An Actor Above All ?

The manner in which actor Shahrukh Khan reacted with to his warm reception in the USA is enough to make us all cringe, but even worse has been the Indian government’s unreasonable support for such celebrity tantrums. That the state should go all out and back a non-incident, where an individual was simply subject to normal and regular procedures in keeping with a foreign land’s rules, is an embarrassment to the country.

Shahrukh a.k.a ‘King’ Khan may be an icon, he may be the ‘Badshah’ of Indian Cinema, he may well have hysterical fans across the globe, and more importantly perhaps, he may be a friend of the Gandhi family, but does that give him immunity from procedures that several thousands wishing to enter the USA, or for that matter any other country, have to abide by.

For an immigration official sitting behind a desk and doing his/her job, it doesn’t matter that Khan happened to be on a plane, just like several other passengers. That Khan should even expect recognition, never mind special treatment is perhaps his naivety, if not ignorant arrogance. Haven’t we all gone through similar situations in some airport or the other be it USA, London, Seirra Leone or Macedonia? The questions are not always pleasant, often they don’t even seem reasonable (to us). Some of the questions Khan complained seemed ‘strange’ to him and that he was not asked these before. Well, that is how it is, and a well travelled Khan should know better, unless he expects authorities to perhaps check with him as to what questions he’d rather be asked!

The problem in India is that even after 62 years of independence, we haven’t shed our feudal mindsets that expect privilege for some; we create modern day Maharajas, be it politicians and their families or celebrities like Khan, who believe they are above regulations, security checks, and are in the habit of walking hallowed ground.

Change - a word bereft of meaning

Obama, during the USA presidential election campaign, introduced a much-hyper and painfully overused word -- 'CHANGE'. Soon after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai the urban affluent society and celebrities went berserk shrieking ‘enough is enough’. Candle selling business picked up. The media started ‘Lead India’ contests. Many activists and NGOs, after seasonal hibernation, urged young voters to register and vote. And several leaders, known manufacturers of the stinking political products, joined the popular chorus. And during the election season we also the media talk of ‘Indian Obama’ even if the idea is completely extraneous and absurd. The reality is that the unchecked political pornography, for several decades, has infected the sensibilities of an ordinary Indian citizen to such an extent that the country needs a purge to restore the decaying pillars of democracy. Obama type argot, notwithstanding media fascination, will not help. Why?

The reality is that protagonists of ‘shining India’, ‘democratic India’, ‘incredible India’, ‘rising India’, have created a deep divide between the state and its subjects. The integrity and moral fibre of democratic institutions have been damaged. The aam aadmi (not the celebrity or the politician, bureaucrat, a servile media or the rich corporate) has been the principal victim of a repetitive state torpor.

Haven’t we mentioned change enough times -- for the past 60 years? What’s new now? Does it matter if a politician A is replaced by B in this stinking political jamboree? The change is not about younger, heir apparent, taking over the profitable political business. The change is about consolidating the perception of people about the efficacy of a system.

Change is not about announcing grand schemes providing roti, kapda, sadak, makaan and ‘garibi hatao’. In fact, these slogans reflect the bankruptcy and inadequacy of a welfare state that failed to deliver even the basic needs. The Government spends huge amounts of taxpayer’s money on advertising and glorifying its perceived achievements. The Government’s story of national resurgence has always been part fiction. The pictures of beaming politicians reeling out impressive growth figures cannot camouflage a plummeting India, with a flawed democracy, that deprives an honest citizen to live with dignity. What use are grandiose social welfare schemes, Yojnas and rural programmes (mostly with Gandhi-Nehru prefix) when the biggest beneficiaries are the benefactors? India continues to plummet in International rankings be it Governance, be it health, security, or child welfare.

The change is not about reducing every National Issue to a farcical debate between ‘Secularism vs. Communalism’.

Is there a single political party that does not practice communalism overtly or covertly? The BJP, allegedly a communal party, overtly presents the face of Hindu agenda. More dangerously, the so called inclusive secular parties, like Congress, sneakily practice communal agendas through legislations, reservations, selective dysfunctional schemes, appointments to high offices or merely ‘crying wolf’ to target a religious group. The change is about political parties reviewing the constitutional parameters that promote ‘labels’ based on caste, religion and regions. The change is about removing all derogatory ‘labels’ that defines its citizens.

The media have been discussing India’s ‘future PM’. The change is not about the colour of skin, caste, and family rights. It is not about the potential PM being handsome or ugly, having ‘dimpled cheeks’ or polished public speaking skills. It is not about having a Dalit PM or Brahmin PM. It is about National resurgence. It is about the courage to ‘change’ unethical political practices, irrespective of ‘coalition’ compulsions. Decay starts at the top. In this context, an example of Mr Manmohan Singh, presumably a man of integrity, may be relevant. He had the opportunity to ‘change’ be it the vote of confidence, be it Bofors scam, be it inducting/taking support of shady politicians, be it respecting the integrity of institutions like CBI, EC or be it playing votebank politics. He chose to remain a servile party worker and Sonia loyalist rather than a leader of one billion strong country. Had he taken one independent moral decision, irrespective of the consequences, he could have set the process of ‘change’.

The nation is still struggling to create social, political, judicial, executive, security and economic institutions that ensure justice and fullness of life to every individual. The very legitimacy of the state is being seriously undermined. Political parties, even with less than 15% mandate of the people, can earn the right to govern one billion people. Coalition partners change on an hourly basis - all under the pretext of ‘national interest’, ’secularism’ or ‘like-minded parties’. Change is not about making our institutions servile to the establishment, to a party or to a family. The change is not about rewarding individuals with high posts and awards for their loyalty rather than competence. It is about restoring the independence and integrity of institutions.

Jai Ho

Lt Col (retd) VK Sharma

Beyond placards and protests

After several years of terror battering almost all parts of the country, people are asking questions of politicians. However, the people have to be cautious of generating another singsong situation that paradoxically suits both terror masterminds and the erring politicians.

Post 26/11, the media has suddenly started talking of angry Indians, battered Indians and humiliated Indians. Newspapers use words like ‘India rising’ ‘roar of change’ ‘revolution’, ‘enough is enough’ ‘restoring our freedom’ and much more. Hundreds of blogs have come up and some TV panellists/viewers are using rhetoric like ‘teaching Pakistan a lesson’, ‘carpet bombing’ and ‘war till end’. A society, not withstanding the anger and indignation suffered, will soon have to accept the realm of politics; Indian leaders, known for whipping up patriotic fervour, nationalistic euphoria and quibbling debates, will get back to governance. Our social activists will respond by initiating sweeping discussions on structural, social and cultural causes in the making of a terrorist. Security agencies have upgraded the level of alertness. Politicians too have joined the ‘war on terror’. Now erstwhile Chief Minister Valero Deshmukh, in a quick-fix mode, has already announced reforms. Mayawati has announced manifold increase in the strength of police units. The government in power has, in a token gesture, reshuffled a few ministers. The reaction is complete but disjointed. And there lies the catch; to the terrorist, it is the reaction from the victims, the media, and the government that is in fact the intended outcome. It is not a coherent ideology or a cause that the contemporary terrorist is seeking to achieve, but rather the damage is measured in terms of the international attention and reaction evoked.

The growth of a terrorist network in any country is not an overnight development. The reality is that the threat of mega-terrorism has seemingly been entrenched in the country over several years. And our policy makers, by design or political compulsions, choose to ignore the indicators, the new dimensions and vulnerabilities.
The network of cells, domestic and cross borders cannot be contained militarily, by arousing patriotic fervour or by political ploys nor can it be done by converting the country into a police state. The terror network is best nurtured by a divided society ruled by politicians who lack credibility, probity, political judgement, accountability, commitment and the will to deliver. We need to seek structures through which we the people need to make the government accountable for its inactions. And in this context the war on terror has to begin with the basics.

Politicians treat the police, security and intelligence agencies as their jagirs. The specialised agencies are tasked for individual political agendas. At present 60% highly trained force are protecting politicians and their kins (This may increase to 80% due to terror threat). The TOI has reported that ‘the budget for the SPG meant for Gandhi family is Rs 180 crore and that of the NSG, tasked to protect a billion Indians from terror has been pruned to Rs 158 crore.’ Will our protests change this trend?

The government does not hesitate to waste tax money on non-development expenses, foreign jaunts, birthday celebrations, ugly hoardings, unworkable schemes, and building personal empires. But when it comes to providing funds to the armed forces, police and security agencies to sustain minimum operational preparedness they haggle, prune and dither. Are our leaders, their henchmen and their kin ready to forgo their unwritten perks?

With a colonial mindset, the government rewards leaders, bureaucrats and the police for their ‘loyalty’ and ‘sycophancy’ rather than competence and professionalism. Does it matter who the home minister is or what he does as long as he remains devoted to one family? Does it matter if a police officer is honest or corrupt as long as they can stoop to the politician’s diktats?

Governments have wavered for too long and are cautious against action against cross border infiltration and illegal immigrants. News report suggest that the demographic balance in Assam has already changed. TOI also reported, in August 08, that 12 lakh Bangladeshis, with valid travel documents, were missing. Isn’t this of any concern to the government in view of the fact that so many known terrorist groups are operating from that country? And how many of these have secured their names on the voter’s list?

The government has no business to tamper with the integrity of apolitical institutions. The armed forces, like the police, have been subject to bureaucratic whims. Let the chiefs have a say in decisions affecting the welfare of military personnel and military preparedness. Where do defence force commanders stand in official protocol and status?

The most disturbing phenomenon is that there are no leaders left in India. Those in politics are brokers of power or leaders by default or by rule of succession. Leadership based on core values and a coherent vision or ideology is long dead. What can bring about true political leadership?

While parties like the MNS instigate youth to beat up fellow Indians, destroy state property, subvert the rule of law and the goons keep the police busy on non-essential duties, the state’s response is ‘The law will take its own course’. With such a lackadaisical attitude towards the rights of ordinary citizens, how do we expect them to fight well-motivated terrorists?

While we repeatedly decree Pakistan’s involvement in abetting terror camps, the problem is far more serious. The developments in Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, Myanmar and Chinese involvement in promoting certain insurgent groups cannot be ignored. Can the government look afresh at its foreign policy and anti-terror options without pandering to vote bank politics?

The most pertinent question is this: while we zealously create wish lists and media backed citizen charters, how do we realise these? And how do our demands transcend mere outbursts of anger and emotion and achieve political coherence? Can we bring reforms through the existing electoral system? Or the much hyped Gandhigiri? Or through candle light vigils and dharnas? Or by filing PILs in courts that have no control over the executive and legislature? Haven’t our politicians developed immunity to all these remedies? We have to seek other solutions.