The kind of measures adopted by the Narendra Modi Government to deal with social issues are important reminders of that period of 1975 when intellectuals were compelled to retrospect ‘what exactly is democracy’?
Today, the unfortunate truth is that, some commentators have even gone to the extent of suggesting anarchism as the nearest alternative. We cannot just dismiss this thought given the prevailing situation in the country where the democratic frame has been tremendously affected. India, the country that has been ingenuously making claim as the world’s largest democracy, is never solicitous about human rights and free media-working, a great departure from the going of ideological concord. That irony where you have the freedom of speech but you have no freedom after the speech, the kind of that mind of yours habouring the idea of anarchism is absolutely ‘no nonsense’.
Anarchism is the political philosophy that “holds that all state authority or power is oppressive and unjust, that abolishing of government will produce the greatest individual and collective freedom and prosperity and that it is that governmental authority that imposes unfair rules on people”. According to Daniel Guerin, anarchism has a “broad back” which is not “a fixed, self enclosed social system…that strives for the free unhindered unfolding of all the individual and social forces in life”.
On the freedom of the press, things are getting tougher by the day for the journalists in the country.
The words of Alan Rusbridger, the former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian give fine insight into such atmosphere.
He shared his experience with the political class’ reaction to his newspaper’s reports on intelligence leaks provided by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. According to the veteran journalist, showing an array of issues that the Snowden leaks brought to the fore — from freedom of the press to the privacy of individuals.
“But, instead of a serious discussion on the issues raised by the leaks, it was The Guardian that became a target. The reactions focussed on our role in publishing them,” he said. “The newspaper’s decision was guided by the principle of public interest, a basis of decision-making to be held above everything else,” Mr. Rusbridger added. He got frustrated but that frustration fueled his campaign against irrationality to reach new heights. History tells us that change of any social system begins with the provoked minds. Indeed, today’s India under Narendra Modi constantly attempting to defeat the liberals can be a big blessing in disguise.
