Page 82 - Education World November 2022

ANNIVERSARY ESSAY

BJP leadership's anti-

cosmopolitanism

RAJIV DESAI

ERE’S A TRUE STORY: A DELEGATION OF –ere's paranoia driving the mindset of
Christians called on Narendra Modi soon after BJP leaders. Overtly directed at religious
he assumed the office of prime minister in 2014,
Hto seek reassurance that the new government minorities, its animosity is equally if not
would respect minority communities. A member of the more, focused on westernised, English-
delegation recalls encountering unwarranted hostility.
Modi told him that Christians speak, read, and write in speaking segments of Indian society
English which would enable them to plant stories vilifying
the new government in international media.
The comment reveals the paranoia driving the mindset
of BJP leaders. Overtly directed at religious minorities, its that imbibes privately. But whether liquor is offered to
animosity is equally, if not more, focussed on westernised, guests or poured for one’s own enjoyment, this is a furtive
English-speaking segments of Indian society. There’s process. Hypocrisy seems to be the lifeblood of the middle
a pervasive sense of inadequacy that stems from the class Gujarati.
BJP leadership’s difficulty with the language and the The rise of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to
cosmopolitan culture it has engendered. the pinnacle of power has to be viewed against this
Unfamiliar with English and cosmopolitanism backdrop. As the country’s two most powerful politicians,
but aspiring to both, the mofussil Gujarati burns they dictate the national agenda in mofussil style. In
with resentment. Envious of their lifestyle and social international conclaves prime minister Modi has fallen
confidence, they resort to ‘othering’ the English-speaking back on Hindi after a couple of disastrous experiments
educated middle class. If an individual speaking English with English, while Shah doesn’t even attempt it. But his
is Gujarati, they will likely to respond to him in broken Hindi speeches are laced with menace. Often hectoring
pidgin, a sarcastic mix of Gujarati and English. A variant or threatening, he must get the tone right godfather style,
of this perversion is evident, especially among Gujaratis best in a familiar language.
who emigrate to the United States: they speak American n too many ways, the current ruling dispensation is
accented English and mix up phrases. For example, “right Ithe polar opposite of Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian
away” becomes “right the way.” National Congress. The aspirational values of democracy
Modi and his favourite lieutenant speak fluent and national harmony have been swept aside; instead,
Hindi with flawless diction. This is probably because a brash culture of shoot first, ask questions later has
of RSS influence. Like most members of this secretive become normative. Consequently, riots, arson, violence
organisation, they have a problem with cosmopolitanism. have become idioms of the new politics. Inside the law,
Moreover, people from Gujarat are hemmed in by it is remarkable how bulwark institutions including the
insularity in terms of language and diet, isolated not just judiciary, the police, bureaucracy and media have been
from the world, but mainstream India as well. That’s why taken captive by this cowboy regime.
there aren’t many Gujaratis in the armed forces, civil Those who bear the brunt of their boorishness are
service, and corporate world. As such, they are alienated minorities, women, students, universities — anyone who
from the rest of India and the world. crosses the Saraswati, an imposed line defined by its
As demonstrated by Modi’s comment to Christian absence. This leaves the regime free to do as it pleases
leaders, many Gujaratis have a chip on the shoulder. They with dissenters and opponents. As evidence, consider
experience an acute sense of inadequacy in engaging the jail terms and harsh punishment meted out — as
with the world. Especially when it comes to the English captured on a recently circulated video — in which
language. They also have a problem with cuisine. Not policemen in plain clothes have been filmed whipping
only are they mostly vegetarians, they have a problem young men tied to poles.
with liquor. Prohibition has banished the concept of Unmindful of public outcry, the regime has
the cocktail hour and customary pairing of wine with resorted to medieval governance. Acts of omission and
meals. It’s not that they don’t drink socially, but believe misgovernance are seldom reported by an increasingly
drunkenness is an inevitable and desirable outcome. lapdog media including newspapers and television
On the subject of liquor prohibition, Gujarat’s channels that seem overly anxious to kowtow. Between
prolonged liquor ban stems from the temperance the regime and the bought or cowed media, there are few
movement of the early 20th century. Consumption of options for dissenters.
alcohol is viewed as moral perversion. In Gujarat, bars,
cafes, and restaurants that serve spirits are absent. This (Rajiv Desai is president of Comma Consulting and a well-known Delhi-
is an hypocrisy because there’s a vast multitude statewide based columnist)

82 EDUCATIONWORLD NOVEMBER 2022