Cult of Personality- (dissecting the 'Modi Wave')

White Hat-Facts and Figures
By- Srivathsan Nadadhur

What makes ordinary people turn game changers overnight? Of course, the work they do is a better definition of their personalities. But how can we bring to terms, the million-dollar mysterious cults that surround them?

However, there are gentler hints that most of these 'cult' stories provide. Narendra Modi, as the media has very much proclaimed, surely makes for an interesting analysis. Apparently for his pre-election campaign, according to a PTI report, the BJP spent about Rs 5000 crore.

In his recent visit to Australia, nearly 21,000 persons attended the Allphones Arena event just to hear him speak. Naming an Express train after him, between Melbourne and Sydney to most of his tour-itinerary, media representatives from both countries actively referred him as a "rock-star".

In the sports-context, when Tennis player Maria Sharapova claimed of not knowing Sachin Tendulkar, it created quite a furore among the fans, which bombarded her page with nearly 70,000 comments on the next day, hurling abuses, verbally and pictorially.

The recent Jayalalithaa arrest in her illegal assets case saw the current TN CM Pannerselvam went teary-eyed while taking oath in place of her. She's hereby called 'Amma' in her home-state, literally meaning 'mother' of all, whose arrest also had the regional film industry being shut down for a day.

The recent example of the self-proclaimed god-man Sant Rampal, in spite of the allegations faced in as many as 35 cases of murder, rioting and illegal confinement, had followers aplenty backing his case and attacking police with a rage, to an extent that saw 6 of his followers being killed. In spite of a tainted image, the public continued to bat the figure.

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Black Hat-Criticism
By- Bhaswar Kumar

Can one person serve as a messiah and a panacea for all the evils that beset us? An honest account of the modern world's history might answer in the negative but it is clear that we have laid great store in such messiahs for a long time.

 Most disturbing is the dominance of such personality cults, centered around larger than life images of leaders rather than substance, in Indian politics. The danger does not lie in Narendra Modi turning into the next Hitler as many hysterical political pundits would have had us believe when the elections were in full swing. The danger lies in the subversion of the political processes which define our democratic setup. Consensus, honest appraisals, and a professional working environment for the state's functionaries are the first casualties when sycophancy and power-brokers arise out of the cult. At the extreme end we saw Indira Gandhi, who turned the Congress into a dynastic party, impose emergency with Dev Kant Barooah's famous proclamation “Indira is India, India is Indira”.

A cult of personality is engineered through propaganda and the use of mass media. In the classical sense a state's mouth piece- think the Soviet press's love affair with Stalin- is an essential tool in engineering such a cult but in India it is the free press which has participated in said venture. The 4th estate, a prerequisite for a functional democracy, has willingly entered into a vicious cycle where it creates hysteria and hype so as to put individuals on a pedestal and then feeds off the image they themselves have created. Such a symbiotic relationship can only lead to self-censorship on part of the media and a greater dependence on their creation which leaves them hamstrung when it comes to serving their true purpose as the voice of the masses. Most importantly, expressing dissent, an established democratic tradition, ends up being suppressed either through violence or in our case through subtler methods.

It falls on us to decide between being lead down a path not of our choosing like sheep, or being bold enough to lay claim to our rightful role in the great Indian democracy and life at large.

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Yellow Hat-Optimism/Support
By- Arnab Mitra

Our politics, our religion and our society is dominated by leaders who have created a larger than life image. The result is the existence of Cults of personalities which hold sway across the country. While this phenomenon has faced much criticism, it is not necessarily bad.

A strong leader, an essential element of such a cult, can have a positive effect in terms of decisive decision making. Cults of personality are created by using mass media; in turn the leader at the center of the cult faces greater scrutiny by the same media. This heightened scrutiny along with the expectations attached to the leader can serve as positive and strong motivators. It is simplistic to state that a country of one billion will allow a leader, however charismatic, to enjoy their adoration if he does not serve a useful function.

The ‘Modi’ wave which crisscrossed the nation proves this point. It is his appeal as a decisive leader who has a strong administrative record which drew the massive crowds and the result at the ballot. His decisions and initiatives draw upon his personal charisma, his call for mass participation in the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ is centered on his ability to draw the attention of the masses and mobilize them. A leader who can cut to the heart of the proletariat’s concerns needs the unwavering support of the masses. At their best, leaders who have engineered larger than life images for themselves have been able to bring different people to the table, build consensus, and take bold actions because of their support base. As Mr. Modi has demonstrated, a strong national support enables the leader to project a strong national image in the international sphere.

Modi is currently engaged in fulfilling the massive expectations that his own image and cult following have created. With the media watching his every move he will be well motivated to deliver.

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Green Hat-Creative Solutions
By- Prateek Kumar

The debate about the prevalence of personality cults in India, in all spheres, is not a new one and its most recent example surfaced during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. While the debate will continue, as it should, we also need to look at solutions and measures which can be taken to actually address the issue.

Narendra Modi has excelled the level of popularity that a Prime Minister can get by refuting the perseverance of social structure. The bitterest part is always played by media that induces the crowd to fix a disproportionate imagery of an individual. The media should understand that creating a picture of an individual as a supreme power can lead to mass exploitation.

The portrayal of few dignitaries compiled in interjection of social affairs might create a deep impact on the repressed section of the society. Media can make some hoist decisions under their porch leading to a reluctant measure of disaffection. The media needs to take a step back and reassess its priorities; driven by TRP figures the media often latches onto select individuals who can sell their news. Substance and detached analysis must take over from sensationalism and access journalism.

Educational institutions can turn this interrupting distinction of personalities and can make a non partisan and sensible society. We can teach children how to make a distinction between a cult made and cult to be followed by conducting distinctive debate sessions, so that they can make preferences of their own. At the grass root level we can teach children how make a distinction between a cult based around an artificial image and personalities with actual substance and modesty.

At the end of the day it is a duty of every renowned person to serve society by promoting rational and productive thoughts. They should also acknowledge that they owe their acclaim to society and so they must turn it towards causes which benefit all.

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Blue Hat-Expert Interview
By- Erick Massey

Mr. Dayaram Yadav, Delhi, Secretary, ASPIRE (A Society for Promotion of Inclusive and Relevant Education).

Q.What is your opinion on Personality cult?

A.When institutions fail to deliver on their mandated responsibility an environment is created which is ripe for exploitation by individuals who wish to subvert institutional processes for various reasons. It is a sign of weak political institutions and structures. Especially in India, years of sustained failure on the part of the various organs of the state has created a warped frame of reference for the masses, anything related to procedures and rules is regarded as inefficient.

Narendra Modi’s rise can be understood in the backdrop of such institutional failure. The institutions of the PMO, Union Cabinet and also the Parliament were perceived to be highly ineffective. In this back-drop, Modi was projected as person with strong determination who is willing to bypass such institutions and deliver quickly.

Q.Do you think the prevalence of such cults is justifiable in a country like India?

A.It cannot be useful for any country.  Relying completely on individual at the cost of weakening and ignoring your institutions can not be beneficial for society in the long run. Our democratic institutions can only be ignored at the peril of weakening our democracy itself.

Q.How should media behave in order to avoid deifying of a person?

A.The media should understand that long term durable solutions for national challenges lie in building and strengthening suitable institutions, and not in subverting them. But in this day and age where the media is controlled by big business and they are fully aware of their capacity to construct consent and build opinions in favor and against certain things, expecting them to work in the larger interest people seems unrealistic.

Q.What should be the ideal solution for the awareness of people in order to avoid the exaggerated publicity to influence opinion? 

A.Engineering a cult of personality requires propaganda and extensively utilizing mass media. So it should be obvious that if using the media in such a manner is made difficult for people with vested interests then it will be difficult to propagate such cult followings. Media houses and professionals need to be answerable to the people, and that can only be possible if the financial structure of such organizations is altered. Crowd-sourced financing for smaller media institutions might work.

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Red Hat-Public Opinion
By- Namit Hans

 Aparna Sharma, 22, D.U. Graduate,  Sales and Operations trainee in a travel company

 Q. Do you think that making a cult of a personality may affect a democracy in negative way?
A. No, I do not think making a cult of a personality affects a democracy. In fact, it increases accountability. In the current Indian scenario, where there was a dire need of a strong face and personality to relate to, Modi and also Kejriwal, are a welcome relief. Both are leaders with credentials and if either underperforms, they will come under heavy scrutiny which is good for a democracy.

Q. We see mass hysteria in the name of Modi wave. Share your thoughts about it.
A. We are not living in an ideal world all classes cannot be "thinking classes" and "intellectuals". Common people need a leader to look up to and we finally have that. People want work done and are willing to give one man the power to do that.

Q. How do you think we can promote idea of rational thinking among common people?
A. One cannot promote rational thinking, it comes from experience. A lot of information is out there and it is for the individual to make sense out of it.

Abhay Punjabi, 22,  Film-maker and Entrepreneur, Intern with Arvind Kejriwal

Q. Do you think that making a cult of a personality may affect a democracy in negative way? why?
A. Yes, making a cult of a personality is the biggest threat a democracy can have, because democracy works best when there is an opposition, but in our current situation where one man is being demonstrated next to god worries me, as this could any day turn into monarchy or pseudo democracy within our constitution.

Q. Is Kejriwal becoming a cult for people too?
A. I think kejriwal had started becoming someone who people were following blindly, but after his resignation many of those blind believers left.

Q. How do you think, we can promote idea of rational thinking among common people?
A. We have social media for the middle and upper class, and we can provide a personal touch by mohalla sabhas to get ideas across to lower and lower middle class.

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Introduction
Srivathsan Nadadhur, 23, Graduate in CSE from SNIST, Current film critic for CineGoer.com, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Bhaswar Kumar, 23, Graduate in English literature from Delhi University, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Arnab mitra, 23, Graduate in English Literature from Calcutta University, Post Graduate in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, Former space seller in The Telegraph, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Prateek Kumar, 22, Graduate in English Literature from Delhi University, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Erick Massey, 23, Graduate in B.Sc from Delhi University, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Namit Hans, 22, Graduate in Economics from Delhi University, Former Gandhi Fellow at Piramal Foundation for Education Leadership, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Public Display of Affection- (dissecting the 'kiss of love' campaign)

Khajuraho Temple
Source-Google

White hat-Facts and Figures
By-Erick Massey

The topic covers a controversial argument regarding intimacy in public and the mind-set of people on such issues. The vehement opposition of people towards public display of affection often termed as PDA and a strong penchant of young generation of going beyond the walls and experiencing the eternal bliss of intimacy under the blue sky.

The roads have never been easy for issues like this in a country like India, if we go to what the laws are when it comes to intimacy, the section 294 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) states that whoever does any obscene act in any public place or sings, recites or utters any obscene songs/words in public place, shall be punished.

The Court has regularly used the archaic 1860 rule for determining obscenity, whose foundation was laid by British rulers. The counterview from people is that the ramifications should be adopted in such a manner so that it can match the norms of society that we are in, as the society has seen tremendous transformations from the time when these laws were made.

Hence it is illegal to kiss or hold hands or sit in an objectionable position in public places, however the section 294 has not defined obscenity which creates confusion as what appears obscene from a particular persons point of view my not appear so to some other person.

The section exempts any representation that is in the interest of science, literature or art etc. similarly it also seeks to prevent the temples, religious idols or ancient monuments which have erotic imagery or sculptures which shows erotic nature of that era.

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Black Hat-Criticism
By-Arnab Mitra

The apparition of diatom concords the tradition and culture of a Vedic society. The western influence dissects our culture and it is the result of ‘very media’ that bells us every day.

Our culture teaches us to bow down and respect our elders, but today the same culture ascribed their kids to do public nuisance in broad daylight. India observed an oral culture till the dusk of twentieth century and the ailment of public empathy was observed in the society. People observed arranged marriages more than love marriages; girls were not likely afforded to go to the office and even conversation between the opposite gametes was perceived in a negative sense. Children were not allowed to see adult films and schools provided sex education only at higher secondary level. But the recent data shows that 48% children are addicted to porn films and a campaign like ‘Kiss of love’ strikes the heart of our culture and it leads to close room porn in an open arena.

In the name of a campaign, were hundreds of female progeny not abused in a single minute?  The ‘public Display of Affection’, as coined, is the leverage of a chauvinist culture, and it’s a movement is led by unconscious youth who distract themselves and the society every single minute. From the past to present the mindset of patriarch society will never change. These people have to understand that indulging into physical intimacy of such level might give an indication to those, who are disturbing elements in the society, that they can take advantage of such situations.

 If ‘Kiss of love’ campaign can reduce the criminality that happens every single minute then people should praise its mammoth, as every movement has its pros and cons, the time will tell their suzerain if the society accept her.

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Yellow Hat-Optimism/Support
By-Ankit Chatterjee

Sometimes in the course of a generation there comes along a revolution that shakes the very foundation of the society. This year saw the surge of such a movement called "The Kiss of Love" which has been taking the whole nation by storm.

Public display of affection is a sign that a couple is not afraid of the relationship that they have between them. Our generation talks about being open-minded so public display of affection is something that we should embrace. The right to express one’s love for another person in any form is looked down upon when done publicly.

The culture that we all talk about doesn't get affected by public display of affection, this rather influences the younger generation to be more open-minded, to express themselves and accept things in life as they grow. One can experience the evident existence of male chauvinism and blatant patriarchy in our country. Campaigns like "Kiss of Love” is much needed bitter pill for a country which has always been socially conservative and politically liberal. Public display of affection was ridiculed and condemned by the more conservative sections of the society deeming the activities as immoral and against Indian culture.

There were also comments which stated that foreign culture is corrupting Indian youth. This is not true since our generation is beginning to express themselves. India known to be the birthplace of the 'Kamasutra' shies away even at the mention of the word 'Sex'. The same country which has hundreds of temples adorned with sculptures and paintings of kings and queens engaging in amorous activities has a problem with people holding hands and hugging in public, let alone kissing.

If one is attempting to dissuade people from engaging in PDA in the name of Indian Culture, time has surely come to take a good look around oneself.

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Green Hat-Creative Solutions/Ideas
By-Namit Hans

The recent incidents of brutally harassing young people in the name of moral policing in Kochi gave rise to a country wide protest. ‘Kiss of love’, which was also referred as ‘Kiss of lust’ by those who stood firm in opposition of this movement, started from Kochi and soon trumpeted all over the country.

Both the sides, in opposition and defense of the practice of PDA, have their own compelling viewpoints and none can be discarded as irrelevant. However, like always, there is a paucity of understanding and acknowledgement of each other’s outlook and opinions.

The new age, westernised youth does not think twice before delineating every individual who raises his voice against kissing or making out in public, as orthodox and shallow minded. However, this does not validate clobbering young men and women in public, in the name of culture and tradition.

The culture and traditions change with time, interacting and adopting from different cultures throughout the world. Therefore, the argument that our youth is doing this solely because of the influence of western culture does not stand correct. Everyone should be open to this change and even if we are against this alteration; discussing about it and finding a mutual conclusion must always be a preferred alternative.

We can never expect society and mind-sets to openly accept contrasting point of views, if we resort to such extreme measures, which include both violence and protests. People understand the language of love and social norms transform gradually. Giving a sudden shock to this fabric might lead to a breaking up of our society into two contradicting sections which are always quarreling with each other.

Hence, the need of hour is to educate people and concentrate more on other important issues. Respecting other’s space and comfort shall be our priority and showing disagreement in a civilized manner should be pursued.

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Blue Hat-Expert Interview

By-Raza Naqvi

Shashank Awasthi, renowned educationist and a member of executive committee of Vishva Hindu Parishad in Kanpur

Q. What is your view point on Kiss of Love?

A. Kiss of Love, I believe is not appropriate. What I think is that if you have to express your love to someone there is no need to express it publicly you can rather do it in alone.

Q. If someone is expressing love openly then what is the problem?

A. If there is not a problem in expressing love openly then why do husbands and wives or girlfriend/boyfriend make love in their rooms and not in front of the family.

Q. Is violence a remedy for controlling expressing affection in public?

A. Violence is only done when people start crossing the limits. There is no need to keep kissing and making love in parks and other places, these places are meant for recreation, people should understand that it has a negative impact especially on children .

Q. What do you think is the solution?          

A. See I am not against those who feel no harm in kissing at the public places but our country is not like the other western countries. The society feels violated by this also imagine your or mine sister kissing at a public place wouldn’t that affect you? So I would just request people who call themselves broad minded to think logically and rationally before kissing publicly. 

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Red Hat-Public Opinion
By-Prateek Kumar

Rakesh Mohan, 72, Retired Professor, Dighi, Pune

Q. Being a member of RSS, how would you react if you caught someone kissing in public? What if you know that person?

A. The role of RSS is to promote Hinduism and not to obstinate love, but if something happened in the name of love is not accepted in Hindu culture then it should be considered as a crime even for my son or daughter.

Q. Our religion doesn't allow us to kiss in public but in privy, is it correct?

A. Holding hands and kissing are two different aspects of portraying love in public. Couples can display affection whenever and wherever they want as long as it is in limited parameters.

Q. We have gods like 'Kamdev' in our mythology but still our society has not accepted PDA. How justified is that?

A. It is an ancestral belief that gods were forbidden for any crime they commit. But we can’t allow our children to do the same in the name of god. I am not saying that you shouldn't love someone but showing affection in public should be considered as an offence.

Anuj, 22, Student, SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi

Q. What is your view on Public display of affection?

 A. PDA is an integral part of love relation, and should be taken with respect and dignity. There is nothing wrong in it.

Q. Is holding hands or kissing in public a punishable offense?

 A. Every citizen of our country has a fundamental right to life and dignity, and freedom of speech and expression, holding a hand or kissing in public place should not be punishable offence, as it not just against basic human values but also violates our constitutional right.

Q. How we can overcome this indignant situation?

 A. In the end it's about freedom of expression and the liberty of individuals. If other people are judgmental about it then it's not your fault. But if one is actually overdoing it and exploiting their rights it won't be healthy for society either.

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Introduction

Erick Massey, 23, Graduate in B.Sc from Delhi University, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Arnab mitra, 23, Graduate in English Literature from Calcutta University, Post Graduate in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, Former space seller in The Telegraph, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Ankit Chatterjee, 22, Graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Former Journalist at tadpoles.in, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Namit Hans, 22, Graduate in Economics from Delhi University, Former Gandhi Fellow at Piramal Foundation for Education Leadership, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Raza Naqvi, 21, Graduate in Business Administration from Gauhati University, Former Journalist at Hindustan Times, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Prateek Kumar, 22, Graduate in English Literature from Delhi University, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Regional and Linguistic divide in India

White Hat-Facts and Figures
By- Raza Naqvi

The linguistic divide in India started since the invasion of the Aryans, the divide had arisen due to the conflict between the Aryans and the Dravidians since then the country has been facing this problem. 

The major linguistic divide came in the year 1950 when the States Reorganization Act was passed and India was divided into separate states on the basis of linguistic lines.  

In the year 1961 the Indian census had identifies 1953 languages throughout the country but in the year 2001 the number of languages recognized were 122 and the constitution of India recognizes only 22 languages. Language plays a major role in identifying the individuality of a person and consequences of listing only a few languages in interest of assimilation and administration are enormous, and how the state and civil society cope with the many dimensions of these consequences is the subject matter of language and politics in India.  

The central role linguistic assertion played in the evolution of India’s polity in the 1950s and 1960s, resulting in the reorganization of States on the basis of language, and the Union of India’s decision not to make Hindi the sole official language of India in 1965. The Constitution had originally permitted the use of English along with Hindi for the first 15 years of the Republic, giving an option to Parliament to extend the use of English for specific purposes beyond 15 years. Parliament enacted a law in 1963, bowing to the sentiments of people from the South.

The creation of Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh (UP), Chattisgarh from Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand from Bihar in 2000 on the basis of regional aspirations shows that language as the basis for reorganization of States may be vulnerable although it was the most effective answer in the 1950s.

Also recently after the popular demands for the formation of Telengana it was formed and Vidarbha is also being demanded as a separate state from Maharashtra, also two-three years back Former UP Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati had raised a demand of dividing Uttar Pradesh into four separate states, all these reinforce this tendency, which has earned significant political accommodation in terms of recognition by political parties.


Black Hat-Criticism
By- Namit Hans
Entire population saw the lower house of our country i.e. ‘Lok Sabha’ being blacked out when the debate on Telangana bill was going on. The demand for a separate state of Telangana to be carved out of Andha Pradesh started in the year 1952 during the Anti-Mulki agitation by students in Hyderabad.

Similarly, we see such demands from all over the country where people want to have a state of their own based on the language spoken in that area. The strongest voices come in support of Gorkhaland in Darjeeling, Bodoland and Karbi Anglong in Assam. Mithilanchal in Bihar and Jharkhand, Saurashtra in Gujarat, Kongu Nadu in Tamil Nadu, etc. are some of the examples. It is estimated that if all the demands are accepted, then there will be a total of 50 states in India.

Growing outcry for separation and diminishing tolerance towards people who speak different language or look different is an indication of a huge dilemma awaiting our nation. Our politicians, who await such situations to benefit themselves at the cost of common people, will not think twice before supporting such demands, so as to ensure a secure vote bank.

Nowadays, we hear about a lot of cases of violence against students who hail from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and North Eastern states of India. It indicates the changing mind –sets of people, where they consider inhabitants of a particular state or region superior than the others. This will only escalate if newer states are carved out of the existing ones.

The old notion of unity in diversity, which we all are proud of loses its meaning in the current scenario of our nation.

Yellow Hat- Optimism/Support
By- Bhaswar Kumar
One of the strongest challenges faced by the Indian state is the regional and linguistic variance found in our nation, little surprise there since the earliest detractors of the idea of India termed the land as a subcontinent of nations rather than a singular and sustainable nation. It is unfortunate that the credo of “unity in diversity” has been reduced to a clichéd and non-operative phrase, a target of much sarcasm and ridicule.

We can blame our diversity for the myriad problems we face, but that would be a disservice to our nation. Our diversity is our strength, it has made our nation and people resilient, and it has made us adaptable. Democracy is more than just the right to vote, it allows the people to define the character and spirit of the nation they live in. At its best our nation would be defined by the different POVs arising out of the different cultural and social moorings of our populace. The rich human experience, in a syncretic and vibrant form, would translate into the soul of our nation.

Of course conflict exists, be it in Tamil Nadu where any move to introduce Hindi in a significant manner is seen as an attempt to establish North-Indian hegemony or in Maharashtra where the Shiv Sena cannot abide by migrant labourers from Bihar and UP. At worst these conflicts are born out of the politics of exclusivism and confrontation, where pitting people against each other based on their regional and linguistic identities can reap rich rewards and seats. A democratic and federal state like India can accommodate regional and linguistic ambitions and expectations, and despite appearances we have done a good job so far.

Our diversity, our differences, have given us the chance to truly take forward the ideals of democracy, to celebrate individual expression and accommodate varying opinions. It is our comfort with our diversity that has created the image of an India that can coexist with the larger world without creating conflict even as it strives to become a power to be reckoned with.

Green Hat-Creative Ideas/Solutions
By- Prateek Kumar
Language barriers can make a country divide into different states. And states are also divided if more than two languages are spoken in that state. What happened with the division of Andra and Telangana is one such example. Their division is not on the basis of provinces but on the basis of language they speak. Subsequently India being one of the most underdeveloped country is full of varsity and illusions of these barriers which compel people to sit and proclaim their space and stature.

Our linguistic aspirations and the need to accommodate them should not be an issue in federal state like India. English has already become the language of trade and commerce giving regional languages adequate space and promotion and is a part of confrontational politics. In the absence of real and substantive political ideologies it becomes very easy to practice politics which seeks to exploit divisions and differences rather than creating common ground and mutual interests.

Practicing the politics of development and betterment sans promoting divisive agendas will lead to an atmosphere wherein we will find many more avenues of cooperation rather than conflict. We must learn to speak in the universal language of development for all and poverty for none, hunger and deprivation do not discriminate and neither should we as citizens of our country. Bringing our varied populace onto a common platform will render our divisions irrelevant as far as our politics and our society is concerned, of course one will still remain a Gujarati or a Punjabi but when it comes to solving our mutual problems we will all be fellow Indians.

BlueHat-Expert Interview
By- Arnab Mitra

Swantam Chattopadhyay, Professor of Mass Communication department at Jadavpur University, Kolkata
Q. Gorkhaland, Telengana, and others, what is the root cause of such movements?

A. Our Constitution says that the country India has the discretionary power and not the state. Before independence the Montagu Chelmsford commission in the year 1943AD divided the country on the basis of Religion but not language and culture. In 1905 Bengal planned to divide in the basis of Hindu and Muslim. After independence Potti Sreeramulu fasted unto death in order to convince the government to create a separate state of Andhra for Telugu people. The tensions in Punjab and the recent turmoil in Vidarbha and the Gorkhaland agitation exist because the state won’t take decisions to maintain the integrity of its land.

The Gorkha speaking people residing in the hilly areas of West Bengal are deprived of adequate representation by the state govt. since the creation of the state of Bengal. They don’t have MLAs and MPs in the legislation and the people treat their region as a tourist spot. The development there is like a blinking lamp, it is sporadic instead of being a sustained effort. Demand for a separate Gorkha state started in 1982 under the leadership of Ghi Singh. The then Communist govt. created Gorkha Tribunal Board to pacify the tension. Since its creation it has been a puppet body and the board does not have any administrative power. Recent turmoil in the region has been  pacified by Mamata Banerjee by renewing and giving

 more power to the tribunal board.

Hyderabad, the state capital of Andhra, was under the rule of the Nizam before independence. Vallabhai Patel ensured that the Nizam’s kingdom would become a part of India after the Indian army was deployed. The coastal area called Seemandhra and Telangana have always had different cultures. The main occupation of the coastal areas is fishing and the basic economic status of the residents is poor. . According to recent data of the state the GDP growth rate of Telengana is 3.5 % whereas in Hyderabad it is 7.5%. This discrimination caused the conflict and the resultant revolution which lead to the creation of Telangana.


Red Hat- Public opinion
By- Ankit Chatterjee

Mohan Dash,49, Accountant, Angul, Odisha

Q. What is your opinion on regional linguistic divide in India?

A. Every state in our country has its own regional language, its culture, its tradition which is somewhat unique and different from other states. However, I personally believe everyone must understand and respect the social norms to coexist peacefully.

Q. Racism is present in abundance in India. What is your say on that?

A. Yes, I agree. What happened in Bangalore recently was a shameful incident. I am father of a son and when I look at such incidents, it sends a shiver down my spine thinking what will happen if my son goes to some other state to study.  In my opinion, this is due to people being not educated and also because most are insensible and careless.

Q. Have you or anyone you know who have faced any such difficulty?

A. Yes. North-east people are the main victims of racism. In fact, one of my colleague in my office who was from Arunachal Pradesh was victim to such racial abuse on a daily basis. To end his misery, he decided to quit his job and return home.

Monty Jena, 46, Pan Shop owner in Dhenkanal, Odisha

Q. Have you ever experienced racial or regional discrimination personally?

A. No, I have travelled only to West Bengal from my home state of Odisha and I have not faced any such discrimination so far. However once due to my ignorance I misbehaved with a South Indian student because of his accent but I regret that incident till date.

Q. As a person who belongs to Odisha were you able to relate to the culture, tradition and people of Bengal?

A. Though there were similarities, but every state is different from one another in many ways. So the people and their culture were somewhat new to me.


Thank You,


Introduction
Raza Naqvi, 21, Graduate in Business Administration from Gauhati University, Former Journalist at Hindustan Times, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Namit Hans, 22, Graduate in Economics from Delhi University, Former Gandhi Fellow at Piramal Foundation for Education Leadership, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Bhaswar Kumar, 23, Graduate in English literature from Delhi University, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Prateek Kumar, 22, Graduate in English Literature from Delhi University, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Arnab mitra, 23, Graduate in English Literature from Calcutta University, Post Graduate in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, Former space seller in The Telegraph, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal

Ankit Chatterjee, 22, Graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Former Journalist at tadpoles.in, Pursuing Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal