We are living in a world of half-truths and full lies. Politicians, instead of presenting the reality to the public, want to reshape reality according to their own ideology and personal perspective as to what benefits them. Politicians have certain objectives in creating such a false reality which is constructed more easily in the social media environments, through beliefs or emotions using various social media platforms in addition to the mass media.
Aristotle once said, political activities worth, lies in the effects it realizes. According to him, politics is about leading a good life together. A political association is a context for realizing the good life together. Political decision-making is an exercise in good judgment regarding what the proper course is for achieving the common good. The intrinsic value of politics is to realize the good life, for the community. The basic ethical intention, is “aiming at the good life. Rousseau stated that politics, must bring about a good life. He concluded that social contract is a pact that impacts the dynamics of economic domination and alienation.
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75 years into democracy in India, politicians and political parties have become the most privileged class of the century. According to the Reserve Bank of India, bank frauds exceeding 302.5 billion rupees, were unearthed in the fiscal year 2023. Over the past decade, India has witnessed more than 100 scams, making the nation one of the most scam country in the world. The greatest causality is the TRUTH, in addition to the huge drainage of exchequer, which would have been otherwise available to build the nation’s prosperity.
The press and media instead of revealing the truth, side track the main issues based on their agenda. The judiciary doesn’t seem to be playing a proactive role, which they should, considering the huge loss to the nation are often caught up in technicalities. There is no “catch the culprit” attitude in the whole processes.
During the colonial era, it was clear, as to who are the oppressors and the tyrants, without any doubt, the Colonisers, the British or the Portuguese or the French or the Dutch. But who were oppressed were not clear, because British brought in universal education to the common people, the poor and lower middle classes were benefitted, they built a huge railway network, ports etc, which give many, employment. The rich and the upper classes were also benefitted as they were given opportunities to trade or collect taxes (Zamindari) or even given employment at higher level and opportunity for good education.
Now the situation is exactly reverse. People are unable to identify the real tyrants, with the tyrants pretending to be the hero and saviours of the nation, camouflaging their real roles and intent and in their efforts to capture or retain power, the truth gets distorted and submerged.
Post-Independence, who are the victims is clear, the suffering common people, with inflation, price rise and unemployment and now environmental degradation and pollutions of every kind and even deprivation of their traditional livelihood.
But who is the oppressor or the tyrant? The only plausible test may be who benefits the most by this system? Undoubtedly the political class have been the biggest beneficiary, in addition to the comforts and conveniences, that Power brings, there are real instances, wherein the most honest of politicians have not just doubled or tripled their wealth but their wealth had increased 200 to 250 times, in a duration of five years in power. If so what about those not so honest politicians?
The natural fall out, of this tendency to distort truth and project as truth, only those convenient facts stem from the basic idea that elected representatives needn’t have to ascertain or fulfil people’s concerns. In fact, most of the conflicts, riots or people’s unrest arises from this skewed understanding of what people wants.
Whether its education, occupation, avocation or agriculture, the people generally are clear as to what they want, though there is concerted attempt by the political class to distort these facts.
E.g., Education should provide, knowledge, skill and ability to be employed. A task that is possible only if adequate teachers and faculty are available, definitely not with 40 to 50% shortage. Two decades ago, Goa government refused the Central Government’s offer to convert Goa University into a Central University – a policy blunder. If not, students of Goa would have had not only better courses, but much better and more expert faculty training them. The funding for the University would have been met by the Union Government.
The argument that it was to prevent outsiders from coming to Goa University falls flat, when Goa has now many private institutions like BITS Pilani, International Law University and others, who do not employ any local Goans and the seats for Goans are very limited. For Goa, whether such Institutions are in Goa or anywhere else, does not make any difference, but for such Institutions being in Goa and to get such huge tracks of land is a golden gift from Goa government. Double standards of this kind are a bane for Goa.
The frequent changes in the laws to merely facilitate land conversion, for purposes which are purely commercial, that too to help some commercial or party bigwigs are all untruths. Otherwise, why permit construction of multi-storeyed complexes in remote villages? Goa is now home to drug lords, underworld dons, pimps and many land grabbers ultimately sounding the death knell of Goa. Planning should begin with the people, prioritising people’s concerns, then Goa would have retained and preserved its pristine beaches and the unpolluted life style in rural Goa.
Development should deal with the real problems of the present day and pains of the common man, the idea of planning for next decade when they are elected for, just five years is abdicating their responsibility and an escapism.
(The writer is a Professor of Law & an education
consultant)
