M K George S J

Rome, Aug 30, 2020: For an ordinary Indian or an observer of India, lynching is no big breaking news. According to The Quint, 113 people have been lynched in India since 2015.

What really happens in a lynching scene? As proven in all the cases, there is an allegation, often unproved and disproved later, about issues like cow slaughter, attack on caste, people and others. A mob gathers as if from nowhere and beats up or murders the alleged victim or victims.

Police are invariably late to arrive on the scene or remain mute spectators if they are around. In some cases the police themselves become victims, especially if they choose to support the victim. And not rarely, they join the mob.

Here, I want to talk about the lynching of democracy not only in India but also across the world. Democracy is taking a beating and authoritarianism is becoming the fashion. Says Martin Wolf, a British Journalist, “Authoritarianism is on the march. It is not only on the march in relatively poor countries. It is on the march in well-off countries, too — including, most significantly, the US, the country that defended and promoted liberal democracy throughout the 20th century.”

According to the Freedom House Reports, 50 countries in the world are not free at all. The worst of the worst, the report says are: Central African Republic, Tajikistan, Libya, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Ecuadorian Guinea, North Korea, South Sudan, Eritrea, Turkmenistan, and Syria.

The report adds that in 2018, Armenia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Iraq, Cambodia, Poland, Cameron, Sri Lanka, China and Tanzania showed developments that cast shadows on their democratic trajectories. After looking at the criteria by which the Freedom report makes the judgement, you may choose to include or not to include India in the list.

Signs and symptoms to watch out

In determining whether a country is going the authoritarian way, there are six signs and symptoms to watch out for. First, elections: If there is a decline in the electoral processes, it’s a cause for worry. Second, term limits for the Chief Executive. When the top executives try to revise term limits, it is a sign that authoritarianism is on the way.

Third, ethnic cleansing. When a country forces changes in the ethnic makeup of a country, it is a sign that democracy is on the decline. Fourth, freedom of expression. Severe restraint in the freedom of media, in the form of controlling media institutions and intimidation of media persons, and, of late, digital authoritarianism, are sure signs of a decline in democracy. Fifth, the rights of migrants and refugees. How the migrants and refugees are treated is a pointer to the health of a democracy. Sixth, safety of the expats. How are the expatriates, exiles and Diasporas targeted?

Judging India

Where India is, in terms of her democratic trajectory is difficult to decide, primarily because of the din of contradictory reports. Just as an example, on a typical day of one newspaper had two responses on the Indian Nation, one contradicting the other. Rajnath Singh, obviously from the ruling front, said, ‘Leading India to full independence: In the past year, PM Modi has brought back credibility to politics and unveiled radical reforms.’ In contrast, Sitaram Yechury said, ‘Modi 2.0: Dark clouds have engulfed the nation. The government has undermined secular democracy, social justice, federalism and economic self-reliance.’

Common man is left to take a stand based on the hard data that bounces on his or her consciousness every day through the media and direct experiences. Time for neutrality is over. Either we work to strengthen democracy or perish as a democratic nation.

How not to be part of a lynching Mob?

Mobs tend to have a core inner circle and a less active outer circle, which can at any time turn into an active inner circle. Those of us Indians who passively watch what is happening to the country are indeed part of the lynching mob. We are allowing the mob to do their job and some of us in turn might be forced to be part of the inner circle.

There are two steps that can be taken to not be part of the lynching mob. First, critically read the situation of the nation. Do not blindly believe the leaders. Let me quote Martin Wolf again, “Cynical politicians, able to lie as easily as they breathe, make progress in populations already cynical about those in charge. Their supporters may or may not believe that the new leader has the answers. But they have become convinced that the old ones do not.”

And the second step is to speak up. Speak up for democracy. More importantly, live a democratic style, in your family, work setting, religious structures and your social networks.

Democracy is not fool proof in protecting human lives and dignity. But, it definitely is better than any other living political systems. “Although democracy is far from a perfect political system, it is undoubtedly an important tool in achieving equality, decreasing conflict, and increasing civic engagement, making it the best available system of government.” writes a 16 year old school girl.

Would we have her wisdom?

(Father George Mutholil is the Jesuits’regional assistant for South Asia. The social scientist is based in Rome.)