Indian Politics: More Dangerous Game Than Mere Manipulation
Tired of your dull, mundane life? No Drama happening? Don’t worry. You will get to watch enough drama in Indian Politics, where there is action, conspiracy, drama, thriller, etc. Just not romance.
Or there is.
The time when people used to watch news channels to get an idea of what’s happening inside the Parliament is gone. Instead of the theatre, you get to see live action on the screen for free! From smoke canisters to thrashing, you get to see it all!
How to become a Politician?
If you’re a ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma’ Fan, you must have watched this episode. We all must have laughed when this episode was aired. However, after growing up, it hits. The sad reality of this scene.
Sunderlal, who had no ties with politics, decided to be a politician just because he was famous in his “poll” and wanted to earn money through it.
When asked about his strategies, he gave some impractical, nonsensical ideas which were praised by everyone.
Somewhere, his blind followers were also to blame for having encouraged him to be a politician.
It is not easy to become a politician. But anyone can become a politician if they are a skillful player. Or if you are eligible for nepotism.
How do you define a skillful player? You only require four things:
- The Great Ego
- Hunger for ‘satta’, i.e. Throne
- Unique abuses to hurl at opponents
- Ability to make ‘rai ka pahad’ (To make a mountain out of a molehill)
So, if you are competent in these four areas, Congratulations! A Politician is one of your potential career paths.
The Election Buzz
Ah, the time of election when all politicians want to get on our good side. All forgotten promises suddenly come alive. All concerns are big. And they portray themselves as they are the only people who can eradicate all the possible poverty and unemployment existing in the world.
The dramatization of election campaigns is a sight to watch. The display of power and money through big rallies, huge ceremonies and “gifts” is what they aim for.
The purpose of the campaign is to spread your message across. Your campaign should reach a larger scale – agreed. But why do you need grand stage set-ups, sentimental monologues, heart-touching music that makes everyone feel sad about their state, oh and the classic, hand waves to greet people?
What’s funnier than campaigns are the television debates where all the experts turn on their rage mode and start competing as if they are the candidates. What should be a calm, peaceful debate is now a shouting match to catch people’s attention.
Another episode of Taarak Mehta is a great example of how politics is just a game after all. In this scene, a politician is distributing free mobile phones to the poor, stating it is necessary for their “betterment.”
“Free food!” “Free Electricity!” “Free Laptop!”
Now they don’t say directly to vote for them but the message is implied.
One gift = One vote,
and then no development for the rest of their tenure.
The Art of Mockery
The real roasters are our politicians who keep coming up with unique taglines or phrases to insult their opponents.
It’s a tug of war for roasting. Both sides try to come up with phrases that would “scare” their opponents. The Art of Mockery is not easy. But our dear politicians make it seem like a piece of cake.
One of the most popular words that is stuck in the mind of millions of Indians is “Pappu.” The term got so viral that it became an entire identity.
Pappu, a word so widely used to insult someone in the political context. It became a legit word in the political dictionary which means a person who is immature and clueless.
The comeback for ‘Pappu’ was ‘Chowkidar Chor hai’. It became a meme across the internet. The intent was to mock the Prime Minister’s self-branding of a watchman. The result became a plot twist as the BJP completely flipped the narrative and used the phrase for their branding. They started their popular narrative of ‘Mein bhi Chowkidar.’
Politics as a Reality Show
If you are someone who loves Big Boss, you’d love following Politics then. Such drama, plot twists, suspense, and action are not seen anywhere else.
Instead of a trophy, they compete to rule. Instead of switching your favourite player, you switch parties. ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’ has become a common phrase for all politicians because they become best friends with their enemies overnight.
The political game strategies are made overnight and implemented overnight. MLAs disappear off to some luxurious resort often to show rebellion against the power. Only people with power can apply such tactics against people with greater power.
Parliament can be a scary place sometimes. From grave tension inside the house to the point of physical fight, anything can happen inside. It is right to say that humans ruin everything because humans can ruin the sanctity of the Parliament.
Although cartoons are another form of mockery, they are considered to be a powerful tool for challenging power fearlessly. It’s an old form of political satire which catches people’s attention and sends the message as well. You can call it entertainment, or call it propaganda, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is a visual punchline which tackles issues like no other strategy.
The Vanishment of Priorities
Indian Politics is too focused on vanishing the important issues. Instead, their priority is to entertain themselves.
Our politicians are magicians who know how to disappear a topic they cannot control. You point fingers at them, they move their wand and voila! The matter is hushed.
You try to bring it to the limelight again, they melodramatise their event more.
- City crimes are okay, changing the name of the cities is more important.
- Obscenity by politicians is okay, but outrage over movie science, books, and celebrity clothing is more important.
- Defamation by Politicians is okay, but throwing comedians into jail is more important.
The minute a problem stirs up, they sensationalise an issue that doesn’t need the attention at that point.
They say the media is a sensational maestro. But who is behind the media for this sort of sensationalism?
After all of this, is it safe to say politicians get distracted too easily? Or they just prioritise their profit? Can we afford these distractions?
These are just a few questions a common person can keep asking.
Conclusion
‘Politics is dirty, ’ a phrase commonly used, is a saddening truth of today’s life. We have come to accept it now. Nobody could have thought that a day would come when we would be analysing politics with a satirical vision. To make a mockery out of a serious issue is what needs to be stopped.
If we keep accepting it as it is, we are never going to get an ideal system.
Yes, Politics is dirty, however, it is a sincere request to not make it a source of entertainment. It should require your attention, not your laughter.
Thanks for reading, fr! Share if you like it enough. Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn for more.
Articulated By Akanksha Jha, 1st year Student at Media and communication, Fergusson College.
