How blind bhakts can hurt India’s democracy

by confuzzled dude Sun Jan 08, 2017 3:36 pm

Last week, I conducted a Twitter poll to test this hypothesis: Narendra Modi enjoys an insane amount of support among his fans. The poll asked this question: If Modi wanted to declare an emergency to completely eliminate corruption, would you support it? The results: Of nearly 10,000 participants, 57% said they would support such an emergency.

The usual Twitter poll disclaimers apply — it is a highly skewed sample, the poll isn’t scientific, etc. Also, neither is such a proposal on the anvil from the government, nor does the question indicate my own view. However, the results do give a sense of what some of Modi’s hardcore fans (bhakts) feel. It is worth noting that the participants here were almost all young, educated, digitally savvy people who understand English.

Yes, a significant section of progressive young Indians are happy to give up democracy, and vote themselves voteless.

All this economic mumbo-jumbo is irrelevant to the Modi fan. If fans are ready to support an emergency in their leader’s name, do you really think they give a damn about falling GDP or actual data about black money recovered?

No, we are talking about love here. And love doesn’t, and is not meant to, see reason.

However, this love does get disturbing when hardcore Modi fans place the individual above the institutions that make India. The interplay of the ruling party, opposition and a free media is essential for our democracy. An emergency means all those vital aspects of India are gone. It makes our country vulnerable to huge abuse of power. It is a big mistake to think a messiah will fix India, when in fact it is the system and societal values that need to be slowly fixed. Pakistan operates with the messiah assumption, falling in love with army generals. We know what a mess that place has become. Never ever wish for the end of democracy, no matter how wonderful your leader might be in your eyes.

In fact, blind faith only harms the leader and the nation. Today, yes men and sycophants probably surround Modi, like they do any powerful leader. Few people working under Modi would have the guts to tell him he is wrong.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/view-how-blind-bhakts-can-actually-hurt-indias-democracy/articleshow/56400870.cms

We have been witnessing this unconditioned love from [elite] SuCH bhakts, haven't we?

by Hellsangel Sun Jan 08, 2017 3:55 pm

Unconditional not unconditioned, Comrade.

by silvermani Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:05 pm

Pot calling the kettle black. There is plenty of blind devotion to Obama on ch.

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