Delhi Diary

24x7 Self-Flagellation

Although no economic crisis, no political tsunami, no external threat, no natural calamity, no famine stalks the republic on its 64th Independence Day, an atmosphere of gloom and doom hangs over the nation. The source of despair is the urban middle-class angst on a single issue: corruption. In public, not private life. Given the almost daily spate of scams and more scams (most real, some manufactured), it is not surprising that the question uppermost in the minds of the concerned citizen is “what is happening to our country?” The end, many believe, is near. And yet the health of the republic is robust. The economy is growing at close to 8.5 per cent and this same enraged middle class is enjoying unprecedented prosperity. “You’ve never had it so good” would be an appropriate slogan.

I am the last person to spread false comfort. Between being complacent or alarmist, I side with the alarmists. It keeps us on our toes. Nevertheless, I feel the alarm is being overdone. The institutions which nourish our democracy have not entirely collapsed. The judiciary seems to be in reasonably good shape, the media for all its egregious excesses enjoys public confidence, constitutional bodies like the CAG and the EC function superbly, civil society is experiencing its finest hour. Yes, the legislature and the executive are wounded, but not fatally. In the last few weeks, I have met many politicians from across the spectrum who freely admit they are getting the treatment they deserve from the people who elected them.

Still, consider the world we inhabit. I am not comparing India with Pakistan or Somalia or Egypt. I am comparing India with the big boys in the first division. The sole global superpower is facing an economic meltdown and its politics is even more polarised than ours. Britain is convulsed in a mini civil war and is being described as a “broken society”. France, Portugal, Spain, Italy face a serious social and economic emergency. Are we so badly off? Do we need 24x7 self-flagellation as a country on the verge of disintegration?

Difficult Decisions

The preventive detention of Anna Hazare and members of his team—the drama is still on at Tihar Jail as I write—seems a desperate, hugely counter-productive act. Its legal merits may be valid but its tactical and ethical justifications are hard to comprehend. Between letting the protest play out and preventing it by force must have been a difficult choice for the government when considering its options on how to tackle the agitation. The option taken is palpably ill-judged, one guaranteed to give a boost to the movement and make a martyr out of a person who, though well-intentioned, is dangerous.

Happily, from the government’s perspective, days before the midnight hour, sensible and sane voices (which may have supported Mr Hazare in his earlier April avatar) expressing concern with his totalitarian approach were mounting. Anna was being cautioned by fellow travellers—those in fundamental agreement with his crusade—not to pitch his demands on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. There was scope for dialogue and discussion as the bill was before the standing committee of Parliament. It could still be strengthened but it had to be done in a non-confrontational spirit. The arrest has ensured those voices will now be silenced, because whatever differences they had with Hazare, his right to protest is non-negotiable.

The Cut And The Thrust

Among the many casualties currently visible is public discourse. Politics, of course, is not a tea party. Strong language, calling a spade a spade is part and parcel of political cut and thrust. Abuse is not. A minimum of decorum has to be maintained. As George Orwell reminded us, if the language of politics gets corrupted, politics too gets corrupted. One follows the other. During the debates on the Murdoch phone-hacking scandal, the mother of parliaments witnessed some searing exchanges, with Prime Minister David Cameron on the mat. Frequently in the House, the opposition demanded the resignation of Cameron. Voices were raised, speakers were heckled, members stood from their seats, the Chair had to plead for calm. Yet, no MP walked into the well of the House, no adjournments took place, there was no walkout.

Some of my best friends are in the Anna Hazare team. And I was and still remain a supporter of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Alas, the vocabulary of protest has degenerated perceptibly. I thought Anna Hazare’s taunting letter to the prime minister could have been less taunting and insulting. The government’s response, as expected, was even more despicable. Things, I fear, will get worse.

Self-Love Ain’t So Bad

A friend told me Outlook’s Independence Day ‘Good News’ number was brave but spectacularly mistimed. I disagree. It seems we as a nation have a special talent for seeing a glass half-full as being completely empty. Perhaps the bard’s words, “Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting”, should be kept in mind.