Today’s column has to begin with a caveat, because I need to erect an effective defence before saying what I intend to.
What follows might appear blasphemous to many, but in my defence I have to state that I have had the issue vetted. As a university teacher I have the privilege of running controversial ideas through young, intelligent and questioning minds. The following ideas have been discussed with my young audience at the university, leading to serious discussion, even disagreement, but no outrage!
Behind the garb of its democratic traditions and liberal Constitution, do Indians secretly crave the iron hand of an autocratIJ Is the id of our national consciousness enamoured of fascism, while the superego forces out proclamations to the contrary in our public discourseIJ Most importantly, and this is the difficult question to ask, did two of modern India’s top public mobilisers (Mahatma Gandhi, and to a lesser extent, Indira Gandhi) have a fascist streak in themIJ And, is it this that made them such powerful entitiesIJ And finally, is the nation waiting with bated breath for Narendra Modi for just this reasonIJ
There is very little in our public discourse that remotely suggests we are democratic at heart. The basic criterion for success as a politician within the fold of a recognised national party is loyalty. Without the remotest trace of irony, we celebrate loyalty without either restraint or embarrassment. Articulate spokespersons routinely refer to the high command and insist without batting an eyelid about how it is the prerogative of the ‘high command’ to take momentous decisions that affect not just the party but at times the nation. The decision-making process is not attributed to ideology even for the sake of form. Being tough, and flaunting it, go with profile of the public figure (broader the chest, the better). Even minor politicians take pleasure in flaunting the trappings of power and pelf by flashing red lights atop their cars or by wearing patent white leather shiny shoes with their starchy semi-transparent khadi (while the last item might appear rather innocuous, it bespeaks true power on the streets). Imagine what life might feel like for those perched at the top of the heap.
There is a joke doing the rounds about our current Prime Minister: “They say Manmohan Singh hates visiting the dentist. WhyIJ Because he’d have to open his mouth there!” Singh is a reticent, self-effacing decent man. Which is exactly why India refuses to respect him. He lacks the pomp and bombast we have come to naturally expect from a big shot. In India, a big shot is expected to behave like a big shot. We like our powerful a little rough at the edges. We like them insistent and uncompromising. We demand in them what Nietzsche significantly referred to as “the will to power”. A dictatorial and authoritarian leader with a fascist mindset will necessary sweep dissent and contrarian views aside with one fell swoop of his or her overriding will. From the level of the district all the way up, we have leaders who practise these traits in some measure as they go about their political work.
This is not to say Sigh is a good Prime Minister because he is the decent sort or vice-versa. The attempt is not to offer political judgement, but instead to stress our proclivities. We are befuddled when given a choice, and instead are happier when someone big up there tells us what to do. Mahatma Gandhi understood this and used it to good effect, casting aside his NRI sensibilities (he had studied and worked overseas for decades before returning at age 46 to do politics here). He was uncompromising and domineering with both friend and foe. At the 1939 Tripura Congress presidential elections, Gandhi averred: “Pattabhi Sitaramayya’s defeat will be my defeat.” Sitaramayya was Gandhi’s candidate versus none other than Subhas Chandra Bose! Bose won, Gandhi created a huff (and also intrigued). Bose left the Congress.
Columnists have argued in recent articles that Modi threatens to break the New Delhi consensus. That may or may not be a good thing. Gandhi would have none of the self-aggrandising shenanigans of the fast-fattening Congressman post-Independence, which was good, but Indira Gandhi broke the consensus to place many political colleagues in jail, which was not so good. One way or the other we will soon be living through interesting times.