Politics of Hate

THE IRONY OF an Indian election is that when the model code of conduct kicks in, all civil conduct is thrown to the wind. Hence it was no surprise that we saw a reasonably respectable party spokesperson launch a diatribe against another lady who has entered the poll fray. We later learnt that the account was hacked. It is nothing but an incredulous excuse. The fact that this lady denigrated another lady to the extent she did is not the only issue. What followed was the whataboutery. And to make matters worse, sponsored trolls then found their way into this unseemly mess. I have never understood why anyone even bothers with these trolls. They are unemployed, stupid mobs, and need to be ignored. They seek validation through a response and are at their wits’ end if ignored. So, all you need to do is ignore these louts.

We have seen India’s political discourse go from bad to worse. Gender abuse, casteist slurs, religious mockery, and professional abuse are now the new norm. What these people don’t realise is that many voters find all of this disgusting and while it may stoke the jollies for some, overarchingly, it is not just distasteful but the very antithesis of all this sanskari talk that we so often engage in. You cannot expect to inspire a nation, especially one that is demographically young, by indulging in what is clearly vile abuse. But this is what our politics has become. From maut ka sauadgar to goongi gudiya to all the other abuse, we are now at a stage where this form of hatred doesn’t even surprise us at all. This is by far the most worrying aspect of our polity. Where abuse has been normalised to the extent that it is now a part of the political fabric of this nation.

I have always maintained that the Election Commission of India is perhaps the worst institution that exists in our democracy. True, they have had stellar chief election commissioners but more often than not, this institution has been emasculated to such an extent that it is ready to crawl when asked to walk. To blame Narendra Modi for this would be totally unfair. The rot began with the Gandhis, as it did with them and most of our institutions. I have always wondered why this toothless organisation doesn’t occasionally show some spine when it comes to spreading hatred and using abuse during the elections. Are they meant to be only a scheduling organisation?

There is no reason as to why the Election Commission of India can’t take steps to extinguish these constant flames of hatred and abuse. Why must it be a silent spectator to this constant vitiation of the electoral environment, and that too so brazenly?

There is no reason as to why the Election Commission of India can’t take steps to extinguish these constant flames of hatred and abuse. Why must it be a silent spectator to this constant vitiation of the electoral environment, and that too so brazenly?

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In the India of today, apart from some gods, nothing is sacred anymore. Earlier, people were more guarded about attacking institutional offices such as those of the president or the prime minister, but that too has changed. There are no holy cows anymore and any office or any individual is fair game, which is why we have become the ‘Republic of Hate’. I see this ever so often on television debates as well. We have become an angry nation, and this anger is fuelled by constantly pitting one against the other, be it gender or caste or profession. This doesn’t augur well because this cauldron of hate will wipe out not just the good that exists but equally the potential of what we can become: both as a nation and as a people.

Is this where we really want to be? A nation that is happier (no pun intended) scowling than smiling? Where every election speech is laced with vitriol and soaked in abuse? Where we dismiss people based not on their ideology but on their gender or the work they do? Where we are willing to spawn hatred for a few measly votes? Where we mock the inherently good and share the spoils of evil minds? Where our WhatsApp forwards are inevitably about derision and not about development? Where we mock the achievers and praise the ill-gotten?

I still have a lot of hope for this nation and its people. And I still believe we will awaken into that heaven of freedom, rather than be captive to hatred and derision.

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Suhel Seth

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