FACES AND PHASES OF POLITICS

 

FACES AND PHASES OF POLITICS

Dr M. D. Thomas

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‘Politics’ seems to be the most important word in all the languages of the world. The world seems to be revolving around this word, for the most part. The word seems to run the show of the world, as well. The word has in it an unparalleled power, exactly like the persons in politics. No doubt, right or wrong, it is the most powerful word in the world.    

The word ‘politics’ derives from the Greek root ‘politika’, meaning ‘affairs of the cities’. It is the method of ruler-ship over a national government, state government and local government in groups. Other forms of ruling power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status, can be considered within the purview of politics, too.

The word stands for a multitude of attitudes and activities. It is associated with the governance of a country, area or institution. It is also the debate between parties having power. It refers to government, affairs of state, diplomacy or party politics. It includes also activities that are aimed at improving someone’s status or increasing power within an organization.

Politics is the way that people living in groups make decisions. Politics is about making agreements among people, so that they can live together in groups, such as tribes, cities or countries. In large groups, such as countries, some people may spend a lot of their time making such agreements. In the process, highhandedness is often the norm of the day.

Further, a political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country’s elections. The members of a party hold similar ideas about politics. Parties may promote specific ideological or policy goals, too. The major types of political systems are democracies, monarchies, oligarchies and authoritarian or totalitarian regimes.

At any rate, ‘politics’ is the most thriving business in the world. It is the easiest job available. It requires no qualification. It does not need any training, too. It has no age limit. It can go on even in extreme sickness. One can die in politics, as it mostly happens. It is the one and only job of its kind.

More often than not, politics is inherited. If you are lucky to be born in a political family, often you become an heir to it, like getting a mega lottery. Otherwise, if you have a Godfather who is capable of making even the impossible possible, you are there at any cost. It could be a business for generations.   

Lord John Dalberg Acton (1834–1902), the nineteenth century English historian, in a letter to Anglican Bishop Mandell Creighton about how historians should judge the abuse of power by past rulers, especially popes, stated “power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely”. That establishes the vital connection between power and corruption.

Lord Acton continued, “great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you super-add the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority”. Politicians exercise authority, absolutely so, and they are bound to be corrupt, absolutely as well. Even then, they hold themselves super right.   

Catastrophes are golden opportunities for politicians. They take the best advantage out of them. They pretend to be ‘maseehaas’, although falsely so. They do the least, but project themselves as having done even the impossible. They purchase people for giving them unending credit. The recent corona times have been a case in point, in India in special.

Many countries of the world, as well as India, seem to tend to autocracy and dictatorship. Authoritarian or strong man politics is the fashion of the day. They act as filmy heroes, even more so, winning the game always, even when they are totally wrong or even amidst all odds. Even god-men would become insignificant at the fake miracles of the politicians. What an irony!  

It takes no time for politicians to degenerate into the street level. Speaking against the other party and throwing filth on its members is so spontaneous for them. Focusing on what special one could do in power is of secondary importance. No wonder, the vulgar language, the total lie, the insulting tone and gestures, etc that are in vogue have become their traits, shamelessly so, even of persons in high positions.     

Politicians are elected to central and state offices, obviously so. While in office, they have to be devoting their total time in the service of the people. But, without any sense of scruple, they, even top officials like Prime Minister, Home Minister and Chief Minister, steal the time of the office for engaging in election campaign, both in national and state level politics, well even against the dignity of the offices they hold.   

Politicians think it proper, though improperly so, that they can change their party any time, even while in governance. It is like ‘climbing up the terrace of the house through one ladder and switching over to the other house as they are atop’. This is a sheer violation of the Constitutional ethos as well as a brutal insult to the people who have elected them. But, that is what it is. 

Politics is nothing but a ‘play of money and power’. As social activist Anna Hazare once said, “paise se satta aur satta se paisa”. That means, money and power are means for each other. They go together. Politicians are purchased and sold against large volumes of money. Ultimately, politics is the right area if you want to play with power and money, both in one shot, and enjoy the best of the world out of them.

Politicians are voted in to the system of power. The game of campaign, along with and buying and selling, is not over. The entire term of the government is an election campaign, extensively so. While in parliamentary positions, they keep on vomiting poison against the elected members of other political parties, at almost every speech. Working together for the people of the country is not in their priority.  

As a national government, politicians are inclined to have the other country in one’s favour, if not under one’s control, like the Russia towards Ukraine. Your friendship with a country or party that is not of my choice will not be appreciated. If you do not favour me or favour someone other than me, I shall see that you are finished or under my custody or in jail, as a traitor. This is the usual mindset of the political outfit.        

Finally, if anyone wants to work without any principle, policy and ethics, politics is his or her place. If there is a place where misfits fit well, that world is politics. Any number of lies is appreciated, in spite of the fact that ‘satyamevjayate’ is the national motto or that oath is taken in the name of God, touching the sacred scripture. Those from criminal and villain backgrounds are more welcome, even if sane people might get a shock of life. Politicians get a clean chit from all crimes, as if it is their fundamental right.  

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The author is Director, Institute of Harmony and Peace Studies, New Delhi, and has been committed to cross-cultural perspectives, cross-scriptural values, constitutional values, interfaith relations, communal harmony, national integration and social wellbeing, for the past over 40 years. He contributes to the above cause through lectures, articles, video messages, conferences, social interactions, views at TV channels, and the like.

He could be viewed, listened to and contacted at the following portals – websites ‘www.mdthomas.in’ (p), ‘https://mdthomas.academia.edu’ (p), ‘https://drmdthomas.blogspot.com’(p) and ‘www.ihpsindia.org’ (o); social media ‘https://www.youtube.com/InstituteofHarmonyandPeaceStudies’ (o), ‘https://twitter.com/mdthomas53’ (p), ‘https://www.facebook.com/mdthomas53’ (p); email ‘mdthomas53@gmail.com’ (p) and telephone 9810535378 (p).

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Published in ‘The Secular Citizen’ (Weekly Magazine), Mumbai, Vol. 31, Issue No.15, p.08-09 – on 04-10 April 2022