By Ananya S Guha
It is interesting how we play cleverly with paradoxes. We make the ploy of having the National Anthem in every event, although we know that this is not a new thing. We had it being played in cinema halls in the past. But the insouciance of the public amounted to disrespect and the venture was called off. We are reinventing the past now and inviting needless controversy, a diet on which the media thrives and, survives. There is nothing wrong in playing the National Anthem in public places; in fact it is a sign of respect but we love to spawn debates, degenerating into anger and vilification. We could have had this done silently without much overt publicity. People who are arguing for and against both sides forget that in the past many people objected to the National Anthem, yes objected to it for not mentioning some parts of the country. Isn’t that too objectionable? Must the National Anthem be sung or written to assuage the sentiments of each and every member of all the communities of the country? And now some of us insist that it must be sung anytime, anywhere. Of course we must respect it as we must the Indian flag. Let us also not forget its author. Very recently he did not seem to go down well with some of the right wing types who insisted that he and his supposed world views were and are being overplayed.
Secondly, the myth and falsification surrounding Gandhi. While we mouth reverence towards him, we do not celebrate his birthday with much ado, keep largely silent, yet invoke his name at the slightest opportunity. Don’t forget the Nehru connection.
Thirdly, Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Suddenly realization about his historical significance in nationalist struggles has suddenly dawned on us although he was not very enamoured of the right wing. There is nothing wrong in showing respect for Patel, but the sudden aspect of it is overwhelming if not flabbergasting. Remembrances are long, memories are short. Why do we forget Lal Bahadur Shastri?
It is in these clever paradoxes and muddles that we celebrate nationalism and history these days. A dig at the Mughals, ambivalence on Gandhi, silence on some leaders, celebrating 25th December as also the birthday of a former Prime Minister, suddenly having a National Education day, or a National Youth day in one year, and then being circumspect of them in the remaining years. Of course Teachers Day and Children’s Day are extant. These intriguing references to past personalities show sometimes a warped way of looking at national events. The blow hot, blow cold display rather obfuscates thinking conjoined to short term political strategies. The sudden glorification of Swami Vivekananda, quoted out of context seems to be nothing short of religious fanning.
The next question is: what does all this serve? A historical and of course, a political bias? Understood. But Patel’s legacy is suddenly being showered with praise as never before. Is it regionalism, or is it because he was a votary of the two nation theory, giving it sustenance and credibility? But so did Nehru. Gandhi was the only one who saw in this a dismemberment of the country.
The fact is that history has become apocryphal. As Ramchandra Guha recently remarked in a television show, the silence on Indira Gandhi is also bemusing. The other Gandhis are pilloried, but Indira Gandhi known for her authoritarianism is spared the rod. Why? This is not to suggest that the players in this drama are innocuous players of roles. No, they know the facts very well, but facts have to be given out according to sentiments. So at this point a dismantling of Muslim history is required. There must be an assortment of myth, history and religion. We must be wakeful towards Gandhi, but don’t forget the Godse part and Sardar Patel must be rejuvenated etc.
So what is happening in the process is that we are treading murky waters while our children are getting confused view points; our academia is crying hoarse and our media is having a whale of a time.
Such deft mingling of fact with fiction and paradoxes is an inexorable quizzing. Think what they think. Keep them guessing, keep the element of surprise always. And then slam the National Anthem part. Old wine in new bottle.
Then of course came the Taj Mahal game, a cat and mouse interplay, a hide and seek of immaculate precision and timing. The UP Chief Minister and his entourage paying a visit there is now history. All’s well that ends well. But all is not well if you look at some crass remarks made by elected representatives, verbal bashing culminating in physical bashing of tourists.
Paradoxes in verbiage, adulation, diatribe seems the order of the day in putting small people in their place. All, however are not fools, despite the tomfoolery taking place. The Idiot Box is at its wits’ end and of course that is one shining example that we are at the crossroads of democracy. .