India needs more than myths and magic realism

[S_O_C_O_M]

India needs more than myths and magic realism​

By Ranjani Iyer Mohanty

A critical element of the ancient and still relevant epic Indian story, the Mahabharata, is that King Dhritarashtra is blind, both physically and emotionally. He cannot see the ruthless ambition of his eldest son nor the ultimate tragic consequences it could bring. Rather than trying to accept, face and solve the growing problem, he simply, and literally, turns a blind eye.

It is pretty much the same story in India today. The Indian authorities are ignoring very real problems and pretending they do not exist. In 2010, when the Commonwealth Games were held in New Delhi, rather than using them as an opportunity to improve conditions, they temporarily moved the homeless out of the city and put up advertisement hoardings around the slums to hide them.

Rather than answering the genuine safety concerns of anti-nuclear protesters in southern India this year, the prime minister shifted the spotlight by saying that the protests were influenced by foreign non-governmental organisations. Many local protesters were arrested and several foreign NGOs were put on a watch list. Rather than addressing the growing violence towards women in the Delhi suburb of Gurgaon, last week the police simply told women to stay at home after 8pm. This week, instead of fighting poverty, the Planning Commission lowered the poverty line and announced a reduction in the number of poor.

From stories shelved under “myth”, we have moved to those labelled “magic realism”. From the tourism department tagline of “Incredible India”, we are evolving into “Surreal India”. The magic realism writers Gabriel Garciá Márquez and Salman Rushdie would be proud of us. But even magic realism has to make sense.

There is a literary device called deus ex machina, in which the author contrives a neat but implausible solution for an apparently insoluble problem. Indian leaders seem fond of this tool as a way to resolve serious issues. But it is not working, for three reasons.

First, it is not based on reality.

Second, the readers are not finding it satisfactory. Even ordinary people are beginning to suspect the logic of the plot. Harry Potter’s Confundus Charm is wearing off, the people feel that all is not well in Delhi and they are starting to see right through the authorities’ claims. This is the key reason for the various protests around the nation – whether they be anti-corruption, anti-nuclear, or anti-violence against women.

Third, if we continue in this way, the story will not have a happy ending. Ignoring the situation will not make it go away. With reference to India’s status on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, Unicef says there is “stagnation in key social indicators, particularly among disadvantaged populations (ie geographically, by caste, gender)”. Violence against women starts at an early age, as shown by continued high rates of female infanticide and a skewed sex ratio of children under the age of six. And, worryingly, despite lowering the poverty line, the number of poor has risen in several states, including populous ones such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The need for inclusive growth has been highlighted by experts in the social, academic and business arenas. Ajay Chhibber, UN assistant secretary general and regional director (Asia-Pacific) of the UN Development Programme, sees India as a place “ ... where poverty still remains deep and where exclusion could be socially explosive”.

Michael Kumhof and Romain Ranciere, two IMF economists, think that income inequality can lead to financial crisis. A recent report by Deloitte, the auditor, breaks down India’s lack of inclusivity into several specific issues, such as low agricultural growth, low-quality employment, poor education and inadequate healthcare services. Even India’s Planning Commission has made inclusive growth a goal of their current five-year plan. However, this cannot be done merely by writing an implausible happy ending. What is needed are real solutions arising from a true perspective of the problem, accepting its urgency and conscientious analysis of the situation.

While in the Mahabharata, King Dhritarashtra really is blind, India’s leaders have the responsibility to open their eyes and see the reality of the situation. More than 1bn people require a happy ending. Maybe it is time to try some non-fiction.

The writer is a Delhi-based editor and commentator

India needs more than myths and magic realism - FT.com

 

[Shabz Nist]

I thank you for the article and not for the subsequent crap you are likely to spew out.

-Shahabas

 

[somebozo]

This week, instead of fighting poverty, the Planning Commission lowered the poverty line and announced a reduction in the number of poor.

Yep, thats indias way of reducing poverty. TOmmrow they gonna hike the price of life saving drugs and call it population control.

 

[IndoCarib]

"Rather than answering the genuine safety concerns of anti-nuclear protesters in southern India this year, the prime minister shifted the spotlight by saying that the protests were influenced by foreign non-governmental organisations. Many local protesters were arrested and several foreign NGOs were put on a watch list. Rather than addressing the growing violence towards women in the Delhi suburb of Gurgaon, last week the police simply told women to stay at home after 8pm. This week, instead of fighting poverty, the Planning Commission lowered the poverty line and announced a reduction in the number of poor."

I am with PM when he said that the protests were indeed influenced by foreign NGOs and Christian missionaries. We need more power and we need it NOW. I am also with Planning commission in redefining poverty in India. Well,.. the Police of Gurgaon is Indian police after all . They suck big time

 

[Shabz Nist]

Yep, thats indias way of reducing poverty. TOmmrow they gonna hike the price of life saving drugs and call it population control.

It would still be the only life saving drug your country men would be able to afford. The alternative is China

 

[1962 spanking]

"Rather than answering the genuine safety concerns of anti-nuclear protesters in southern India this year, the prime minister shifted the spotlight by saying that the protests were influenced by foreign non-governmental organisations. Many local protesters were arrested and several foreign NGOs were put on a watch list. Rather than addressing the growing violence towards women in the Delhi suburb of Gurgaon, last week the police simply told women to stay at home after 8pm. This week, instead of fighting poverty, the Planning Commission lowered the poverty line and announced a reduction in the number of poor."

I am with PM when he said that the protests were indeed influenced by foreign NGOs and Christian missionaries. We need more power and we need it NOW. I am also with Planning commission in redefining poverty in India. Well,.. the Police of Gurgaon is Indian police after all . They suck big time

thays what happens when you have no independence, you have to obey western orders and western NGOs.
i dont know how or when india will get its independence and have freedom to have an independent foreign policy instead of being a slave to the americans.

 

[Abhishek_]

thays what happens when you have no independence, you have to obey western orders and western NGOs.
i dont know how or when india will get its independence and have freedom to have an independent foreign policy instead of being a slave to the americans.

make sure you follow the party line on PDF, lest you end up in a black hotel

 

[joekrish]

thays what happens when you have no independence, you have to obey western orders and western NGOs.
i dont know how or when india will get its independence and have freedom to have an independent foreign policy instead of being a slave to the americans.

INDEPENDENCE- that word is band in China, watch out.

 

[notsuperstitious]

Some of the criticism is very valid. But our leadership will only improve as the quality of people improves, and that's a slow process.

We r not out of the woods yet, too many pitfalls still.