India is suffering miserably from Corona Crisis. It is well on course to top the charts of corona infected people. In fact if real numbers are investigated then it might have already breached the benchmarks set by the USA and other nations. However, in these trying times, Corona is not the only disease that has inflicted our people. There is much fatal and worse infection that has been lingering from the pre-COVID era i.e. Andh-Bhakti. The infection of andh-Bhakti is so deep that even when we are failing on every policy front, ranging from demonetization to foreign policy to CAA-NRC to China, andh-bhakts remain hallucinated with the vision of new India. By any guestimate, the Andh-bhakti infection will exceed the COVID infected people by a large margin. This left me wondering about "why and how of the situation". Why are so many people blinded with the vision of new India which hinges on the one-man vision over democracy and why in the process means have lost their importance and end has assumed significance. Here are my observations.
1. Bhakts loyalty and blind faith are driven by two factors. First is the fear of Muslim rule in India after 25 years due to exploding Muslim population. Second is their disenchantment with Democracy due to its slow pace, increased corruption, and inherent dichotomies.
2. In this light, Bhakts are firm believers that the Indian constitution needs to be changed. The change in the constitution requires a 2/3rd majority in both the houses. In Lok Sabha, Bhakts have got the majority by virtue of clean victory in parliamentary elections. In Rajya Sabha, Bhakts have taken a beating. They do not have a full majority. The fact that India is in continuous mode of election, makes it difficult for one party to call shot every time. Local regional issues are often at the counter with national issues. Moreover, anti-incumbency, vote bank politics, regional parties, and other factors operate. Hence, it is very difficult to emerge victorious in every election.
3. India's federal structure is such that most issues related to urban and day to day life are vested with states. But finances are majorly controlled by the center. Hence, it is not possible to work alone.
4. In this background, Bhakts believe that the first thing is to obtain the majority in Rajya Sabha and states. For this Bhakts ignore the corrupt means of horse-trading. The majority in both houses will make it easier for government to change the constitution.
5. As Indian system is filled with checks and balances, there are various institutions that can make government attempt futile. Four main such institutions are namely Media, Judiciary, Election Commission, and Tax bodies. The three other institutions namely Bureaucracy, Police, and Army are already polarised towards a strong man image because it allows them unfettered powers and freehand.
6. Therefore, Bhakts do not mind media being corporatized and hijacked, Judiciary being manipulated, Election commission making biased decisions, and Tax bodies showing favoritism.
7. The disappointment with democracy often helps in rationalizing these dastardly divisive acts like mob-lynching.
8. Once the same party or governing body achieves a majority in Lower house, Upper House, and States, the changes in the constitutions can happen seamlessly. Be it women reforms, population reforms or parliamentary reforms, or electoral reforms. And that would be the beginning of the Ram Rajya.
Basically, the key philosophy lies in achieving the Ram Rajya through the principles of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. The key question to ask is where is the flaw in this approach?
The answer is ethics. The answer is the institution. The answer is collateral damage. If one thinks that the use of the wrong means would end abruptly, then he is mistaken. It results in poor habits. It corrupts the soul of the institutions. It sets precedents that are used as a template in years to come. It results in long-lasting bitterness in the social fabric. It breeds prejudice and stereotypical thinking in the society which will harm the nation in years to come.
I won't comment on whether such means are justified or not but one thing for sure that there are alternatives. For example, Technology and emergence of organic leadership is one solution to this. Social capital and ethical actions by various agencies is another aspect of leadership. Rest Later.
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