Of privilege and politics
2020 has been a splendid year in all its nuances. It’s got that edge to itself where, every month could provide with a story that has the potential to be a blockbuster hit. It is so ironical to realise and understand that we prefer the realities, playing on as the reel, because it is easier to comprehend. Nobody could have imagined, a movie that released back in 2011, named Contagion, could be our reality today. It is in the integrated human behavioural core, that we strenghten in the times of adversity. Not all of us actually, but most of us, indeed. 2020 didn’t go exactly as planned for most of us except, the oh-so-marvellous people who live in Antilla or even those who started their billion worth empire by selling books in 1995 (frankly, if you know, you know). I don’t even wish to start comparing my privileges and failures with the one these alpha families enjoy. Categorically, I find myself stuck in between the ones who have all the privilege in the world and the ones who fight for their livelihoods on a daily basis. “Privilege” is something that divides the country of India more than it’s all nonsense and illiterate politicians. It’s not even the gulf between the rich and the poor which is dividing us apart; it’s more of our conceptions that have developed over time of each other. I see the news-blasting how “Punjabi” farmers are carrying on world’s largest human protest without acknowledging that all of us are Indians and any law formed has a direct or indirect impact on us. I can’t say that for people with all the privileges in the world, but for someone who has seen closely on the ground roots; the impact of dissent is impreshnable on millions of minds. What most of us have failed to understand is how our privilege, makes us stand against each other. This “divide and rule of the 21st century” is what is filling those bank accounts of business men, back funding the political parties. I am not against political funding here, but more importantly against the fact how it has become a safe haven for those who wish to trade the black for the white.
It however, saddens a part of me to know that 2020 started with the Shaheen Bagh and is ending with #DilliChalo.
And well, I am all in support for dissent and raising your voice against the wrong, but on the hindsight, it’s brutal to see how the strata of society that is actually willing to do something for the country, is getting crushed- the middle class. The capitalistic orders, the bizzare propaganda based news bulletins, the shrinking salaries; it’s all working to make one thing possible and that is crushing the hopes of a middle class Indian. A middle class Indian, who has to save enough to support his family in times of distress and get nothing in return. The institutional belief in “roti, kapda aur makaan” is dwindling but is stringent at the same time. The aam aadmi (Common Man) is tired and desperate. Chaos is the order of the day. Switch on that television set, and binge on how the hot debate is the media houses deciding “what the nation wants to know”. And frankly, it is a very dangerous precedent that is being set- the media deciding what you want to know instead of what you should know. The Judiciary, Executive, Legislature and Media are the four pillars of democracy. Our beloved nation is struggling on all fronts. The diversity which was touted and rebuked as our biggest weakness, is yet again emerging as one. People sitting at the cusp of privilege using their right to speech, have taken into commenting on anything and everything; thus, waging an unnecesaary war of justice. As an unreserved, Hindu by birth, I am scared to comment on anything “political” in an open arena.
What if I am termed as an anti-national, just because my political affirmations don’t go with the majority? What if my right to free speech is seen as miusage of my own privilege?
Quite frankly, these must be the questions, to which a lot of us might resonate to. I don’t have the answers to them, yet. And I might not have the answers to them ever. But it does not mean in any sense, that I shall stop talking about how the tiniest move in a political gambit, impacts us all. As a responsible citizen, I understand that even though I have my rights, my duties towards my nation exist at the same time. In such times, it is important to talk about how privilege and politics is inter mingled. Post the assassination of India gandhi, the Iron Lady of India, her son, Rajiv Gandhi was coronated with the title of Prime Minister when he least wanted it. In India, it’s observed as a classic case of dynasty politics. However, most importantly, it was when Rajiv Gandhi commented on the 1984 riots, “When the tree falls, the earth shakes”, is a calssic case of privilege and politics. He considered the assassination of his mother as the falling of the tree and the riots in answer as the shaking of the earth. Analysing the statement, provides with an understanding of how politicians have observed the public from time to time. While most of the youth sees Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a fascist leader, it is actually his prodigy, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has time and again, given controversial statements, yet again from a privileged footing.
From the Ali-Bajrang Bali contest, to altering the name of cities with Muslim names, he has emerged as the rex regum of political chaos based on religion rivalry. Indian politics has observed over a time period, how peaceful dissent has been essential to the democracy and its operations. But in the current times, all it seems to be is a facade in the face of justice. Privilege and politics have always divided us, as Indians, as Hindustanis, since 1947, more than our religious and cultural differences. What we need at this hour is the awakening of the reality of the grounds. A constant self-reminder is needed- chaos might be overwhelming for now, but it won’t be overwheling forever.
-yours “anti-national” Hindu by birth
