Fear That Ignites A Furnace

 

Fear That Ignites A Furnace

In some quarters there is a visceral hatred that can be cut with a knife. 

Since May 2014, family, friendships, WhatsApp groups, television debates are divided into a warring, cantankerous two. 

People who had never been heard discussing politics except mildly tch tch-ing over zeros in UPA scams, Sonia Gandhi’s delectable table or her envied collection of sarees, were suddenly experts on everything. 

It seemed India, the land of milk and honey till yesterday, was now suddenly besieged with intolerance, communalism, regressiveness and fascism by the ‘Hindutva types’.

Along with Narendra Modi who won an impressive mandate, a large section of this country was also tarred by the same brush of hate. 

The derisive Bhakt spat on faces. 

According to them, 2014 exposed monstrous traits that till recently we did not possess or at least, that had been controlled and suppressed by our so called superior intellectual elite. 

As it became more evident that the hem-kissers of the Ancien Regime were no longer required to impart their valuable experience and advice, the reality of the new dispensation struck home. 

A certain hysterical anger since, has engulfed well-appointed drawing rooms, golf courses, discreet corners of much sought after old club bars and of course, soundproof television studios.

In any half decent democracy, it is understood that the new administration brings in its own people and old ones resign or are eased out. 

But here perhaps from the time of the Moguls or at least from the days of the Raj, a segment of people has believed themselves to be the repository of all wisdom, hence influence, and they have remained entrenched no matter who was in office. 

Deeply established in the corridors of power and social registry from sons to grandsons, from daughters to granddaughters married into one large incestuous cesspool of same schools, colleges, private clubs and even hill station homes, till a toe hold in Goa became au courant.  

For them, every success of Narendra Modi’s government is a dagger that personally twists their innards and that further renders them inconsequential. 

Needless to say, every misstep is met with a howl of glee. 

But besides their irrelevance with which they have to deal with every day, if they possessed some character, some integrity perhaps, the dilemma of who they actually are, would confront them every night. 

Having spent a large part of the last two centuries, working hard to please new Masters by distancing themselves from this vast land and its unwashed masses, they stood apart in identity, culture and language.

However, in the steadfast belief that once the invaders and colonisers departed it was their birth right alone, to rule or at least have the ear of the ruler.

Imagine that moment when you are more Sahib, than the Gora Sahib with generations having greased that path and a man with none of the markers that you seek, but with an astounding endorsement takes over to lead the world’s largest democracy.

Definitely not to the manor born but comfortable in his own skin -

never having been apologetic for who he was or is. 

Pure incendiary!

With three simple gestures related to an organic root he touched the core of this Nation and brought to naught what these people had proclaimed for years was taboo...

And the awestruck effect was right there for us to see.

Before entering Parliament, in deep respect, touching his forehead to its steps,

during the course of the day a dip in Holy Ganga and the Maha Aarti in the evening, commemorating electoral victory.

In those few emblazoned moments, the mirror in which they saw themselves shattered and the angry splinters pierce every discourse since then.

The fact that stand-up comics, tuppence worth film stars and the urban educated believe it necessary to use this lexicon- intolerance, communalism, regressiveness and fascism by the ‘Hindutva types’.-

 to gain entrance at the gate of the hallowed set, is only indicative of depth of their argument and the corrosiveness they take pride in.

Below the many acquired layers, perhaps a few do fear they are not very different from the ones they disdain - The Vernacular, the Provincial and the Pagan!

The deep ingraining versus a concealed reality.

For all their affectations and accents from by-gone eras they expose sometimes a parochial pride in caste, regionalism, faith (yes that’s the tough one) camouflaged with nomenclatures of Martial Race and whatnot. 

The rage and ugly snobbery over accent, clothes, even the country’s numerous successes of the past seven years cannot cover up the very ‘shunyata’ of their problem. 

Who are they after all? 

When not in power, are they of this country?

Or simply passing merchants with no connection or even affection for the people and the well-being of this land?

Moreover, is this unique only to India?  

In other countries, albeit erstwhile colonies do public intellectuals, historians, authors, judges, bureaucrats with loyalty to previous administrations, leaders of a different ideology, work against national interest?

Speak on behalf of a country the nation is in dispute with?

Invite a foreign head of state to intervene in our internal matters?

Cast doubts, fake news, push unsubstantiated reports during the CAA Protests, Delhi Riots, Farmers’ Protest, our vaccine initiative, in the midst of a raging pandemic and now, unforgivably on suffering and death?

It is this fight within them, a nowhere-ness behind the mask, that makes them very dangerous. 

~Integrity without knowledge is weak

And useless,

And knowledge without integrity 

Is dangerous 

And dreadful~

Samuel Johnson

Fear That Ignites A Furnace