WHAT NOW??
Ajit Chaudhuri – June 2019
An election has happened, the people have
spoken, and a government is in place. Notwithstanding the doubts about the
partisan role of the Election Commission, the abnormally large margins of
victory and the manipulability of electronic voting machines, this is a
government that has widespread acceptance and I think we all hope that it
buckles down to address the many problems facing us today. The right initial
noises are being made about being a government for all Indians, but there is
also disquiet about its majoritarian agenda, the nutcase fringes that provide
its foot soldiers, from where people are fast-tracked into leadership, and its
disrespect for the checks and balances of democracy. I don’t like these people,
and I don’t trust them! And the feeling is mutual – secular minded English-speaking
liberals are the new anti-nationals.
So where does this leave the likes of me? I can
–
·
Lament, like the old man in
the cult film ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’ who throws his hands up in the air and says
‘yeh kya ho rahaan hai (what’s going on)’, and leave it at that.
·
Run, like Kashmiri Pandits in
the 1990s – but where to in these Trumpian times?
·
Get out of the way! I’m at the
fag end of my career, a peaceful (I hope) retirement involving gardening, watching
TV, and playing the guitar at some seedy bar beckons – why bother myself with
grandiose matters such as the direction of the country?
·
Hold my nose and join them –
and hope to influence from within. Many likeminded people have changed colours recently
– why not me? But – can I live with looking into a mirror and seeing a rat?
And, what use would they have for the likes of me?
·
Oppose, by working with
political parties that profess to share my values – but which ones? Family
businesses masquerading as political parties are repugnant to me, and the
extreme left indistinguishable in practice from their counterparts on the
right.
In deciding, I would like to believe that –
·
The country needs the likes of
me – somewhat educated, liberal, with no allegiance to any caste, religion,
community language or region – who only has a country.
·
The country needs an
opposition – the current political situation is not healthy for it.
·
The country needs a political
party occupying the center-left, which speaks for the poor and marginalized,
for whom the development discourse is more about basic education, basic health,
minimum wages, and basic infrastructure, and less about the stock market,
interest rates, and rupee value of the dollar.
·
The country needs people who
speak for its constitution and underpinning values.
Is there an option to oppose merely by being an
unorganized voice for a better India; progressive, just, peaceful, celebrating
its social, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, balancing its multiple
needs in a fair and humane way, a force for good in world affairs, etc.?
I
would like to explore this path. What would this take, and what are the costs?
12 comments:
Dear Ajit,
Firstly a happy new year to you and your family. Since we are so consumed by our individual lives its always wonderful to continue the dialogues and keep the warmth between friends alive! Always a joy to hear from you whatever the subject.
I was reading your 1 pager and thinking how this is probably the biggest dilemma a lot of us are grappling with given the messy political scenario, the degrading social fabric in terms of intolerance and biases and a sense of unrestrained violence. Its a complex question and can't have simplistic answers. In trying to solve one problem, we may create others.
I would completely agree on the kind of goodness we need (sorely need it) that you talk about in terms of liberal individuals, unidentified with any religion and unbiased for the most part. Will that happen through another kind of politics though, or collective movements only? I am very very skeptical. It's a radical issue and deep rooted which needs a revolution. A revolution in thinking and feeling which needs to begin on individual levels first. We are talking about heavily conditioned minds often working on auto pilot and vested interests; even more in the absence of inward awareness or right education (not just literacy or degrees). Although I think degeneration has always been part of society just like its opposite (growth and progress). Its probably just more accelerated and visible now. Maybe the visibility is good in some ways because it cuts the hypocrisy and exposes the dark corners. Social media magnifies everything today.
I have often wondered what can bring about real change in societies. As individuals one feels powerless or even inadequate if one were to upfront think of a 'scale up' kind of change. I am almost certain it never begins like that. The seed of change first needs to stir and deeply disturb you as an individual to an extent that you are compelled to do something about it; even if its just in your immediate vicinity. It always comes from a very personal space and that energy then translates into action. I have witnessed it with a lot of people doing great impact work. They always began alone with nothing but passion, some fearlessness and an intuitive clarity and people join along the way. Individual action certainly precedes organized change but collaboration is inevitable. In that sense each human bring counts 'if' they were to live like that though! Then one man is actually an army and such a man empowers 10 others. Else we are nothing but pawns at the hands of life.
To my mind one of the most potent areas of change is education and helping each other heal (mentally and psychologically). Only frustrated and injured human beings are compelled to injure and hate. And we all have both darkness and light within. It is a question of what is stronger as we go along... Healthy and loving individuals tend to gravitate towards everything positive and elevating (ofcourse there needs to be food and a roof first).
Over the years, I have firsthand seen a lot of power in education of young minds. Children coming from heavily deprived and abusive communities are now so courteous, skilled, confident and empathetic individuals. Only through sheer grit, affection and passion of a small group of individuals day after day. Small change, but these kids are saved from a path of self destruction and potential harm to society. And they are good humans without the need of any other religion. And this is not social work for another or any kind of sacrifice; it is simply love.
I am not sure if the solution is in creating another opposition however strong and organised (plenty of those already). Maybe what is needed is an alternate force driven by goodness and compassion. Light does not need to fight darkness, it just needs to be there in abundance.
Pardon the longish response but it's a subject I deeply care about and couldn't help but think aloud and share.
Regards and affection,
Vibha Chhabra
Dear Ajit,
Wishing you and your family a happy new year. Thanks for sending your one page... which is always fascinate me. My opinion on this is given below :
In the 20th century, the development of Indian nationalism led to political calls for emancipation from foreign rule, and the entry of Gandhi as a political leader caused an increase in nonviolent protest against the British government. Responses to British rule included in the self-rule movement created by autonomous Indian parliamentary organizations and the mass non-cooperation movements led by Gandhi, which promoted passive resistance to British rule. The first half of the 20th century in India was characterized by multiple civil disobedience movements, strikes, and other demonstrations.I think the same scenario is repeating now,replacing British with RSS. We need to identify another Gandhi (who has no hidden agenda other than freedom) to lead us, against the self rule movement of the current ruling party. We can also try civil disobedience, satyagraha and other demonstrations, which can fetch the attention of countries dictating the world, eventually can seek support from them.
All the best in your endeavours.
Manoj Kurian
Dear Ajit, You echo every one of the questions I'm asking myself. And with me it's a tad worse because I was all prepared to up and run to Indonesia (been there for the past 5 years and love it), but Wahabi Islamization is taking over and spreading green terror across the country much in the same vein as the saffron terror back home. So, like it or not, I have to explore some cold, health-faucet-less country and SERIOUSLY think about different career and life options, much as my heart just hates the idea. Canada? Take care and may we find reassurance in 2020! Berry Rose
Would love to hear more on the choices you made.
Vinay Raj
Hi Chau !
As per the doctrine of Bushism, you're deemed guilty of high treason. Pack up for the detention center. One way pickup will be complementary.
If they send you to the DC in Bangalore, would be great to catch up
😀
Suresh Satyamurthy
Ajit
Nice to hear from you. What can I say? We pathetic liberals have been caught out all around the world : India, USA, UK and lots of Europe . And look what’s happened to the Labour Party here - collapse, incoherence, vituperation.
Everyone must do what makes sense to them. I’ve joined the governing body of the high school in Wells next the Sea in Norfolk where we have our house ....lots of difficulties and rural Brexit anger. I thought I should stop always commenting from a distance. A tiny thing but maybe other things to follow.
Patricia Lankester
Ajit I loved your piece – it spoke to me and it spoke about me too!
For all the frustration with the toxicity that is seeping through this hate-fuelled party in power and its marauding men, I continue to clutch the straws of the work I do in the vague hope that it brings some fairness, positivity and peace. I think a lot about the centre-left political formation – a bit in the AAP genre but lack the energy to take any leads.
One thing that has helped me keep some sliver of sanity intact is that I continue to meet, interact and immerse with people everywhere. I don’t get into debates or feel the need to rebuttal all the time - but I try to listen carefully and probe. I’ve tried hard to not let my work and its structures to keep me in a state of alienation from the reality around me. I draw renewal from this connection and would want to do more of it – not that I help anyone except myself. But I know it’s important to continue voicing reason and rationality, even if it is drowned by aggressive bullshit.
I’m rambling!
Rajiv Khandelwal
Well said Chau. Me too in the same boat......
Meeta Vadera
Hi Chau,
When you figure out, please let me know. I will consider that path as well :)
Hope 2020 is much better!
Gouthami
Hi Ajit,
This is the second time in my life I am asking the same questions my friend! The first time was 2002 when we had to "run away" from a so called cosmopolitan/ secular housing society in Ahmedabad and find shelter in a muslim ghetto. The only difference is now we won't find another ghetto in the country to feel secure.
My pressures are little different because I head a charity working with children with multiple disabilities and everyone says "you are doing such good work, why to enter into controversies. It will affect the funding to your NGO".
So what do I do... ditto your questions!
Still unable to find any answers and hope that something will come up to hang on to.
In search of answers...
Akhil Paul
You ask such a difficult set of questions Ajit.
The dilemma is serious. Do we curl up and pretend all is well?
Guess, we don't have a choice. Will have to stand up and be counted among those who care for the country, it's constitution and it's place under the sun. Against the lunatics who seem to not care as we go hurtling down
Amir Khan
Well written & well said!
I'd be curiously & eagerly waiting to see what path you choose as "an unorganized voice for a better India"
Srikant Sastri
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