The Speaking Mirror: Politics is not a game but an art

Jonas Yanthan [dropcap]P[/dropcap]olitics, in a bad sense, is taken as deceitful or dishonest management to secure the success of political candidates or parties. In this sense, “Politics” may be disrespectfully said as derived from the words “poly” meaning “many”, and “tics” meaning “blood-sucking parasites.” Viewing from this ankle, those in politics may be termed as one who has perfected in the art of lying and corruption or being a highly paid “yes-man”. This negative understanding seems to be prevalent in Nagaland because many opine that politics is a game. The understanding of politics, being a game merely to be played, often is unconsciously equated with gambling where there is no ethic or morality and hence one can lie, cheat, fight, ridicule each other and use whatever fire and money power one is equipped with to win an election or push through vested interest policies. So, what normally happens is politics remain as a lucrative money minting business for a few at the cost of the general public. For this, we find those in politics trying to amass money and wealth through whatever means they find to get into the electoral fray to buy or coerce voters to win. In this understanding, a candidate need not be educated or posses a character except tricks and money to win over voters or push through ones ideas.Politics, especially electoral politics, understood as a game by the politicians and public alike lead to the apparent thinking that spending huge amount of money ensures winning an election which prompts them to spend it because their calculation is obvious that they will be recovering it in multiples if elected to power. In this approach and understanding, there is no space in the mind of an elected member for the benefit and development of the general public except for oneself. As for most of the voters, since they have allowed themselves to be bought have to either remain mute or worst play the role of a sycophant or as a highly paid yes-man. The end result is for the general masses their impoverishment and underdeveloped conditions of life continue with no hope of deliverance from their wretchedness in sight. At the end of the day, the general public, miserable as they are, are looked down upon by their leaders and cohorts as parasites and nuisance to be shut out with the effortless notice board in front of their gates “No Public interview” once election is over. What a tragedy? The root of this tragedy is our shallow mentality better described as “frog in a well mentality” and such mentality comes from our extremely low grade reasoning quality of both leaders and public alike. The low reasoning standard of leaders can be observed from the lack of inconsistency in thought process and the inability of the society to forge ahead in developmental activities. Classic example of in-coherency of thought is seen in the way our political leaders understand our land ownership right and the Article 371(A) who blame them as hindrances to development at the same time demand that both must be protected at all cost. What can we expect from such mentality? How can there be development and progress in a State where no system is the system, no policy is the policy and no rule is the law? This is a strong indication that we are led by unqualified, incapable leaders and the inefficiency of politicians and bureaucrats can be seen in the haphazard development or no development of the State. What is politics then? Etymologically, the word comes from the Greek word “polis” meaning “city”. Aristotle had aptly written a book, “Politika” in which he wrote about the “affairs of the cities”. Politics is the premier talent of law-making by parties or people who try to influence the way a country or state is governed. Politics is that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and governance of a nation or state to augment its strength and resources, to protect its citizens in their rights as well as strengthen social values, morals and human dignity through sustained education and development. Politics, in its clearest definition therefore, is an art. It is an art of governance with its prime objective to achieve progress, peace and creating assets for generations to come. It is an art that constantly challenges societal shallowness, discord and superficial thought processes of society. The sole endeavor and endurance of politics is to device and design development efforts for its citizens to live in dignity and honor. In this context it is good to ask ourselves whether such responsibility be entrusted to leaders whose understanding of politics is a kind of gambling and self enrichment. Politics is not a game or contract work but sacrifice and commitment to the wellbeing of its citizens where the best brains of the society must be engaged. The understanding that politics is a profession or business is wrong. In conformity to this the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Teachers’ Day 2014 affirmatively said, “Politics is a service, not a profession”. The arena of Politics being a nation or State deals in governance, framing of laws and policies therefore, it demands that all political leaders have to be well educated, possess high moral integrity, vision and commitment. While for the citizens, since politics is an ardent aspiration for dignified living through economic development and good policies, their only option- if they desire progress- is to elect conscientiously candidates who are well-read, disciplined, honest and visionary. Leaders with lack of proper education cannot enact good policies nor comprehend existing policies; without vision there will only be chaos and without a sense of sacrifice for common good it will only result in corruption and impoverishment of the public which is happening now. The primary mistake of the society today is voting a person with money instead of seeking for a well educated visionary with moral character to lead them. Time is beckoning us to come to our senses to build a respectable society or do we continue to be in misery.