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| Panel discussion in Georgetown Literary Festival 2018 on Indian Democracy. |
If you were to follow Twitter feeds, the dedicated and erudite 'spin doctors' will make you believe that India is indeed in the midst of a sort of 'Renaissance' that Europe went through in the 15th century. Reels of her successes are flashed upon your very eyes. Discoveries are made on a daily basis of newfound explanations on old Indian (Hindu) wisdom. It is as though they are not only catching the bus of the Industrial Revolution but indeed overtaking it. They would like us to believe that they are just re-claiming their standings in the old world as it was four centuries ago when a quarter of the world's wealth was under their thumbs. They are in a quest to re-dust of their old scriptures which they claim held all the known and unknown secrets of the universe. Our forefathers knew it all, but over the ages, we have blinded ourselves with the wisdom of the fools. They justify the old archaic rituals with what the detractors refer to pseudosciences, but for believers, it is cosmic science.
They have us convinced that their economy is flying high with counterfeit money off the market and terrorism under check because of their demonetisation policies. The opposing camp, however, dismisses it as mumbo-jumbo, pointing towards weak rupee as the indisputable proof.
There are murmurs under the surface that emphatically attest that there is a concerted effort by interest groups outside the country who are in control of media, print and broadcast, and hellbent in creating anarchy in a nation that is known for its tolerance of pluralism. They, who happen to be ruling currently, accuse journalists and intellectual as tools of the enemy of the state for undermining the prosperity of the nation.
In spite of what the ruling party says about class unity and religious tolerance in India, the media paints a very bleak picture of brotherhood amongst its people. Some quarters insists volatility is at an all-time high, last seen in 1947 during Partition. For the first time, Hindus have been issued certificates confirming their belief to the Hindu 'religion'! This must be another form of 'rebranding' as it had been doing to stay afloat. Hinduism, the way of life has evolved many times to counter the popularity of other emerging teachings many times before.
We live in an age of propaganda. What we hear is not what is real and is happening at the ground level. Our system is such that everyone is kept contended in their cocoons hearing their own self-satisfying rhetoric that resonates in their own echo chamber. Vigilance is of paramount importance. We need discourses and people who continuously challenge our convictions. Is there a need to filter information when freedom of information has become a right? We must know to separate the wheat from the chaff, rice from the husk.
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| Panel discussion in Georgetown Literary Festival 2018 on the Partition of India. |
In spite of what the ruling party says about class unity and religious tolerance in India, the media paints a very bleak picture of brotherhood amongst its people. Some quarters insists volatility is at an all-time high, last seen in 1947 during Partition. For the first time, Hindus have been issued certificates confirming their belief to the Hindu 'religion'! This must be another form of 'rebranding' as it had been doing to stay afloat. Hinduism, the way of life has evolved many times to counter the popularity of other emerging teachings many times before.
We live in an age of propaganda. What we hear is not what is real and is happening at the ground level. Our system is such that everyone is kept contended in their cocoons hearing their own self-satisfying rhetoric that resonates in their own echo chamber. Vigilance is of paramount importance. We need discourses and people who continuously challenge our convictions. Is there a need to filter information when freedom of information has become a right? We must know to separate the wheat from the chaff, rice from the husk.
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