Indian politics wasted my Saturday

‘The Indian public media and the social media are currently abuzz with a fictional story about an imaginary assassination plot against a high profile leader. The extent of madness is such that this plot is being debated on the Indian television channels. Are there no other existential issues in India, such as population, pollution, corruption, environment, well-being and happiness of the people that should be debated on the television or in the Indian newspapers on a daily basis? Why are people so oblivious to those pressing issues or pretending to be innocently ignorant? What has happened to Indians? Where is their common sense gone?

My Saturday was ruined yesterday at one such social gathering, where the alleged assassination plot was on the top of the list of the social gossip. I told others repeatedly that this was just a rumour – a mischief – and without any merit, whatsoever. About a week ago, a friend in India also seemed to be highly concerned and worried about the alleged ‘plot’. I assured her, with guarantee, that nothing bad will ever happen to the esteemed leader and so she must not lose her sleep. A few days later, my father also seemed worried and concerned. To him also, I repeated my assurance and guarantee that nothing untoward will ever happen to his beloved leader; it was nothing more than mischievous rumour to cause public panic and generate a sympathy wave. If somebody really wanted to do something like this, why would it be broadcast? If Indian intelligence and security has got a sniff about it, why did they leak it? A short answer it that such rumours are meant only to generate a social gossip, hike television ratings and generate a sympathy wave for the person in debate before the oncoming general elections of 2019.

Indian politics is ridden with an epidemic of negativity. People-based politics and party-based politics have well and truly entered every home and every social gathering. Many conspiracy theories are currently being discussed by Indians – who could be behind the plot, who will benefit from it etc.? My analysis so far has been as follows:

• It is in the interest of the usual suspects (the West) that, in order to be used as a deterrence against China, India must remain strong, integrated and powerful, which is only possible if the esteemed leader remains at the helm for a long time. So, let us remove all western countries from the list of the suspected conspirators.
• Only two countries could potentially benefit, but if seen only from the surface. Those are the two neighbouring countries. But why should Pakistan want to damage India’s leadership and integrity if its own army, which controls the country, thrives on a scare campaign against India. Pakistan’s army can’t justify its disproportionately high defence budget if India becomes weak. A powerful Indian leader, with an integrated India, plays in the hands of Pakistan’s army. Similarly, why would China think of any mischief, if a potentially weak India does not meet its economic aspirations?

In summary, it is unlikely that any foreign hand could be behind any such ‘imaginary’ assassination plot.

Now let us look at the domestic scene. Indian history is full of examples of insider jobs, treason and treachery. But Indian politicians also know the risk of such a misdeed. Given the popularity of the esteemed leader, such a misadventure will backfire on all of them; it will literally burn the country – with widespread anarchy – and no one will benefit. Indian politicians are indeed cunning and selfish, but not so stupid that they will think of killing the ‘goose that lays the golden eggs’. An integrated and progressive India will benefit them and their corruption.

People fail to realise that assassinations don’t follow television debates or propaganda or any kind of advertisement. Common sense says such plots remain shrouded in extreme secrecy till they are carried out successfully; and, thereafter, many cases remain unsolved mysteries for years. But, these days, common sense is not so common in India because it has been replaced by the social media.

The social media has undoubtedly taken a good toll on the common sense of people, even of the so-called educated ones, through those crafty doctored videos and false stories that show the political adversaries and political opponents in poor light.

As if my Saturday was not damaged enough, a friend in India posted a video on a group site late in the evening, showing the leader of the opposition, wearing a baseball hat and a black-feather jacket, standing in queue at an airport in Germany. The video came with some derogatory remarks about the person. I quickly retorted:

‘Guys, please leave him alone. Rahul Gandhi has seen untimely death of his uncle, Sanjay Gandhi, in an air crash, which has remained an unsolved mystery. Later, he also saw the assassination of his grandmother, Indira Gandhi, by her own body guards. As that was not enough, he also saw such a violent death of his young father, Rajiv Gandhi. His psychology must be messed up; therefore, let us leave him alone. He truly believes that India is his responsibility, especially due to the legacy left behind by his Indian ancestors – the Nehru / Gandhi dynasty. It is another thing if he is fit to lead the country. And that question can only be answered if he gets a chance to rule. Who knows? Undoubtedly, his colleagues in the Congress party use his name and background for their own needs. It is like any other leader, who just remains a face of the party, while others reap the fruits of his leadership.’ On that note, the world is excitedly looking forward to an unlikely meeting between the current leaders of the USA and North Korea in the next 2 days. Pray the two unlikely leaders turn a positive page in the history of the mankind. Amen!

While people and television channels in India are busy discussing politicians and the political parties, guess what is happening? India is dying, slipping slowly downwards. But does anyone care? Do we have any television debates on the following issues that are undoubtedly undermining the country?

• India stealthily adds nearly 60,000 new people every day to its population, which exacerbates the already-high pressure on the resources in the country – dairy, grains, vegetables, fruits, a growing need for residential land and dwindling agriculture land, environment, building materials, natural resources etc.;
• About 50,000 new vehicles start using the roads every 24 hours, polluting the environment further – with air, noise and traffic pollution – increasing the travel time and the travel fatigue; and exacerbating the loss of the precious human time and human happiness;
• The air quality and the water quality keep deteriorating every minute;
• The country is getting hotter and the groundwater is depleting with each year;
• Kashmiri Pandits continue to be called migrants and live in exile, dispersed across India and overseas, far away from their native home;
• Many woman – young and old – are being raped or killed every day, or are on the radar of potential rapists and killers;
• More people, especially the youth, army jawans and framers are committing suicide every day, or are contemplating to do so, because they are unhappy; and
• Millions of rupees are exchanging hands under (or over) the table every hour, as part of rampant ongoing corruption in all walks of daily life.

Should not the Indian media and the social media engage the Indian people in serious debates on the above issues on a daily basis? But, that may not help the ratings of the television channels. News channels feed on sensation; so, why should they care about India and if India is dying or living?

Characteristically and tragically, Indian people love to idolise politicians. In my childhood, they idolised Indira Gandhi. Before my birth, they idolised Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru. These days, they idolise many leaders. The term ‘idolise’ reflects ‘love’ and ‘bhakti’.

As they say, love is blind. Indian people’s love for their leaders has taken away their sense of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. People justify the use of doctored messages and videos – as propaganda – as long as these potentially benefit their beloved leader. But wrong is wrong! Is it not? It was, in the distant past! But, this is 2018, and now all is fair in love and war! God save India’ … Bill K Koul