about the impacts this ideology has on the Constitutionally protected life of citizens.
P for Past. The past has been appropriated by the BJP. They have apportioned it, one part to successfully blame the country’s founding fathers and other political parties for all that ails India today, the second to victimise minorities for the rule of non-Hindu kings and, finally the third part to paint themselves in hues of gold as guides taking the country to that purported glorious era when Hindu kings ruled.
Q for Questions. Questions are a rarity in India. Questions are never about seeking clarity or holding the powers to be accountable. Media questions towards the opposition are accusative while their queries to those in power are adulatory. The absence of objective questioning in the country has led to a situation where Truth is no longer important. Thus, people’s beliefs are not based on facts but on whether it suits and fits their ideology. What those in power say is taken as gospel truth. This despite the fact that one of the Fundamental Duties in the Constitution is ‘develop the scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry and reform.’
R for Rationalism. Rationalism’s importance in our Democracy is negligible. It is replaced by Rage, Revenge and Rhetoric. Questions such as ‘which vital function of India would stop without Muslims?’ on social media are par for the course. Minorities are no longer viewed as fellow citizens but as potential excess baggage.
S for Sycophancy. Sycophancy is a trait of a land unable to shake of its thrall of the power that was enjoyed by the monarchy. Many blame the ills in the Congress-I to the sycophants surrounding its leaders. Similarly, there is a growing tribe of people spanning fields ranging from Bollywood to the Judiciary who praise the Dear Leader and promote His ideology. Bollywood stars do it to ensure their movies are not boycotted and their businesses not raided; sportspeople and judges do it to ensure relevance post retirement. Similarly, certain media houses chose to be obsequious to secure advertisements and viewership.
T for Truth. Truth is an outcome of questioning and inquiry. Truth is irrelevant in a world administered and populated by sycophants. The rationality of sycophants is self-serving and myopic. It does not heed the call for humanity and the importance of the greater good to create a stable society. Therefore, truth becomes evil- something that prevents leaders and their sycophants from achieving their bigoted goals.
U for Utopia. The current government is promising Utopia. However, to achieve this utopia they demand Indian’s unquestioning submission, foregoing truth and rationalism. What kind of Utopia is it if it’s inhabitants are bayards?
V for Vindictiveness. Vindictiveness has split the country in two. On the one side there are those seeking revenge and on the other, there are the recipients of these acts. The reasons for this need for vengeance span the past and present.
W for Whataboutery. Whataboutery is the refined version of ‘but’. ‘But’ is used to contrast and therefore is an excuse to cover up one’s own mistakes or crimes or reduce its gravity. Whataboutery, on the other is used to cast doubts on the accuser and the accusation by implying the accuser has not taken cognisance of other similar cases. Unlike the use of ‘but’ the act of ‘Whataboutery’ is devious because in one stroke it casts aspersions on the person making the claim and thus nullifies the accusation.
X for Xenophobia. There is a rise in distrust and hate. This is not only between religions but also between ideologies. India has always been a land of diversity, but this diversity is now being perceived as an Achilles Heel, something which made the country weak. Many believe that the only way for the country to achieve greatness is by targeting minorities.
Y for Yield – The country is yielding to an ideology that is divisive. There is hardly any institution that is not being made to further the ideology. But what is going to be the yield, or outcome, of such an endeavour? Coming to power through hate and divisiveness can only succeed in the short term. When there is no one left to hate people will turn on each other because hate is what they have been taught. What then becomes of the country?
Z for Zeitgeist – There is no one prevailing zeitgeist for the country. Nor are there common reasons for these moods. Fear and anger are feelings that define the country. Many fear the bogey of growing Muslim population, Love Jihad and the socio-economic rise of the lower castes. This causes real fear among Muslims and lower castes. Many are angry about colonialism and Mughal rule, mistakenly blaming Christians and Muslims for it while demanding a Hindu nation. In response there is anger over this fake narrative and the impact it has on the country.
At the end of the day, it is words that instigate people to use sticks and stones to break bones.
(Samir Nazareth is an author and writes on socio-economic and
environmental issues)
