Jaipur's Intangible Heritage - Will it survive?

Will Jaipur’s Intangible Heritage Survive? by Ajay Singha - Raconteur Indica 
Jaipur was selected as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in mid 2019 and shortly thereafter the Chief Minister of Rajasthan announced plans for developing a heritage walk zone in the walled city. A plethora of photographs were unleashed comparing buildings before and after restoration and extolling the work done by successive governments. The work done over the years, however, retains focus on the built heritage and architecture of the city. This tangible heritage is just the tip of the iceberg and gets easily covered in media lending undue weight to obvious and apparent aspects while neglecting the intangible heritage of Jaipur. The unique and mostly intangible heritage of Jaipur is inextricably interwoven with the tangible and apparent aspects of the city’s social fabric.

Skills, knowledge and practices have passed from generation to generation and reflect the collective cultural and living heritage of Jaipur. Living this heritage brings forth a special sense of identity among the citizens and distinguishes it from other cities. A unique image of the town’s composite heritage and persona is projected to the rest of India and the outside world. Traditional Culture, clothing, food dishes, rituals, and mannerisms are the main stay of the city’s intangible heritage. The whole range of performing, visual and other art forms account for what can be captured by the lens and projected through media. Some aspects of this heritage have taken a more tangible form and therefore stand a higher chance of survival because of the apparent visibility.

Fortunately the city’s heritage has several capable keepers including non-governmental organisations like the Jaipur Virasat foundation, INTACH and others. In a large and diversely composed nation like India organisations have limited outreach for impacting social change. Both collectively and individually the people of Jaipur must actively live the heritage to ensure its continuity and preservation. In the background of continued development of Jaipur as a Smart and modern city there is a danger that the tide of social and cultural transformation could drown the city’s unique living heritage.

Fortunately the traditional manufacturing processes and professions of Jaipur adapted well to the socio-economic progress in the last few decades and became the main stay of the region’s economic growth. Hand block printing, pottery, jewellery, paper, handicrafts etc have done well commercially. The original processes and techniques may have given way to modern and often machine dependant technologies. These intangible original processes and methods of manufacturing continue to fade and need far greater understanding by the people if they are to survive. Local dialects, the art of storytelling like “Phad banchna” and other oral traditions are under tremendous pressure to survive. They have no economic model which makes their survival commercially unviable and consequently attract very few sponsors.

Observing seasonal and religious festivals has received positive support from the tourism sector and needs careful monitoring to prevent inadvertent metamorphosis into crass commercialisation. Teej, Gangaur and Diwali festivals and related processions are here to stay. The elephant processions, band marches, folk dance and music events must involve students, public and visiting tourists. This participatory model has done wonders for the success of Literature and music festivals which go much beyond the heritage of Jaipur.  Government policy must dictate that heritage events must be announced a year in advance and never ad-hoc so that both Indian and foreign tourists include them in their travel plans.

Ancient and traditional sports, games and hobbies receive sporadic support from private groups which makes their survival non-sustainable. These events have never been main streamed by the authorities and have limited appeal beyond the sphere of the city’s cultural heritage. Kite flying, pigeon flying and hawking (recognised by UNESCO) etc. have wildlife and environmental concerns and are heading towards imminent oblivion. Traditionally they were dependant on local benefactors because of the strong participatory element involving the local population.  More acceptable games like chaupar, satoliya, gilli-danda, kancha, rassa-kheench etc are unlikely to survive this decade as benefactors and sponsors compare their popularity and outreach to contemporary options. One way of popularising these would be to encourage sponsorship from government contractors and suppliers by offering them monetary concessions and tax relief.    

Unique heritage walks and exclusive no-vehicle zones are great initiatives of the government but await local public acceptance and political approval. World over such heritage zones are great crowd pullers and become economic engines creating employment for the locals and revenue for the administration. Intangible heritage of Jaipur must be actively exposed in these zones and economically viable models devised for display of short performances, jugglers and entertainers. This is essential if the intangible heritage of Jaipur is to remain sustainable and economically viable for all parties. To gain public support and perception in support of no vehicle zones and heritage walks the economic advantages for locals must be spelt out upfront.

Over the years various aspects of the city’s heritage have been identified, documented and researched. The present academic and research based model must be replaced by corporate and commercial thought processes. Contemporary market and advertising strategies must be introduced by replacing the decision makers. This approach will allow controlled commercialisation for various aspects of intangible heritage. What is not tangible must be encouraged to flourish through economically viable models developed by imaginative and out of the box thinking. In today’s commercial environment the intangible heritage of Jaipur must be made strong enough to survive without the tax payer’s financial support.

Kite flying is an intangible heritage which has survived. It needs greater acceptability by the educated middle class which tends to disrespect hobbies unconnected to IT.

  

Maharana Pratap: The Invincible Warrior by Rima Hooja (Juggernaut) Book Review by Ajay Singha, Raconteur Indica

The author Prof. Rima Hooja (Ph.D Cambridge)  is an  Archaeologist and a leading authority on the history of Rajasthan. She has written several books including the Comprehensive History of Rajasthan.

Accounts relating to famous personalities in India tend to be hagiographic and distance the hero from the social and historical realities of that period. This account of Maharana Pratap is written by a scholar-historian of repute who narrates a great story while maintaining academic sobriety. The imagination stops short of becoming historical fiction and the book is an account based on sound research, yet very interesting for the lay reader.

In 1572, the 54^th custodian of the illustrious house of Mewar inherited a seat of stone instead of a gilded throne and to top it all, his anointment took place in the open air. In spite of being his father’s eldest son, Pratap was not appointed heir but unlike his arrogant ancestor Vikramaditya, he had powerful friends both among his own clan members as well as other castes and tribes. This positive trait ensured Pratap’s quick accession and held him in good stead in the tumultuous years that followed. Brought up with tales of valour, honour and pride, Pratap was profoundly influenced by these lofty ideals which were deeply ingrained in his persona and dominated his destiny.

Akbar’s Rajput policy encouraged co-opting enemies, near enemies or potential enemies as friends, in order to use them as proficient warriors and allies for future campaigns. Some of the rulers saw political advantage in this policy and forged matrimonial bonds acknowledging Mughal supremacy. Following an alliance with Amber, several Rajput rulers reached amicable arrangements with the Mughals. Once again, Pratap like his father and grandfather refused imperial dominance and stood as the odd one out. The years of resistance and conflict that followed produced a rubric around which legends, stories and poems were composed both around his persona as well as the principles and ideals he upheld.

In 1576 Pratap confronted the imperial Mughal army at Haldighati using a traditional battle formation. Experience would teach him to change his attack tactics and adopt innovative strategies in future. He stood steadfast and unchanged only on his core beliefs and commitments.  The travel writer Badayuni who witnessed the event reported 500 slain. Later accounts would quote much higher figures possibly to emphasise the gravitas associated with the major protagonists. Both sides claimed victory as there was no surrender by Mewar and the Mughals continued in the field. The author points out the important role played by Raja Mansingh of Amber who was in charge of the Mughal forces. This resulted in the Maharana’s escape from the battlefield and on the Raja’s part attracted severe censure from the emperor.

 

Pratap continued to evade capture and remained a profound symbol of defiance to the mighty Mughals. Attracted by the very desperations of Pratap’s fortunes several others pressed to his standard. He was supported by the wealth and fidelity of his relatives, clansmen and well wishers. The famous Bhama Shah came up with a large amount of wealth which would sustain the Maharana’s war efforts. When faced with insurmountable challenges assistance from sympathisers and supporters would soon be forthcoming. Pratap like his ancestors shifted the command and control to locations inaccessible to the unwieldy Mughal army. To commemorate the desolation of Chittor, the Maharana interdicted to himself and his followers all articles of luxury and pomp until their honour was restored. Why was it so important for Akbar to subdue Mewar? The author argues that the reasons went beyond the obvious and had deeper roots in the individual psyche of the opposing protagonists.

A "SUN" is Born

Much later Col. James Tod would write “Mewar pride themselves as having preserved their blood uncontaminated and became an object of respect and envy to those who had forfeited the pretensions of a Rajput”. Chittor may have been sacked before and during the reign of Pratap but the spirit of the Mewar rulers always remained undefeated. Social scientists and teachers alike would draw much value and inspiration from this and other veracities of Pratap’s life. Much after his death his stand would yield dividends for his successors as none would dare challenge the illustrious house of Mewar. Rahim the 16^th Century poet in Akbar’s court who is famous for his couplets would write “Land and wealth will disappear but the virtue of a great name lives forever”

Bhamashah presents financial support

The author points out that trade and the arts continued to survive if not flourish in this difficult period. The Chavand school produced unique miniature paintings and various Ragamalas depicting the changing moods and seasons were composed. This is an interesting feature which underlines the popular support Pratap received and sustains the belief that conflict and social change can coexist and flourish. The book refers to periods before and after the incident of Haldighati and provides a rich canvas to understand the enigma of Pratap as well as the social history of those times. The Maharana was most certainly an inspiration for Shivaji in the following century. Though Chittor was not won back during his life time Pratap’s son was able to get it back albeit under terms of a treaty which saved face and prevented further bloodshed.

Courage in the face of adversity, death before dishonour and other lofty ideals of valour and bravery were deeply embedded in Pratap’s psyche. He so impressed and mesmerised his opponents that on his death the poet Dursa Charan lamented “ Now as the Badshah learns of your passing he does not rejoice. All know (the Emperor) has fallen into a deep silence”. The author concludes that this was indeed Pratap’s final victory.

 

Prof.Dr. Rima Hooja, Author-Academic-Archaeologist

Frontiers - A Historical Saga by Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran (Penguin) Book Review by Ajay Singha, Raconteur Indica

It is 1648 and the young Maratha warrior Shivaji has successfully repulsed an attack by the Adil Shahi forces on Purandar hill, a fort nestled in the Western Ghats of the Indian sub-continent. Further away Mughal forces successfully enter Hyderabad, capital of the Qutub Shahi kingdom. The diamond mines, control of tobacco trade and forests teeming with elephants are finally under imperial control.

17th century Hindustan is in turmoil and the Mughal empire has reached its zenith. Kings and Sultans have accumulated untold wealth as Shivaji enters the scene to fulfil his dream of self rule through “Swaraj”. This book is a well researched historical fiction based on two personalities, Shivaji and Aurangzeb, who for diametrically opposed reasons, find themselves grappling with their personal frontiers. It is an account of the high level of determination and resource fullness the young Maratha leader mustered when faced with impossible odds. Aurangzeb the last of the great Mughals will forcefully take over a throne soaked in the blood of his kin. He is reminded by his uncle Shaista Khan that Aurangzeb’s frontiers are waging war against his father, brothers and perhaps even his sons. Shivaji’s duty was to serve the masters of his father but he has chosen another path. He has drawn new frontiers of “Swaraj” that did not exist before. Conflict between the two is imminent. This book is written in a style which takes the reader up close to the principal characters and shares the action as momentous events in their lives unfold.

Shivaji Maharaj Chatrapati

As a child, Shivaji remembers being woken up one night by his mother with cries of “mughal armies” and is bundled up quickly to escape imminent capture. Later, as he leads Maratha armies into battle, Shivaji infuses valour and determination in the minds of his people by visions of victory, divine blessings and personal valour. With cries of “HarHar Mahadev” the Marathas recapture several forts and generate the much needed revenue for financing their war.

Purandar Hill Fort-Western Ghats

For Aurangzeb the battle of Ujjain is decisive to determine who will succeed to the Mughal throne. Descriptions of the battle and its aftermath are interesting and keep the reader engaged. The author describes the fate of Humayun’s chosen heir Dara Shikoh who is routed and on the run. Aurangzeb lays siege to the Agra fort imprisoning his own father. Murad Baksh, his younger brother who was loyal to Aurangzeb till the end is also treacherously imprisoned. Dara Shikoh is captured by Mirza Raja Jai Singh and put to death after a mock trial, accused amongst other crimes for writing a treatise on the virtues of Hinduism and Sufism “The Mingling of Two Oceans”.

Mughal emperor Aurangzeb

Observing a fatally wounded bird Aurangzeb has penned a verse: “The world changes - In a twinkle, in a breath! A moment ago it was life! Now it is death!” The scene shifts to the Deccan where Afzal Khan, the General of the Adil Shahi kingdom is lured by Shivaji to meet and discuss the terms of Shiva’s surrender. Both are aware that the very nature of this mission calls for treachery, cunning and fraudulence but are left with no options but to meet. Shivaji gets the better of the Khan and slays him, using a “baghnach”, concealed tiger claws. Aurangzeb, furious with this news deploys the imperial forces in full strength against the Marathas. Their lands are systematically laid waste and Shivaji is forced to seek compromise. He is invited to attend Aurangzeb’s coronation and discuss a lasting settlement. Both Shivaji and his son Sambhaji are treacherously trapped by the Mughals in Agra but manage to escape using a most ingenious trick of impersonation.

The story concludes leaving the Mughal emperor deeply frustrated and Shivaji and his son parted. The war is on. Aurangzeb has decided that that this will be his final frontier and he will bathe the Deccan with Bhosale blood. The “Frontiers” is not just a story of who Shivaji was but who he was up against. Exchange of witty dialogues between the principal protagonists makes it an interesting read. The ending of this book promises scope for a sequel by a writer who successfully infuses life into historical characters and shares their personal fears and trepidations with the reader.

The author - Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran

October 2018

Putting Consumers First: Essays in honour of Pradeep Mehta. (CUTS 2018) Book Review by Ajay Singha former Head of AmCham India and former Deputy DG Indo-German Chamber.

Celebrating the 70^th birthday of Mr. Pradeep Mehta, Founder of CUTS International.

  Written by prominent personalities who have shaped economic policies in the global trading regime, the authors represent a lot for those engaged in international business and multilateral institutions. Prof. Jagdish Bhagwati outlines the range of activities undertaken by CUTS and concludes his foreword by regarding Pradeep Mehta as a “Living Treasure”. Views expressed appear personal but in fact reflect a lifetime of experiences in each writers’ career and their own interaction with the CUTS movement. Noted political economist Dr Sanjay Baru has edited the book along with Abhishek Kumar and refers to Pradeep as a great advocate for competition reforms in the developing world. He goes on to add that he was best Chairman that the Competition Commission of India never had.

Consumer interest is central to the book and essays reflect the critical nature of this subject in the well being of functioning democracies globally. There is common understanding that better governance, effective regulations and rules based trade nurtures and protects consumer interest across continents.  The essays collectively reflect the core ethos of CUTS, namely: Creating value for the People.

The book confirms that across nations there is a basic convergence on issues which promote the concept of: “Putting Consumers First”.

The power pendulum has now shifted from the West to the East. Distrust caused by the North South divide has perhaps led to the present state of affairs in the global trading order. Multilateral trading systems are stressed like never before and likely to give way if further deterioration goes unchecked. The WTO and other global organisations have come into existence after tremendous deliberations between nations over a sustained period of time. Nations realize that at the core of each country’s democratic values lies consumer interest of their ordinary citizens. The Nation State has come a long way from the policy of “Caveat Emptor” to multiple regulations protecting not only individual consumer interest but collective national issues relating to competition and freedom of choice.

Global trading and regulatory organisations reflect the realities of the time when they were created and may no longer be relevant to the present world order. An important reality pointed out by C Raja Mohan is that today no region in the world can be an exclusive area of influence. Greater collaboration is the need of the hour, when in fact the world is moving away from multilateralism. Suresh Prabhu’s efforts at converting railway passengers to active consumers and co-creators is a welcome initiative. It should be replicated in other spheres where consumers interact with government.

Ashok Ganguly rightly states that every aspect of Globalisation was not necessarily positive. The liberalisation of banking regulations generated a sense of unnatural exuberance which led to the banking crisis of 2008. Unprecedented growth of wealth in advanced countries rewarded a small fraction of the already well to do. The bulk of the population received only the dregs and there was no significant impact on the health, nutrition and poverty levels of the people. Globalisation also witnessed the Arab Spring which soon became a nightmare, terrorist attacks in New York and war with Iraq were other notable setbacks.

Some of the authors have suggested specific solutions emanating from their individual area of expertise in order to address larger socio-economic challenges. Isher Judge Ahluwalia projects Cities as engines of growth, Shakti Sinha emphasises Green power and Pawan Munjal suggests housing as a great multiplier. What all should be included in the ambit of consumer welfare remains debatable and offers a wide scope for discussion. Signals suggest that the world might be slipping from the lofty goals of globalisation into a period of disorder and uncertainty. UK’s Brexit, political developments in Europe and the American position on WTO are key pointers in this direction.

Pradeep Mehta’s favourite line: “There are no failures only deferred success” gives hope for succour to the multilateralists.  Pradeep’s life story of showing the way when odds confront progress could do its bit in motivating many of us. His advice of “Converting every setback into an opportunity” is most relevant for addressing the unfolding global economic challenges today. The book is recommended for scholars of economics, development studies and international relations as well as officials engaged in trade and economic diplomacy.

September 2018, Jaipur-India.

Pakistan At the Helm by Tilak Devasher (Harper Collins) Book review by Ajay Singha, Raconteur Indica

Peppered with anecdotes and incidents from the lives of those who ruled Pakistan, the book shares some deep insights into human nature. Personalities matter more than policies in this part of the world, becomes evident from this study in emotions, complexes, strengths and weaknesses of individual characters. As political leaders move from high prominence into most certain ruin, history seems to repeat itself over and over again.

Tilak, an alumnus of the Mayo College and St. Stephen’s is indeed a great story teller and has infused good interest into a subject of concern to those watching the constantly evolving politics of the Indian subcontinent.  As former Special Secretary Cabinet (Government of India), Tilak had a ringside view of foreign and political affairs unfolding in the region.  Based on evidence supporting his research, the author takes us on a chronological course through uncertain and perilous times which Pakistan seems to perpetually find itself in. Through snapshots of individual lives we move from one momentous event in the country’s history to the other. He weaves a story which is well grounded in facts and skillfully interwoven with interesting vignettes.

Iskander Mirza, 1st President of Pakistan-descendant of Mir Jafer

Tilak argues that right from the beginning the Pakistani leadership had a “tactical” mindset, seeking short term solutions rather than looking at the long term picture. With the demise of Jinnah in 1948, the Muslim League was driven into low level intrigues and factions emerged with the sole aim of capturing personal power and wealth.  The constitution of Pakistan was unceremoniously abrogated in 1958. The one who ordered this act, the first President of Pakistan, Iskander Mirza found himself ousted from the country and later died a pauper in England.  As it turns out President Mirza was a descendant of Mir Jafer of Plassey notoriety.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah

“One suffering from megalomania in it’s worst form” is how Lord Mountbatten describes MA Jinnah, the central figure in Pakistan’s hall of fame.  The author points out that while the country had seven PMs during 1951 to 1958 the army chief remained the same. The army had undoubtedly got well entrenched, much before any democratic institutions took root in the country. The two Indo-Pak wars and the Kargil intrusions reflect the troubling mindsets of Pakistani Generals. An astonishing act of betrayal and deceit with India was that PM Nawaz Sharif knew about Pakistan’s planned intrusion into Kargil well before the friendly Lahore bus yatra with Indian PM Vajyapayee.

Vajpayee's friendly bus trip to Lahore

A strange paradox becomes evident to the reader when Pakistani dictators seem to move from a one man show towards a faux democracy whereas elected civilians tend to shift in the reverse direction ending up as autocrats. Another reality which gets highlighted is the continuous close meddling by the Americans in Pakistan’s internal affairs. The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reported to have spoken six times in one day to sort out certain differences between Parvez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto shortly before she was assassinated.

Pakistan continues to be a deeply feudalistic State and there are mentions of several degenerate celebrations which took place to further social relations between members of the ruling class. Shikar parties and bacchanalia dating to colonial times stick like dead weight and continue to dominate the life styles of the power elite in the country.

A feudal, debauch and corrupted society

The deadly ingredients of corruption, crime, embezzlement and political machinations create a heady mix and emerge as the preferred choice of the country’s political leadership. This cruel and uncertain reality is yet to be effaced from their history and exemplifies the old adage that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 

Scholars of history will appreciate that human nature has indeed remained unchanged over the centuries. Political personalities appearing in this book bear uncanny similarities with historical characters from the past. Greed, avarice, ruthlessness and a single minded devotion to personal wealth seem to dominate the minds of the so called great leaders from our neighboring nation.

“The entire empire was the personal estate of the ruler, instead of the rule of law there was the law of the ruler” this sums up the state of affairs in present day Pakistan. This continuing tale is therefore of grave relevance for India in the present geopolitical context and the undulating power play in our neighborhood. The book is recommended for everyone interested in a deeper understanding of Pakistani politics and their relations with India. 

The author-Tilak Devasher

September 2018

The Spy Chronicles: RAW ISI and the Illusion of Peace by AS Dulat. Book Review by Ajay Singha, Raconteur Indica

Pointing to the horizon where the sea and sky appear to merge, Saadat Munto the Pakistani playwright said, “It is only an illusion because they can’t really meet, but isn’t it beautiful the union which isn’t really there”. This quote pretty much captures the spirit under which this book was written and addresses concerns on Indo-Pak relations which dominate the minds of several generations in both countries.

As Chiefs of their respective Spy agencies Dulat and Durrani had ringside views of the constantly changing colours and engagement levels in security matters of the subcontinent and beyond. The book is written by super spooks who rarely came out in the open and operate behind the scenes 24x7. Consequently this book must not be read literally. The authors very often state something but actually imply a much deeper meaning in related contexts. An understanding of contemporary security concerns as well as the evolving international balance of power would be useful for a better appreciation of the book. The lay reader is advised to read between the lines, notice which questions are ignored and which ones are answered through standard diplomatic jargon.

Both Dulat and Durrani are past masters in the ancient art of spying and one can well imagine their poker faced expressions while responding to matters of State to their political masters. In this game only so much, as has been expressed, can be said and not beyond. After that actions overtake words and history is created. As a result, this book is not sufficiently hawkish for the less informed reader looking for scandals, whodunits and political intrigue. Fortunately the book is not boringly academic and has adopted a fine literary style in common with Dulat’s previous work.

 

Socratic Diaologues in Progress

The dialogue format used in the book is an ancient method of communication and has roots in ancient civilisations including the Greek and Indian traditions for imparting knowledge. Though seldom used in present times, this uniquely light style allows readers to engage and disengage with a book at will, without losing track of the main story line. The dialogue format traditionally follows a somewhat disjointed approach as the story unfolds and is also reflected in the present book under review. With the prevailing low attention spans and even shorter focus periods, this style of writing will find very high acceptance with the younger readership globally. The dialogue format has enabled to uncover ugly truths about ISI’s support for Kashmir militants, double crossing the US and support for the Taliban. On a broader note it provides an excellent study of the geo-politics & prevailing security issues in the Indian subcontinent, presented in a format for which credit must be given to Aditya Sinha. 

The dialogue was a preferred method of exchanging knowledge in Greek and Roman times

Choreographed surgical strikes and the reality behind the US action on Bin Laden can be compared somewhat ludicrously to canned lion hunts, conducted by trophy hunters in Africa. A major difference between RAW and ISI gets inadvertently highlighted. Whereas both focus on analysis and intelligence, the latter unlike the former provides core support to the Deep State that actually runs Pakistan.    

The efforts of RAW and ISI also seem to contribute towards managing perceptions, a key ingredient for satisfying the expectations of the electorates in both countries. It sadly emerges that Pakistan may no longer have the ability to bear the political cost of reining in terrorists like Hafiz Saeed. Another development is confirmed by the authors when they agree that ever since Kashmiri militancy started the movement has now become pretty much indigenous to the valley. Dulat says that any discussion on Article 370 has become meaningless and it has been gutted to the extent that nothing is left in the matter.  

The solutions offered for regaining normalcy between India and Pakistan are on expected lines and may offer succour to a beleaguered populace but it is apparent that a lot more needs to be done to open new avenues for future dialogue and cooperation. A fascinating chimera emerges from a correspondence between the US and Russian Presidents: “Tell the people there is a bridge across the river and if people start believing there is a bridge, then even if there is no bridge it will serve the purpose”.  Such is the reality dotting the entire matrix of Indo-Pak relations that the reader ends up asking more questions than the book addresses in the dialogue.    

An interactive session with Mr. AS Dulat took place at the Ashok Club in Jaipur. Dulat has been Special Director IB and later Chief of RAW. The dialogue partner was Mr. Amitabh Mathur, former Special Secretary RAW. In addition to his book the participants also discussed the way forward in the light of the recent changes in Pakistan’s political dispensation as well as the changed scenarion in India.

The author: AS Dulat

When Crime Pays–Money & Muscle in Indian Politics by Milan Vaishnav. Book review by Ajay Singha Raconteur Indica

India is perpetually on election mode and the country continues to witness a disturbing alliance between crime and politics. How did this phenomena creep into the Indian electoral process? What transpired over the years in Indian politics, that crime and politics became willing bed partners? Why would criminals contest elections leaving their murky business aside?  Why do political parties accept such tainted individuals and most baffling of all – why would honest people vote for such individuals when they are fully aware of their criminal antecedents?

These are questions addressed by the author, Milan Viashnav, in this painstakingly well researched book.

Milan is Senior Associate at the Carnegie Foundation in Washington DC and has been a Fellow at the Centre for Global Development Studies. He has taught at Columbia, George Washington and Georgetown Universities. This book is an extension of his Research Thesis and includes almost nothing which is not supported by empirical evidence, statistical analysis and credible references, the hallmark of an erudite scholar-academic.

 

As the next round of elections is around the corner, the informed public in India will do well to read this book and improve their insight into this expanding unholy nexus across political formations between politics and crime. According to data compiled by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), 24% of Members of Parliament elected in 20014 faced criminal charges, this figure grew to 30 % in 2009 and climbed to 34 % in 2014.

The book highlights a major factor supporting this rising phenomena, namely that criminals self finance their political campaign. Political parties are invariably short of finances and such offers topped with additional contributions helps plug the fiscal gap albeit at the cost of overlooking their criminal antecedents.

Over time the criminal politician’s capability to resolve local issues and get things done projects them in a modern Robin Hood image. Pappu Yadav, Mohammad Shahbuddin, Arun Gawli, Madhu Koda, Raja Bhaiya, Phoolan Devi are names synonymous with this rising phenomena. A quintile analysis of the poorest to richest candidates in past election reveals that the richest have substantially higher chances of election victory but only if combined with a tag of high criminality. Viewed from the context of Indian political history a jail term may not have extreme negative connotations but it would be excessive to suggest that the common voter cannot differentiate between the reasons for incarceration for Jawaharlal Nehru and Pappu Yadav.

Indian democracy, as it turns out, comprises of individuals steeped in the world of crime.....not white-collar crimes like corruption and bribery, but serious offenses like murder, kidnapping, arson etc.  Brazil, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan and Philippines suffer similar challenges and moot the questions - Is this the price citizens must pay for democracy? and how did the US and other democratic nations cope with this phenomena?

This book is not about illiterate and ignorant voters being misled into voting for criminal candidates or the information gap between fact and reality. The book presents evidence supporting a strong correlation between constituencies of criminal candidates and localities with caste identity issues. A notable exception being West Bengal where party-identification overrides caste and religious identity. 

The author retains the academic gravitas associated with research and incorporates desk work with field study examples and interviews. The book discusses the rot which set into the grand old party from its early inception, as the power base shifted from visionaries and statesmen to opportunistic rent seekers. Complex aspects of political science, sociology, economics and history have been used with multiple references, notes and appendix. The lay reader may find this a bit intimidating but it is quite essential for supporting view points, defending stated positions and stand the scrutiny of critics. 

What remains unexplored is the effect criminality in politics will have on people’s attitudes, their trust and belief in the rule of law, their basic perceptions of politics may get adversely influenced and will impact their decisions for joining politics. In a country with a close to zero transparency in political contributions the road ahead looks quite murky and only political reforms can determine the direction for democracy and public institutions. India can provide one billion people with unique biometric identification numbers but struggles to enforce the rule of law and basic facilities for the common man, this duality, according to Lloyd and Sussan Rudolh is the paradox of the “Weak-Strong State”.

In conclusion the author quotes Francis Fukuyama’s three essentials for a healthy democracy - effective State apparatus - adherence to the Rule of Law and - democratic Accountability. The informed citizenry is advised to read such a well researched book and draw their own lessons for further debate on the subject under review. It is also high time that a nation with the motto “Satyameva Jayate: Truth alone triumphs” acts decisively to prevent the entry of criminals into the country’s political main stream.

May 2018