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The "denigration" that you refer to is not a denigration at all, but a
characterization employed to explain the uncritical acceptance of the diktats of
authority and authority figures and acquiescence to trampling of democratic
principles.
I was so incensed by Rajen's rejoinder that expletives dropped off my lips involuntarily. I said to myself: Cool down, Bhuban, there is no use pumping your adrenalin just to stop dead for crap. I do not object to the substance of what he has so painstakingly tried to
prove.
Chandan,I am afraid you've little conception of even the best democracy at
work. Democracy is not the best form of government. Democracy is supposed
to be a government of the people. In practice decisions are always taken
by one person, perhaps two. There are indeed charismatic leaders who
can organise and lead. And the rest have to follow like sheep. That is
normal. There are of course exceptions.
And sorry to say this,in spite of your strong advocacy of principles, you
too are one the sheep like the rest of us. It is easy to criticise without
self-analysis. An ex-Chancellor of West Germany in his memoirs has described
George Bush as a Christian fundamentalist who attacked Iraq. Did you protest ?
Did your Democratic Senators protest? Did the MPs of UK Parliament protest? Yes,
there were protesters, even the Prime Minister's deputy who of course
resigned in protest. Most European allies of the UK did not support UK in
this war.
I can elaborate these points further. I thiink this should do because in
theory what you say is right; the ideal I mean.
Now the characterization part. To save space, I am not quoting this portion
from Rajen's letter. Characterization of what? Not surely for a filmscript or
the outline for a Booker Prize winner. I concede the 'kharkhowas' are what he
says. We are not proud of it. But so are the Italians and many other nations.
Let me quote from Bill Bryson's 1991 edition of Neither Here Nor There which I
am reading at the moment:
"They don't queue, they don't pay their taxes, they don't turn up for their
appointments on time, they don't underake any sort of labour without a small
bribe, they don't believe in rules at all. ...........At the time of my
visit, the Italians were working their way through their forty-eight government
in forty-five years. The country has the social structure of a banana
republic,yet the amazing thing is that it thrives. It is now the fifth biggest
economy in the world, which is simply a staggering achievement in the face of
such chronic disorder. If they had the work ethics of the Japanese they could be
the masters of the planet. Thank goodness they haven't."
He mentioned Chandra Prasad Saikia and Dr Nagen Saikia. I did not know the
former but the latter I know very well. Chandra Prasad Saikia was a past
President of Asam Sahitya Sabha and had outstanding literary contribution as I
understand.I don't think Chandra Prasad Saikia
deserves such an irreverent treatment.
Rajen ought not to worry. He had done a little research and circumstances
permitting he would also be consulted in the matter, only that his staure has
not grown as yet to the level of either Dr Nagen Saikia or late Chandra Prasad
Saikia.
Another point. It is very easy to comment on the apathy of the masses or
the intelligentsia to any specific issue. The tragedy is that the very
proponents of ther principles do not live up to their ideals.According to the
social scientists this apathy is most conspicuous in the case of people like us
who like to see others do the job for them which they like to read in their
morning newspapers. Physician! Heal thyself!
Best regards
Bhuban |
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