Right from Gods worshipped, both mythological and contemporary like some politicians, cricketers, film stars worshipped like Gods, the government has brought religion and priests into politics and administration blatantly polarising the nation whilst simultaneously preaching in India Sab Ke Saath and Vikas, and abroad vasudeva kutumbakum (the world is one people) which belies behavioural reality. The best from India have been fleeing from the mindless constraints and roadblocks to creativity that government structures set up to inflict the power of the average with prejudice over the talented giving importance to caste, religion, money, appeasement, patronage, etc. The pursuit of excellence is dubbed as elitism, the glorification of myths led to disasters like structure demolitions, law and order problems and democracy in jeopardy, superstition and false beliefs. Slogans like Beti Padao Beti bachao but the Hijab in Karnataka suddenly becomes a pre-election tool and for girl students to stand up and rebel against a dictatorial communal regime that does not respect the spirit of the Indian Constitution.
Cultural hyper nationalism denigrating the West and telescoping ancient mythology into the present where everything was first invented or thought of in India is propagated; also that there was no real progress of the nation before 2014. The materialism in the West and spiritual vacuum did result in drugs, cults, AIDS, etc, and inability to deny oneself instant gratification. Yet the West generally allows every individual enough freedom and support to develop. When we are arrogant and have the mind mixed up and set like concrete, we develop wrong priorities. Instead of polarisation and hate, to progress inclusively India needs to sponsor happy communities where there is positive thinking but tempered by reality. This is all the more important in an atmosphere of deceit, fake news, vested interests and traditions not suited to modern life since it ignores advances in knowledge, causes pollution, climate change and damages progressive nature of both man and earth.
We are being bulldozed with rapid undemocratically legislated changes where ground realities/facts do not match with the rhetoric. This is obvious even in the latest Union budget where the government says this is a Amrut Mahotsav progressive, visionary solve all problems outlook relying on over optimistic government statistics and Covid overcome situation. The party in power and the government propounds it is primarily for the welfare of the poor, social justice and equality, respect and equal opportunities for all. Actually we have a capex budget with no immediate relief for the unorganized sector, millions that have lost jobs struggling to make ends meet due high prices, inflation and malnutrition. Facts are that the rich got richer during the pandemic and the poverty gap including middle class is ever widening. We have government bigwigs echoing their master’s voice envisioning a Hindu India with unchecked hatred speeches that dangerously divides the nation which goes to the extent of Hindu Seers organising a Dharma Sansad openly calling for genocide of a minority community.
The ground realities are the Muslim and Christian communities are dangerously being targeted by vigilantes with State patronage. The lack of condemnation by the government and authorities embolden the miscreants and stringent laws like UAPA and anti conversion laws are being legislated and misused. Pavan Varma an ex ambassador and diplomat who has written best sellers on Hinduism translated into many languages says “BJP has distorted Hinduism. They preach having found the grand Sanatan Dharma River and made it a narrow concretised tributary full of bigotry, hatred, exclusion and violence. The thekadars of Hinduism tell us how to behave, what to eat, wear, drink and even what to think. Hindus have become cannon fodder using them as puppets to serve political goals”.
In this battle for existence people generally lack compassion and become cruel and covetous when in power, losing sight of what is right and what is injustice. This arrogance filled with false pride and knows all attitudes are triggers for dissent and violence.
Democracy brings forth various opinions and knowing the pros and cons of issues, the government can manage life’s challenges with greater success, not acting impulsively and prejudicially resulting in minimum dissent and enemies to be won over. There are few who vote as per their conscience but vote as per propaganda or according to relatives or friends or not to split votes or what is in it for me as against what is good for Goa and the nation.
Being honest may not get you many friends but you will get the right ones. The whole system is corrupt forcing people to become dishonest in order to survive. If politicians can legislate freebies and unimaginable perks for themselves with the balance sheet in red and if some party can legitimately do the same for us by drastically cutting down on the all pervasive corruption by efficient management of resources and funds with clear balance sheets, should we welcome it? It is high time we come first in government’s thought and deed and unity in diversity is not compromised.
The government is leading the nation away from what our founding fathers envisioned.
(The author is a retired naval officer, freelance writer resident in
Porvorim)
