He was a man, with an exemplary lifestyle, visionary ideas and gigantic deeds, who believed that by being the change you want to see, you can shake the world in a gentle way. He also believed that to misuse power is criminal. He is the Mahatma- The Father of our Nation!
He may not have been the sole driver of change and yet, his name continues to loom large across most aspects of contemporary Indian discourse, whether it is politics, foreign policy, economic development, secularism, caste affairs, art or culture.
During his time India was deeply engaged in debates of world affairs, striving for peace and interacting with global leaders. He is Jawaharlal Nehru. The first Prime Minister and the architect of Independent India!
There are plenty more who played an important role in the freedom struggle, which we achieved in 1947, and not in 2014. And I’ll tell you why it’s important to remember the two stalwarts and the year of our Independence.
It’s because the two leaders are now being made objects of derision by people who find them personally culpable of all that is wrong. And also because events cannot be changed to suit one’s convenience.
However, let us forget history and talk about the present. Let us focus, not on the ridiculous values of eccentric leaders but on some of the stable, sound and sane voices of ordinary citizens like you and me.
Those who echo our thoughts and have the temerity to speak out without any qualms. Again there are quite a few who come with a spine.
But since I’m not writing a book here, let me mention three names. They are Parakala Prabhakar, Dhruv Rathee and Rahul Gandhi.
If I wore a hat, I’d doff it off to the pure reflection of honesty, empathy and enriching knowledge of all three. They have all managed to hit the nails on the heads!
I use the plural here because with their prophetic, calm and measured tones, they have addressed so many burning issues. By dissecting the Royal Mess that we are in right now, they continue to put across their points responsibly, with great clarity and finesse. Without any jingoism and rancour.
The statistics they quote have also revealed the ugly truth behind the magnificent façade. Thus making us admire their intellect and salute their temperament.
Seasoned economists usually talk of finances, welfare policies, and study international financial markets, exchange rates and various trade policies.
Young YouTubers usually concentrate on creating entertaining videos with informative content on various topics and tutorials, thus making their mark in the world.
Reluctant politicians, or social activists, are unaware of the cruel cut and thrust of governance and usually stay away from politics because it isn’t their cup of tea.
So when you hear all the three giving serious attention to the future of India, you know they mean well. When they speak of the digital divide, rural/urban divide, rich/poor divide; when you hear them talk of crony capitalism and scandalous corruption; when you see them warning us of the death of democracy and the signs of autocracy lurking ahead; and when you see a man embark on a journey of thousands of miles, braving the humid heat of the south, the bitter cold of the north, walking more and talking less, just so he can feel the pulse and connect with the heartbeat of the nation, it sends out good vibes.
Their brilliant no nonsense approach and their temerity to criticize the blunders of the ‘egocratic’ ones in power, is truly admirable and commendable. Even without wanting to, it rekindles the memories of tolerance and perseverance of an era that was, before we were granted our Independence, or even how it was while we were growing up.
Nobody is saying that everything was hunky dory a decade from now. There was so much wrong with every government. So what exactly is new now?
The most glaring ‘newness’ is the role of the institutions and the mainstream media, which instead of acting like guard dogs are behaving like lap dogs. Would Nirbhaya be given justice, would Anna Hazare be projected as the new ‘Gandhi’, would a government be toppled if the media wasn’t with us?
It is not only creativity, administration and politics that is beginning to infiltrate each other, the greatest infestation is ‘fear’.
What is new is that today we are a nation of terrified people, who have to think twice before what we say, what we eat, what we wear, who we love and who we hate.
What is new is the complete debasement of the common man; the extreme impunity of labelling each other with horrendous names; the extensive arrogance of the leaders and their lack of humility, humaneness and compassion.
What is new is the constant talk of becoming bigger, better, stronger and sturdier, when deep down ideas are being trampled upon and souls are being crushed.
What is new is the emergence of tool kits, the opaqueness of data and the shrouding of scams and corruption. What is new is the kind of vigilante justice that has suddenly surfaced, where villains are honoured and heroes are debased.
What is new is the blatant celebration of the opulence of wealth and the complete destruction of our diversity and uniqueness.
Someone once said that ‘India is not just a geography or history. It’s not just a nation, a country, a mere piece of land. It is a metaphor, poetry, something invisible but tangible.’ So if there is a sudden demand for a proof of your ‘Indianness’, how do you prove how ‘Indian’ you are?
We have enough wise people here who can lead us out of the mess we are in. But only if they are allowed to make decisions.
Only if everything is not centralised. Just by watching the entire electoral exercise being played on a jagged, bumpy and uneven field, anyone with even an iota of common sense will understand it does not augur well for the times ahead.
If we really care for the future of our kids, we have to remember that people like Prabhakar, Rathee, Gandhi, and everyone who dares to speak up against injustices, are not the anti-nationals here.
They are the echoes of hundreds of voices, drawing our attention to all that is wrong in a country that we no longer recognise. And what they are trying to tell in no uncertain terms is that ‘NOW’ is the time. Let us act before it is too late.
Therefore, instead of ridiculing the sane voices, we need to recognise the deep anguish in their tone. They are the echoes of sanity, the conscience of the nation.
What they have embarked upon are just baby steps. For the giant leap ahead, it is We the People who need to get involved. Tip toe if you must, but at least wake up and make the first move. Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.
Nargis Natarajan is a writer, author and novelist residing in Bhubaneswar. Views expressed are the writer’s own.