Expect the proselytisation in favour of Moditva to begin in earnest now, notwithstanding the many anti-conversion laws that bedevil other religions. Actually, this job is already half done, with universities and colleges, ‘autonomous’ institutions, the civil services and the top brass of the defence forces, Bollywood, the media and RWAs already brought into the fold. The judiciary needs a few more strategically prodded Collegium postings to be fully baptised. The rest shall be done by Apostle Gyanesh Kumar.
There may, however, be a problem with this ‘Move Over, RSS!’ moment. Will this hoary organisation, founded on the old Hindutva ethos, simply play ball and turn belly-up? Or will it see Mr Modi’s Second Coming as its own Final Going? And is the new Godhood even possible without the RSS singing hymns and psalms to it?
These questions shall be answered, methinks, not at Philippi, but in Uttar Pradesh next year. Till then, dear reader, join a choir and start practising. There is much singing to be done yet.
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The SIR (Special Intensive Revision) started as a catastrophe in Bihar and Bengal but has now become a farce in Delhi.
India is perhaps the only country in the world — outside the totalitarian ambit — where even retired judges, an ex-vice president, a serving election commissioner, chief ministers of states, a retired Army chief, retired ambassadors, a former deputy prime minister and the chief of its premier federal investigative agency, all pillars of the nation — have to prove their voter status and citizenship. This, even though they have all voted in the past and have adorned the highest posts in the land.
They are in the company of four million other Delhi voters, almost 40 per cent of the existing voter list. Who says we are one of the world’s leading unequal nations? With his indiscriminate carpet-bombing of voters, Mr Gyanesh Kumar has not only struck a blow for equity, but has also reduced our population by 130 million, as Mr S.Y. Quraishi has pointed out.
