Column

We as a nation talk a lot, but we do not speak our minds. That is, we beat around the bush a lot. We think that we are polite, diplomatic, clever, cunning and what not.

We are charmed by our own circumlocutions. It is not just the politicians who indulge in this pointless, longwinded verbal calisthenics.

It is also intellectuals, who shiver in their boots to say something clearly. They are forever looking over their shoulders to the junket or sinecure they can get from those in power if they garble their thoughts and words.

Intellectuals as courtiers represent a form of chronic and debilitating disease that our society is plagued with. This is not a rhetorical proposition.

This is a diagnosis. It poses a serious problem. It has something to do with the confusion in our minds and a sense of diffidence as to what we are and what we want to be.

This creates difficulties for us when we take positions on national and international issues. We are torn between pragmatism, realpolitik on the one hand, and a vague sense of ideology on the other. We are unable to define ourselves.

It boils down to this: How seriously should India take itself? Should we call ourselves a developed country? Or should we hide behind the comforting label of developing country because it helps us to avoid responsibilities with regard to climate change and seeking trade concessions?

Should India consider itself a world power or not? Going by the size of the economy and the growth rate, the country is an economic power to reckon with.

Though we want to use our economic muscle to cheer ourselves up and boost the low self-esteem of our middle class, we are more than afraid to claim the status of an economic power and bargain in the world markets on that basis.

If we think that we are big players in the world economy, then we should make clear to ourselves whether we want to be nice to the developing and relatively poor countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America or not.

We should then take the position that India will pull down all economic barriers with poor countries and set an example to the European Union and North America.

But there is a fear deep in the hearts of our political leaders and wonks that we should not fray the tempers of the big boys of the world economy by sticking out our collective neck for the sake of poor countries which may not remain loyal to India.

Basically, Indians are afraid to be brave and generous and so make timid calculations of the advantages to be gained from that kind of generosity. No wonder then, India’s pronouncements on WTO
issues are nothing but flaky.

Turn to the political front. Indians — both the government and the notionally independent thinkers — did not know how to deal with the US-sponsored Middle East conference at Annapolis to re-start the negotiations between Palestine and Israel which will lead to an independent Palestinian state.

We were proud that we were invited to the conference and even felt flattered. But we were afraid to say or do something any which way. So we hunted for all kinds of excuses and rationalisations. We are not an influential player in West Asia, so let us keep our mouths shut, was the word of caution from one corner.

If we are asked to help in the reconstruction of Palestine, then let us get involved in inconspicuous work. Then there is the vocal and ignorant which mistakes the Palestinian issue to be a Muslim question and to please the Muslims at home we should support the Palestinian cause.

The Hindutva folk want to support Israel because they agree with this false reason. But these positions have nothing to do with the position of India in the world, and its role is in it.

We are afraid of our own strengths because certain responsibilities, including the moral, spring from that. Then we would be forced to tell the Israelis that its settlements on the West Bank are illegal, and we would tell the Palestinians that they have to accept the state of Israel in good faith. And this does not hinge on whether you are an influential player in West Asia or not.

The conclusion is inevitable: We have not made up our minds as to who we are in the world. That is a pathetic state to be in. Our growing economic strength and the consequent political stature have not unfettered our inner being — as the poet pointed out so many years ago, our eagle pinion in still chained and we still grovel in the lowly dust.

We have yet to gird our loins and speak our minds.

Email: r_parsa@dnaindia.net