Dr. John Mohan Razu
The virtual has become real as the patterns, shades and features that describe totalitarian, dictatorial and authoritarian regimes have come right here and now. We keep saying that shadows of totalitarian rule are looming so on and so forth, but now, it has become real and clear, that we are right in the midst of those shades. Nonetheless, we should recognize the fact that democracy if not moderated could lead to authoritarian rule and so ‘beware of democracy’, and it is not that smooth and automatic as we think. For instance, some of the leaders that we read in history called as dictators, totalitarians and authoritarian used democracy to start with.
First and the foremost, we should recognize the fact that those who have taken routes in the past and the present to control power in absolute terms instilled ‘fear’ in the minds of people by adopting or employing a number of modes. Hence, fear is to be sown in the minds of the people, and for that numerous approaches are worked out. For them, power is to be enjoyed in absolute terms and for that they expect none to oppose or counter. We have been experiencing some of the trends in recent times. To start with, those who tend to be moving towards authoritarian rule would make all attempts to silence intellectuals, academics, writers, journalists and the media.
Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution. In democracy right to expression (speak and write) play the most important segment which is far greater than other essential needs such as food, shelter, clothing. One may have everything, but imagine without freedom; how can we live and how our life will be? Further, what do we do with all these without freedom—to speak and write? Let us examine and analyze some of these to our present context. For instance, an advocate from Bihar filed sedition case against the 49 personalities by writing a letter to the Prime Minister Modi highlighting lynching and some of the horrifying incidences happening against the minorities and so on.
The court admitted the case and the entire country was eagerly waiting to see the outcome of it. However, the Muzaffarpur police decision to recommend closure of the sedition case it lodged against 49 eminent citizens though wrong in the beginning, but was set right. Criticism of the government and writing a letter to the Prime Minister is not sedition and the police appeared to have belatedly recognized this as the fundamental pillar on which democracy stands. One needs to view the action of the police and the court beyond the narrow prism or in the light of whatever happened. Continuance of a law that the British wielded to jail freedom fighters who questioned their misrule, now after 72-years of India’s Independence has been invoked. And for this, the police and court should be made accountable for having admitted a case of frivolous nature.
This is how things are going to be in the coming days, weeks, months and years as there are overzealous individuals like the serial litigants Sudhir Ojha, who dragged the eminent citizens and persons of conscience to police and court accusing them of sedition. Police and judiciary may come out with all sorts of this that Ojha would face the serious consequences for filing the frivolous case along with the magistrate, Suryakant Tiwari who failed in his duty to separate facts from fiction. The letter written by the 49-eminent citizens condemning lynching and hate crimes had nothing to do with sedition. Yet, an FIR was filed and the Patna high court admitted it. If this happens to the country’s 49-eminent personalities, one can imagine about the ordinary and hapless citizens. This case has by and large created unease in the minds of many and thus inflicted ‘fear psychoses. This is what Sudhir Ojha and those who want the country to move towards authoritarian and one-party rule believe. For Ojha and other functionaries their purpose has been served. And many such things would follow.
In another incident that happened recently wherein six research scholars belonging to the Backward Classes of the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV) in Wardha were expelled on the alleged grounds of “Violation of Model Code of Conduct and Interference in the Judicial Process” for penning postcards to the PM Modi expressing concern over recent communal incidents in the country. Expulsion of these scholars for an indefinite period has taken place in the Central University named after the Father of the Nation in Wardha. The scholars wrote letters to their Prime Minister emphasizing the social problems that some communities confront currently in the society. Belonging to oppressed castes they did highlight some of the problems that the people face particularly those who have been ostracized and live on the peripheries of the Indian society.
We should not get confused with questions such which political party or ideological persuasion they belonged and so on. They have the right to write letters that concerns the problems that masses to their Prime Minister. Nowadays those institutions run by the Central Government wherein those belonging to the vulnerable communities are particularly targeted. This case is yet another one that candidly exposes the mind-set of those in governance, power and authority. Writing letters to the Prime Minister on the current and existential problems so that the country’s top political executive would act on them or take into consideration. Instead of appreciating those research scholars who brought to the fore the impending problems are being dubbed as someone who seemed to have booked under sedition.
When the University asked for reasons for expulsion it offered such flimsy responses that those letters were “objectionable” and written “without permission”. We are passing through similar path wherein those who critically think and write should be brought to tow the line of the Government and the ideology it prescribes. Criticizing the Government, presenting the problems and highlighting the non-performance of the Government shall never be tolerated. The Government at the Centre is bent on curbing the critical voices and creative thinking of the young minds. If we take stock of those young minds who have been subjected to all sorts of difficulties such as termination, suspension, sedition-charges and host of others belong to the poor and the vulnerable communities. The message of the ruling dispensation is clear: “Fall in Line, If You Dare, Face the Tune--sedition”.
It is in this context, I am reminded of those dictators who first came after the thinkers, writers, speakers and democrats—Mussolini, Hitler, Marcos, Allende and others. Those in power particularly want to exercise absolute power; it is natural and obvious that they would go all out in creating fear in the minds of people with harsh rules and punishments, especially amongst the intelligentsia and those in the media. The moment these categories are controlled and silenced, then others automatically would fall in line. Power is ruthless and absolute power is brute and thus leads to all sorts of aberrations that we have been experiencing.
More such things are expected or bound to happen as the present dispensation is determined to mute the freedom of expression and stunt the democratic ethos enshrined in the Constitution. Even the institutions of governance by and large seem to be towing the policies and dictates of the government. In such a worrisome scenario, I am reminded of Robindranath Tagore daring dictum: “I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door – or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.”
