DAVOS, RAMAYANA AND PADMAAVAT : DOES IT ADD UP ?

The past week has witnessed frenetic activity on many fronts leading upto the Republic Day where India unleashed one of its biggest diplomatic coups d’etat by managing to get an unprecedented 10 heads of state to attend its Republic Day celebrations and virtually throwing the gauntlet to China.

But let’s start with another high powered international event at Davos. Our biggest brand ambassador, PM Modi did what very few international leaders can do so effectively – showcased India to the movers and shakers of the international community in a blistering, passionate speech. The buzz it created was sensational – even China was forced to compliment it. Far away in India, as an ordinary citizen, I swelled with pride as we could finally claim to have a leadership worth being genuinely proud of….though, knowing fully well, much of the aspirations of leading the world would remain in the realms of mere rhetoric unless concrete steps are taken to solve our principal economic problems arising out of policy distortions in land, labor and capital.

Cut to the ASEAN outreach initiative. The 5 day travelling Ramayana festival performed by troupes from these countries was meant to highlight India’s “deep civilizational and historical relations with ASEAN”. It, however, also underlines- to the rational audience - the different narratives of the epic as prevalent in various parts of the Asia Pacific region . During my stint with a large corporate multi national in SE Asia, I had travelled extensively in the region and had the opportunity to understand the different perspectives of our great epic as prevalent in these countries from Laos, Thailand and Indonesia to Singapore, Malayasia, Brunei and Kampuchea. Whilst Ravana was portrayed in a benign light in a particular country, Ram and Ravana are cousins in another version and Lakshman was credited with killing Ravana in yet another retelling closer home. The larger point stressed by eminent scholars is that Hinduism is an anti thesis to the Abrahamic precepts of religion which are based purely on monotheism. Hinduism is an all encompassing philosophy, accommodative of different experiential narratives and is anything but rigid. AK Ramanujam’s essay “Three Hundred Ramayans” underscores this wide canvas of interpretations which differ from any contemporary majoritarian narratives which currently dominate public discourse. The Ramayana festival is just a timely reminder of this core philosophical tenet of our being - more relevant as the 5 day festival was inaugurated by none other than our PM. The ordinary citizen, who was enamoured with the Davos scenario, is now a trifle confused with this apparent contradiction : and how it reconciles with Ayodhya and its associated debates essentially centering around one deterministic view of the holy epic .

And, finally, onto the simply bizzare Padmavaat discourse which captured national attention ever since the Karni Sena decreed, in November last year, that the movie was not in line with their thinking. And the political establishment on all sides of the spectrum decided to turn into mere spectators and allow them to run amuck on the nation’s consciousness. The SC’s writ too is now being challenged with some states - run by the current dispensation at the Center - declaring their inability to maintain law and order potentially arising out of the mere screening of a movie. It would seem the rule of law has been mortgaged to political vote bank compulsions and, having let the genie out of the bottle, I wonder how such aggressive manifestations of sub nationalisms will be contained in the future. And as the ordinary citizen - who applauded the PM at Davos for showcasing an India as a land for attractive investments where the rule of law prevails - I am now totally bewildered.

PM Modi received a massive mandate on the unifying agenda of development, governance and the vision of a New India. Why then is the polarizing route being used before every election ? The downside of a “presidential” form of government is that both the credits and debits lie at the door of the undisputed leader. He fortunately has the stature to stop this charade playing out with just one clarion call. Given his sagacity and wisdom it is inexplicable why he has chosen to remain quiet or indifferent.

The wide canvass of interpretations arising out of these public events during the course of merely 7 days make for a puzzling narrative for those who care to introspect. Are we to feel enthused that “ache din” are finally at hand ? Or confused at the radically contradictory narratives on Hinduism and its impact on public policy issues like Ayodhya , beef, etc. ? Or simply fearful that the rule of law is being steadily compromised especially with regard to freedom of speech ?

As an ordinary citizen, albeit one who dares to think, I am bewildered. Is this the great duality of existence playing out….the complex interplay of Yin and Yang ?

Election time is round the corner and this confusion is not best for us as we cast our vote. But then I am not a politician….

Perhaps this is part of a winning electoral strategy much beyond the capability of the ordinary citizen to fathom.

I hope it all adds up…eventually.

The edited version first appeared as the lead OPED article in the Edit Column of the Center Page in The Times of India dated Jan 30, 2018 >Article > Sections > Editorial

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(PRABAL BASU ROY)

A Sloan Fellow from the London Business School and a Chartered Accountant, the author presently manages a PE fund, advises start ups and has formerly been a Director and Group CFO in various companies. He is one of LinkedIn's Top Voices ; his views are frequently published in the national media on the intersection of current affairs, leadership and strategy with matters of finance, public policy, financial markets and corporate affairs.

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