For the people of India, who believe in Sanātana Dharma, dictatorship or a dictator has no place. Dictatorship and the person running it would have a short life, indeed, says OSWALD PEREIRA
These days there’s much talk on dictatorship in India ― some in public, but a lot more in private conversations in homes and small cosy parties among friends. The question is: will a dictator thrive in India or will dictatorship be a successful form of governance?
Personally, I will give a thumbs down to dictatorship and I really don’t see anyone on the horizon, who is powerful enough to be a dictator.
Historically, we have no record of dictatorship establishing itself in modern India, post-Independence. If any odd, ‘powerful’ politician tried to introduce dictatorial emergency measures in the past to ensure continued rule, the people rose in protest through the ballot box and ended the rule of that ‘dictator.’
Although India is a comparatively young democracy, gaining independence from the British Raj just 77 years ago, there’s great vibrancy in its systems, with the people strongly guarding their rights, and being very well aware of their duties.
It would be a grave error for any politician or party to take the electorate’s loyalty for granted. The people, even the seemingly uneducated, are very aware of the ground realities and conscious of the games that politicians play, seeing through the veil of fakeness and false promises.
To use a popular saying by the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
This saying is applicable and very relevant to the Indian people, who can’t be fooled for a long time.
Sooner than later, the sane, wise and sensible Indian electorate will sniff out the good from the bad, the true from the false, and vote for the right politicians and party. If any politician who has gained popularity by whatever means imagines that he or she can now go on ruling like a dictator ‘forever,’ curbing rights and freedoms, is living in a world ruled by illusion.
The tolerance level for dictators is zero in the Indian electorate which is free-spirited and cherishes their rights and freedoms.
Philosophically and spiritually, too, dictatorship will not work for India. Plurality and diversity is embedded in the Indian psyche. But amidst all these differences, there’s unity and oneness ― which is nothing short of a metaphysical miracle.
India gave birth to Sanātana Dharma, the ‘eternal dharma’ or ‘eternal order’ that embraces in its fold all religions. In Sanātana Dharma, the mother to all religions, all faiths are equal, all religious paths lead to One God. Therefore, all, irrespective of class, caste or creed are equal. Just like no one religion is superior, no one person is superior or supreme. God, of course, is the Only Supreme Being.
For the people of India, who believe in Sanātana Dharma, dictatorship or a dictator has no place ― the concept and the person would be anti-Sanātana Dharma. Dictatorship and the person running it would have a short life, indeed, if at all, it materialises.
Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has also written eight books, including The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.
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Oswald ji, your write up resonates with a shrll voice of sanity when the entire Nation is gripped by the abominable rhetorics of politicians claiming “holier than thou” label for themselves and yet labelling the opponents as demonic, dictatorial and undemocratic.
No doubt this has always been so during election times when mad frenzy happens to be at its peak.
Just ”divide and rule” has been the thumb rule of power mongers even as this has been the greatest threat to our perfectly democratic society which has learned to live in peaceful coexistence in spite of its widespread divergence and diversity.
Paradoxically enough, voters are suddenly elevated to the status of Mai Baap at this testing time and every gimmick to the point of the worst kind of divisive politics is adopted to woo them and win their votes to take a fresh lease of life.
No doubt, the entire opposition is united this time and symbolically named their coalition as ‘India’. They are also sloganeering in unison that Modi as a dictator is leading our polity to the undemocratic state of dictatorship. However, the ultimate jurisprudence lies in the conscientious verdict of the public. The present dispensation too leaves no stones unturned to denigrate the rest highlighting their past history which is equally dark and bleak.
But amidst all these divisive politics, as you have said, “there’s unity and oneness ― which is nothing short of a metaphysical miracle.”
Yes of course, it is a fact that the intelligence embedded deep in the collective unconscious of our society has progressively evolved over time and it understands the art of choosing from good and evil. I strongly believe, people in our country live by the principle of Sanatan Dharma and hence have always resented against oppressive governance with dictatorial tendencies.
Hope, this timeless ethic and ethos of our society will ultimately prevail and by our judicious verdict lead us to a new order yet again with a fresh lease of life.
May God give us wisdom enough to choose between who is who and which is which. Long live our Nation. Long live our Polity. Jai Hind 🇮🇳
Baturam Ji, the people under guidance from God will decide what is best for the country.
Dictatorship is unacceptable even if the leader is
popular with the people.
Any leader or political party that fans divisions has no place in our democracy.
Baturam Ji, thank you so much for your detailed analysis of the situation and expressing it so well … and in an unbiased manner.