Danger of personality cult

However, at a nation-wide level the cult of Narendra Modi has had only one predecessor — that of Indira Gandhi. Thus now, as then, ruling party politicians demand that citizens see the Prime Minister as embodying not just the party or the government, but the nation itself. Millions of devotees on social media (as well as quite a few journalists) have succumbed to the most extreme form of hero-worship. More worryingly, one senior cabinet minister has called Narendra Modi a Messiah. A chief minister has insinuated that anyone who criticises the Prime Minister’s policies is anti-national. Meanwhile, as in Indira Gandhi’s time, the government’s publicity wing, as well as AIR and Doordarshan, works overtime to broadcast the Prime Minister’s image and achievements.

While viewing the promotion of this cult of Narendra Modi, I have been reminded of two texts by long-dead thinker-politicians, both (sadly) still relevant. The first is an essay published by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1937 under the pen-name of ‘Chanakya’. Here Nehru, referring to himself in the third person (as Modi often does now), remarked: ‘Jawaharlal cannot become a fascist. Yet he has all the makings of a dictator in him — a vast popularity, a strong will directed to a well-defined purpose, energy, pride, organisational capacity, ability, hardness, and, with all his love of the crowd, an intolerance of others and a certain contempt for the weak and the inefficient.’

truthbetold wrote:I do not remember CD writing about personality cult when Sonia Gandhi is ruling the country from behind MMS or when YSR ruled AP as the sole power. Nor did I see any posts about Jagan's role as sole leader of YSRCP. But we should be glad that CD woke up to Bhakti politics. It is hypocritical if he only sees personality cult in Modi.

truthbetold wrote:I do not remember CD writing about personality cult when Sonia Gandhi is ruling the country from behind MMS or when YSR ruled AP as the sole power. Nor did I see any posts about Jagan's role as sole leader of YSRCP. But we should be glad that CD woke up to Bhakti politics. It is hypocritical if he only sees personality cult in Modi.

truthbetold wrote:Hero worship by less informed people is one thing. But many of the so called secularists use secularism/socialism as a cover to hide their political opportunism. Congress is , in the past 50 years, a tool in the hands of a small group of people to swindle India through corruption.  Dynasty used congress and congress looters used dynasty. But those criticizing Modi did not have time to criticize congress that pushed Indian economy and people into misery again and again. Someone who does not have time to utter a single criticism of Jagan whose party does not have an iota of democracy or transparency , wakes up every morning criticizing Modi. Talk about hypocrisy.

truthbetold wrote:CD,

You are still dodging the issue.  Your hypocrisy is on display time and again. It proves your political opportunism. You are free to call me out any time.

truthbetold wrote:I do not remember CD writing about personality cult when Sonia Gandhi is ruling the country from behind MMS or when YSR ruled AP as the sole power. Nor did I see any posts about Jagan's role as sole leader of YSRCP. But we should be glad that CD woke up to Bhakti politics. It is hypocritical if he only sees personality cult in Modi.

smArtha wrote:And while we are at this, we should also eliminate the dynasty parties as they resemble monarchies in successor appointments and there is enough historical evidence that such dynastic monarchies can lead to Dictatorship too. 

smArtha wrote:Can we do the same thing with all Communists/Marxists before they become another Mao/Stalin? After all it is the same leftist ideology that made such oppressors and dictators?

Merlot Daruwala wrote:


Sure. But first, can you name any Commie / Marxist in India who looks set to become a Mao / Stalin?

smArtha wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:


Sure. But first, can you name any Commie / Marxist in India who looks set to become a Mao / Stalin?

In the write up posted by OP, Guha did imply - if one can 'creatively' establish an equivalence of the Subject to another Dictator of History be it in actions, behavioral traits or subscribed ideology then one shall firmly and absolutely conclude that the Subject will take the same path as that Dictator. He uses this method to show some random equivalence between Indira and Modi's political/administrative actions and 'projects' that Modi may impose Emergency as did Indira. Not stopping at that he does implore the readers to challenge and check such a 'personality cult'. 

So to answer your question,we just have to use 'fertile imagination' and draw 'some equivalence' between Tyrants of the past and any leader of the present. And then go about challenging/checkmating such leaders. Any commie leader can be made to fit this.

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

smArtha wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:


Sure. But first, can you name any Commie / Marxist in India who looks set to become a Mao / Stalin?

In the write up posted by OP, Guha did imply - if one can 'creatively' establish an equivalence of the Subject to another Dictator of History be it in actions, behavioral traits or subscribed ideology then one shall firmly and absolutely conclude that the Subject will take the same path as that Dictator. He uses this method to show some random equivalence between Indira and Modi's political/administrative actions and 'projects' that Modi may impose Emergency as did Indira. Not stopping at that he does implore the readers to challenge and check such a 'personality cult'. 

So to answer your question,we just have to use 'fertile imagination' and draw 'some equivalence' between Tyrants of the past and any leader of the present. And then go about challenging/checkmating such leaders. Any commie leader can be made to fit this.

Ya, that makes sense. Commies who are struggling to stay relevant and are surviving in just one state (and whose leaders we would be hard put to name) pose as much of a risk of a dictatorship in India as Narendra Modi, who has sidelined all detractors in his party, is surrounded by yes-men without any political bases of their own, who loves the sound of his own voice and the sight of his own face (and name) and whose armies of bhakts in social media troll anyone who questions the great man. All one needs is a sufficiently fertile imagination to see the equivalence between the two.

Seva Lamberdar wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:

smArtha wrote:

Merlot Daruwala wrote:


Sure. But first, can you name any Commie / Marxist in India who looks set to become a Mao / Stalin?

In the write up posted by OP, Guha did imply - if one can 'creatively' establish an equivalence of the Subject to another Dictator of History be it in actions, behavioral traits or subscribed ideology then one shall firmly and absolutely conclude that the Subject will take the same path as that Dictator. He uses this method to show some random equivalence between Indira and Modi's political/administrative actions and 'projects' that Modi may impose Emergency as did Indira. Not stopping at that he does implore the readers to challenge and check such a 'personality cult'. 

So to answer your question,we just have to use 'fertile imagination' and draw 'some equivalence' between Tyrants of the past and any leader of the present. And then go about challenging/checkmating such leaders. Any commie leader can be made to fit this.

Ya, that makes sense. Commies who are struggling to stay relevant and are surviving in just one state (and whose leaders we would be hard put to name) pose as much of a risk of a dictatorship in India as Narendra Modi, who has sidelined all detractors in his party, is surrounded by yes-men without any political bases of their own, who loves the sound of his own voice and the sight of his own face (and name) and whose armies of bhakts in social media troll anyone who questions the great man. All one needs is a sufficiently fertile imagination to see the equivalence between the two.

According to you, Rashmun, CD, Guha et al., anyone trying to shake India even by a millimeter in the right direction is a fascist, dictator and despot.