Page 80 - EW August 2023

Books

Emergency with INDIA'S UNDECLARED an Emergency has not
been declared but all
a difference EMERGENCY: institutions of the State
CONSTITUTIONALISM & THE
POLITICS OF RESISTANCE have been subjugated — an
“undeclared emergency.”
Arvind Narrain
HE MERRY Through six chapters
month of May WESTLAND PUBLICATIONS of powerful, clear and
Rs.699 Pages 235
Twas significant for descriptive narration,
coronations in Britain, our the author recounts how
erstwhile colonial master since 2014 the rule of
nation, and in its crown law has become selective
jewel, India. On May 6, Undeclared Emergency An account of how and is being diluted
King Charles III, a long- (2022). In this well the Constitution is by “a thousand cuts”,
time prince in waiting, researched volume with a being subverted and institutions that can hold
was crowned King of bibliography of 50 pages, fundamental rights the Executive accountable
England and Head of State the author chronologically are being diluted since are being infiltrated with
of Britain in Westminster and methodically traces the BJP/NDA came to RSS ideologues, and
Abbey, London, amid the arc of India’s fall power in 2014 the judicial system has
pageantry and splendour from the world’s most become compliant with
at a cost of 125 million admired democracy compromised practitioners
pound sterling. to an “authoritarian towards authoritarian rule, of the law.
On May 28, in democracy”, and Narrain draws a parallel In this new era, the
ceremonial splendour pessimistically predicts with the Emergency RSS is playing a quiet
of lesser scale, Prime that it will disintegrate (1975-77) declared by yet dominant role, says
Minister Narendra Modi into a totalitarian state then prime minister Narrain. Through its vast
bypassed the Head of State driven to attain the ruling Indira Gandhi. Stating network of loyalists and
to grasp an ancient sengol, dispensation’s objective that “seeing the present education institutions in
a symbol of power and of transforming it into a moment as part of longer every nook and corner of
sovereignty, from a retinue Hindu supremacist nation. history,” Narrain writes: the country, it has been
of chanting priests in the Narrain’s credentials “The closest parallel to able to infiltrate hindutva
new Parliament building in are impressive. He is a the situation in India ideology in all sections of
New Delhi. Bengaluru-based lawyer, today is the Emergency society. Through its arm-
The similarities of visiting faculty at the of 1975-77 when rights of length militant affiliates,
these ceremonial events School of Policy and expression and association the RSS has unleashed
must not be lost. In both Governance, Azim Premji were curtailed, dissenters the power of the mob on
instances, symbols of University and currently were arrested on a mass minorities demonised by
power and sovereignty pursuing a Ph D at the scale and a climate of RSS and BJP propaganda.
were sanctified by religious National Law School of fear pervaded all sections Through its
eminences, suggesting India University. He has of state and society. The overwhelming majority
that both coronations were co-edited and co-authored ubiquitous fear in turn led in Parliament, the
divinely blessed. The irony several books on legal and to the judiciary forgetting Modi government has
must not be lost either. A constitutional subjects. their (sic) responsibilities brazenly bypassed the
King, a monarch, albeit Using his legal training, and ceding full authority Constitution and enacted
with no power or authority Narrain provides a step- to the executive. The a series of amendments
in a functional democracy. by-step account of how media too surrendered in farm, labour and
And a prime minister, the Constitution is being its independence,” recalls environment laws to
servant of the people, subverted and citizens’ Narrain. enable corporations to take
signaling that he is the fundamental rights are However, the difference over the rural landscape
absolute head of state in a being diluted since the first between then and now is in a nakedly pro-corporate
failing democracy. BJP/NDA government that the Emergency was agenda.
This usurpation of led by prime minister declared and passed by Through a chilling
India’s democracy is Narendra Modi was sworn- Parliament. Evidently recitation of a parable
the subject of Arvind in at the Centre in 2014. the new dispensation has written by Martin
Narrain’s recently To make his case learnt a lesson from the Niemoller in 1939, Narrain
published book, India’s that India is descending past. This time round bares the strategy adopted

80 EDUCATIONWORLD AUGUST 2023