Its time for some "Dil Ki Baath"

As I settle down before the TV, it struck me that the time has come for some "Dil Ki Baath" instead.

What strikes me as insidious about one’s mind, is,  it works after much thought and humanity is often a victim of that cold calculus. Thus decisions mindfully made frequently looks at personal gain rather than instinctively search for larger good.

Take our political class – they extolled the virtues of safe distancing at a time of the pandemic but threw caution to the winds when they gathered the masses to listen to them, to enrapture through their rhetoric – that the leaders who should have led by example did not choose to do so reflects poorly on their humanity & caring. What became more important to them was to make the country “mukt” of any dissenting voices. Even more galling is our opposition, which by its lack of informed debate reduced the elections to a circus where the central role was played by a leg allegedly fractured and in a cast. Or even take the venality of the politician who allegedly thought it fit that in the midst of this pandemic, it was suitable for him to collect hafta through the very institution that’s supposed to protect the common man.

Take our religious leaders – last year we went about demonizing a group for a religious gathering terming it a super spreader event and even arresting some of the folks. Then, in spite of common sense telling us not to congregate at a time like this, so called religious leaders went about precisely doing the opposite on the banks of a river. Ours is a great religion – but at this time it is led by sants & saints of doubtful compassion. Religion has a deeply personal meaning for a lot of us, and should not be used to whip up passions and behave irresponsibly – and that’s what these leaders did. And, our political class poured oil over this fire.

Take our institutions – knowing that this may not be the best of times for an extended election schedule, nay a schedule at all, the concerned institutions went about their business like automatons throwing to the winds all caution. These institutions have been built up to uphold the independence of this nation, and have been led by individuals who were fiercely protective of that super structure – alas they have been let down by minions who at the call of the powers that be cower and do their bidding.

Take our media – they cower along with the minions, unable to call to account and speak to the truth. This is a dangerously crumbling pillar of democracy that currently refuses to act as that proverbial mirror to the ruling class. Given our  relatively ill-educated public a honest media would have served as a bulwark against misuse of power – that’s a role that the media has long abdicated, choosing instead shrill rhetoric, suppression of fact, and the glowering silencing of dissent.

Take our people – we are ever ready to extoll brute strength over thoughtful leadership – we are ever ready to follow unquestioningly – we are ever ready to chose the convenient lie over the difficult truth – we are ever ready to put personal benefit over societal good – we are ever ready to choose mindlessness over the humane Dil.

Its time for some Dil Ki Baath