At the pinnacle of Mayawati's Raj in UP,something innovative really took place with the idol-worshiping of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar in Indian politics.Literally,with tens of hundreds of his statues coming in UP,he was one of the few leaders from that era challenging Mahatma Gandhi's stature as a statue.A journalist commented in one of those very few esteemed weekly that the power and pole of Ambedkar in drawing votes in our times is even greater than Mahatma or Nehru.
Hero-worshiping in India is not a new trend.Historical evidence suggest that rulers have issued coins bearing their pictures.Just a blatant display of authority,you will say.The fact is they wanted people to relate with their rulers.Everything they sold or bought was due to blessing of crown.Loyalty to the empire and emperor came foremost in their lives.It was too necessary for the development and wellness of state.On the other hand,the king prospered if and only if his people prospered.Why will the people fight the king from some other state if they do not feel close to their ruler.Every thing in the kingdom was his own and he did not felt any personal greed but only tried to improve the situation of his state.There in lied his safety too.One must love his land for doing any betterment to his state.
But what do the leaders from modern 21st century democratic country want to signify when they spend just millions in making of statues of their living self.Taking lessons from history and ensuring the loyalty of their subject is an easy way out.But they miss one important check point.They are in no way kings of their state but just public servants.At least this is what they boost of doing.Spending money from state exchequer to glorify oneself is not the idle way in democracy.For all the good senses prevailing,one does not need much loyalty for the state in a nation-state.Your political opponent is the one who takes your share of loyalty if you loose in a election.The sole way to win should be your work and your connection with the subject.Statues do keep people in your eyes and earn respect in hearts but does not necessary converts into votes.Actually,people in no way need to be loyal to their leaders since their livelihood and welfare is not the ordeal of the king but the duty of the state machinery.Even if the leader looses his popularity,it in no way affects the state or subject,some more efficient person takes the space.Then why are all the streets and cities being renamed?Just a heart melting gesture.Or something evil indeed.People get trapped under illusion of the ancient glory of Patliputra while Patna goes on under sinister hands(some politicians,never a public,demanded change of Patna's name into Patliputra).
I may be far-fetched in supporting the hypothesis but its true the general public stand by such leaders.Certainly satisfies their own ego.This ego is not for knowledge,money or power in the literal senses of the word,but just to show-off.Showing off has been afterall,the genre of Kings and Emperors.What is wrong if the public too gets to get a little bask of enjoyment and authority under the idol of their chosen and beloved-own-backyard leader?Little peek in the politics suggest that battles have been won or lost over skull-caps,blood has flowed through streets for creating new states and linguistic divisions.Welfare,education,health policies,defense deterrence never cause such public uproars.The recent Anna Hazare movement against corruption was one of the golden linings of upheaval directly linking itself to the perpetual phenomenon of corruption.The golden lining was painted a few moments with black,when people from few backward communities protested against any changes in the law created by Ambedkar.I was aghast since my little knowledge never allowed me to understand how a doctorate from a reputed foreign university has given permission to the numerous corrupt politicians to loot the county.The man who stood so firmly for social justice had never wished the money meant for the poorer section to be hoarded in Swiss Banks.But idol-worship certainly knows no limit and has no scope for just thinking.God is above discussion.
One of my many complaints against democratic governments is they never construct something grand.How will our times go under the pages of history?May be,as a highly monotonous morbid creatures of creativity implying lines of concrete.No building of historical worth has been constructed even in the sixth decade of our independence.Nehru in his great work Discovery of India wrote about the Indus Valley Civilization wrote extensively about the beautiful and comfortable public buildings.Money was spent on public and best efforts were employed only for their service unlike in Egypt or Greek Civilization of the same era with their iconic tombs and palaces.What he did not foresee was the naming of hundreds of public welfare policies under his or his families name.The man with such a brilliant and lucid idea over symbolism has been left being just a symbol by his own people and nation.Ambedkar must have felt the same hook which Gandhi feels when every note bearing his picture is used to bribe the leader of free India he intensely struggled to achieve,the pain that the money spent on his statue was not used to fund the study of another brilliant but poor lawyer in making.
Hero-worshiping in India is not a new trend.Historical evidence suggest that rulers have issued coins bearing their pictures.Just a blatant display of authority,you will say.The fact is they wanted people to relate with their rulers.Everything they sold or bought was due to blessing of crown.Loyalty to the empire and emperor came foremost in their lives.It was too necessary for the development and wellness of state.On the other hand,the king prospered if and only if his people prospered.Why will the people fight the king from some other state if they do not feel close to their ruler.Every thing in the kingdom was his own and he did not felt any personal greed but only tried to improve the situation of his state.There in lied his safety too.One must love his land for doing any betterment to his state.
But what do the leaders from modern 21st century democratic country want to signify when they spend just millions in making of statues of their living self.Taking lessons from history and ensuring the loyalty of their subject is an easy way out.But they miss one important check point.They are in no way kings of their state but just public servants.At least this is what they boost of doing.Spending money from state exchequer to glorify oneself is not the idle way in democracy.For all the good senses prevailing,one does not need much loyalty for the state in a nation-state.Your political opponent is the one who takes your share of loyalty if you loose in a election.The sole way to win should be your work and your connection with the subject.Statues do keep people in your eyes and earn respect in hearts but does not necessary converts into votes.Actually,people in no way need to be loyal to their leaders since their livelihood and welfare is not the ordeal of the king but the duty of the state machinery.Even if the leader looses his popularity,it in no way affects the state or subject,some more efficient person takes the space.Then why are all the streets and cities being renamed?Just a heart melting gesture.Or something evil indeed.People get trapped under illusion of the ancient glory of Patliputra while Patna goes on under sinister hands(some politicians,never a public,demanded change of Patna's name into Patliputra).
I may be far-fetched in supporting the hypothesis but its true the general public stand by such leaders.Certainly satisfies their own ego.This ego is not for knowledge,money or power in the literal senses of the word,but just to show-off.Showing off has been afterall,the genre of Kings and Emperors.What is wrong if the public too gets to get a little bask of enjoyment and authority under the idol of their chosen and beloved-own-backyard leader?Little peek in the politics suggest that battles have been won or lost over skull-caps,blood has flowed through streets for creating new states and linguistic divisions.Welfare,education,health policies,defense deterrence never cause such public uproars.The recent Anna Hazare movement against corruption was one of the golden linings of upheaval directly linking itself to the perpetual phenomenon of corruption.The golden lining was painted a few moments with black,when people from few backward communities protested against any changes in the law created by Ambedkar.I was aghast since my little knowledge never allowed me to understand how a doctorate from a reputed foreign university has given permission to the numerous corrupt politicians to loot the county.The man who stood so firmly for social justice had never wished the money meant for the poorer section to be hoarded in Swiss Banks.But idol-worship certainly knows no limit and has no scope for just thinking.God is above discussion.
One of my many complaints against democratic governments is they never construct something grand.How will our times go under the pages of history?May be,as a highly monotonous morbid creatures of creativity implying lines of concrete.No building of historical worth has been constructed even in the sixth decade of our independence.Nehru in his great work Discovery of India wrote about the Indus Valley Civilization wrote extensively about the beautiful and comfortable public buildings.Money was spent on public and best efforts were employed only for their service unlike in Egypt or Greek Civilization of the same era with their iconic tombs and palaces.What he did not foresee was the naming of hundreds of public welfare policies under his or his families name.The man with such a brilliant and lucid idea over symbolism has been left being just a symbol by his own people and nation.Ambedkar must have felt the same hook which Gandhi feels when every note bearing his picture is used to bribe the leader of free India he intensely struggled to achieve,the pain that the money spent on his statue was not used to fund the study of another brilliant but poor lawyer in making.
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