There is a visible epidemic of Sahitya Academy Award winners returning their awards in protest of the government. Less visible is a low key epidemic of public intellectuals and assorted public figures suddenly finding their consciences and regretting promoting Modi because of what they see now. It is the dream of every blind supporter of modi – the much hated intellectuals are voluntarily vanishing from recognition.
From a virtually unknown Arpita Chatterjee to the very famous Ram Jethmalani. Now Aatish Taseer. There are others. Countless journalists have changed their tones from “OMG Modi” to “uh… Modi” without being explicit. Others have taken to trenchant criticism and proclamations of disappointment without mentioning other gushing praise.
There is a problem with all this washing of consciences in the Ganga of public confessions. The problem never was their support for Modi. India is a free country. People have free speech. The problem was their MISUSE of their reach and influence to actively cover up the communal polarization campaign that was running parallel to the development speeches. From dismissing concerns about minorities to claiming that Modi would not tolerate the rise of Hindu fanatics, and the undermining of RIGHTFUL calls for action against criminal methods powering Modi’s rise out of the “bold and the beautiful” internet connected India.
This cover up is what THEY did in their greed, not Modi or the RSS. This, they dare not confess to, nor offer to rectify, for the harm to India is beyond measuring.
This was my response on Twitter today after Aatish Taseer’s grand eloquence on Modi’s inadequate education. It hadn’t been adequate when they were all gushing, had it?
Excellent point. And their duplicity needs to be highlighted. But I would still say: Der aaye durust aaye.