Questioning Blind Loyalty

One evening, I witnessed a dramatic scene in which a four-time elected and current Member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly (MLA) was holding an umbrella above the head of a powerful political leader. The submissive body language of that particular MLA in a public rally was quite conspicuous. The leader appeared happy at this public demonstration of his power and the MLA was not embarrassed to appear subservient, probably there was some self-interest to protect and promote. Against this backdrop one could appreciate Sonia Gandhi’s request to her party leaders not to touch her feet. In Sanskrit, there is a saying “ati bhakti chorara lakhyanm” that means “extreme loyalty is a sign of a thief”. Leaders, for their self-interest and bloated egos, permit (and sometimes encourage) public demonstrations of loyalty. By allowing these actions, these leaders not only disgrace themselves and their followers, but also threaten the process of democracy taking roots in the region. This behavior of these leaders percolates down to all governmental levels strengthening social and political hierarchies.

This phenomenon is widely prevalent in entire South Asia. Rather, it is manifested in even more subservient ways at various levels in the political fraternity seeping into the entire administrative. The South Asian society inherited a deeply caste ridden, orthodox, feudal and patriarchal mindset which got further lease of life under colonialism. Now, what is most disturbing is the reinforcement of this mindset in the public sphere.

In a feudal society, there were people who always flattered the king and the king in return rewarded these flatterers with positions of power and thus enabling incapable persons to hold high-level positions who used it to gain personal wealth. That was the basic feature of a feudal society. Contemporary democratic values, however, make it difficult to swallow this kind of social behaviour.

Today all of south Asia has democratic aspirations and people desire to be represented by elected leaders. These leaders however, retain the feudal mindset and aspire to acquire thrones. The irony is that within today’s democracy the same tactic of using flattery for personal gain is employed that characterized feudal societies. Even bureaucrats and police officers aspire to maintain a band of loyalists. This relationship is only based on showing blind loyalty to the bosses and expecting the same from subordinates. This is not limited to the field of politics and bureaucracy; it sadly exists even in the fields of literature, art, music, sports etc. Society is carrying forward a feudal attitude that emphasizes loyalty to power. As a result, deserving people are neglected.

The necessary concomitant of this hierarchical and undemocratic attitude is the disrespect shown to the worth and capability of deserving, talented people by centralizing decision making power in political parties in the hands of a few. These leaders make capricious decisions based solely on their likes and dislikes. There is no accountability or transparency in their decision making, the end result is the marginalization of the common citizen. Our leaders utter themantra of empowerment but simultaneously promote a social order that disfranchises the common people.

In today’s politics, the incapable and the unqualified flaunt blind faithfulness to their leaders. This consequently generates intense competition between all those incapable to capture positions of high power. They deceive others by showing extreme loyalty, accompanied by lying, cheating, blaming others, indulging in cheap self- projection. This is not healthy for any society.

Certainly, those who are capable are always present in every field and in all times. There are several enlightened people whose hearts and minds are clear and honest, those who will never sell themselves money, power and positions. There is always the hope that in the course of time, capable people will overcome hurdles and show the light of knowledge in this sea of darkness and those who achieve position and power by flattery and showing despicable servility will retain it only a short period of time.

The question is to whom will all this be said and who will listen if all are from the same nest?