By M K George

Rome, Aug 12, 2023: Most narratives on India are incomplete and at times false. Given the complex history and diversity of the country, this is no surprise.

The current problem is, while some prefer a narrative supportive of the present regime, that this is the best time for India with unprecedented development and world recognition, others believe that it is destroying the very fabric of the nation and her people.

While there may be nuances to the varying narratives, I look at the two duelling narratives, one that is pro-ruling party and the other anti-ruling party.

Pro-ruling party narrative

Harish Salve (India News NDTV News Desk August 8) claimed that ‘false narrative on democracy are created mostly within India. He claimed that there is ‘an anti-entrepreneurial mindset of “vested interests” and that the courts are being used by countries to try and stall India’s progress.’

He further claimed that ‘false narratives about “the death of democracy” and free speech in India are aimed at stalling the country’s progress and are emerging mostly from within the country’

He claimed in an interview, “Nobody can say anything about India’s economic progress. So, a narrative is created about India – “democracy is dead in India.” That you are able to stand in India and say ‘democracy is dead’ is biggest proof that democracy is alive. Unfortunately, the narrative is being created mostly from India.”

In essence, the core of this narrative is that India is progressing, is set to be the third largest economy in the world by 2025 and that all this talk about ‘democracy is dead’ is distraction from a great nation forging ahead under the present leadership.

Contrasting View

All this talk about developing India is just publicity. Real facts are different.

One specific instance, the suspension of K S James, director of International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), can be taken as an example of the counter narrative. The recent National Family Health Survey report that the IIPS released has caused the suspension of James. He was suspended because he dared to publish the truth about the so-called development in India.

“It is the latest release of this NFHS report that has told the nation that 19 percent of Indian households defecate in the open (NFHS-5, for 2019-2021), an improvement from 39 percent who were reported practising open defecation in NFHS-4, for 2015-16.

For rural India, NFHS-5 said 26 percent of households still had no access to toilets and so practised open defecation. This is an improvement in numbers over the years, but still (if you like to look at it that way), it punctures the Prime Minister’s sweeping claim made in 2019 that rural India is open defecation-free already, as part of ongoing programs to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.”

The NFHS -5 report (2019–2021) has other statistics that ‘tell us that India is not really doing well. Anaemia, for example, has risen. As many as 67 percent of children aged six months to five years during NHFS-5 had anaemia (haemoglobin levels below 11.0 g/dl), which is higher than the NFHS-4 estimate of 59 percent. Anaemia in children leads to slower growth and impacts neurodevelopment.’

Jagadish Rattanani wrote, ‘The suspension would once again raise fears of a high-handed administration ready to go to any lengths to control institutions and punish those who cannot be reined in.’ (Deccan Herald August 1, 2023).

In other words, the hugely publicized data about the so-called growth of India is a one-sided report, as revealed by the sample NFHS 5 report, hiding reality than revealing the actualities.

And in India today, those who reveal the truth will be either put behind bars or side-lined.

And the largest Democracy

To a question whether India is the largest democracy in the world Arundhati Roy responded, “A democracy doesn’t just mean having regular elections. You cannot be a democracy when 200 million people who constitute a religious minority are expected to live without rights. When you can lynch them, kill them, incarcerate them, economically and socially boycott them, bulldoze their homes with complete immunity and threaten to strip them of citizenship. When the murderers and lynchers can aspire to move swiftly up the political ladder.” (CNN June 22, 2022)

The recent Manipur tragedy and numbers of victims confirm the fears of Roy.

Isn’t the fact that any riot in India can be controlled within 48 hours if the government so wants it, but that Manipur has been burning for more than three months? Isn’t it a clear failure of the government and democratic institutions?

The people of Manipur, especially the victims of violence, believe that this was an effort at genocide supported by the powers that be.

How the world sees India

While the present rulers of India is fond of saying, foreigners have no right to speak on India as it is an internal matter, the fact remains that outside world looks at us, and judges us.

In a very insightful and critical article titled ‘Politics push India to the brink of chaos,’ Debashish Roy Chowdhary (NYT August 10) says, ‘ The targeting of minorities-particularly Muslims – by right-wing Hindu extremists is now a way of life in many states. Vigilante mobs, who often assemble provocatively in front of mosques, regularly assault Muslims as understaffed and underequipped police fail to intervene. Lynchings and open calls for genocide are common. India now ranks among the top 10 countries at the highest risk of mass killings, according to Early Warning Project, which assesses such risks around the world.’

The writing on the wall is clear:

‘…A political strategy of conspicuous humiliation and subjugation of ethnic and religious minorities that make up around one-fifth of the population is dangerously deluded. India can either be a conflict zone or an economic power house – not both.’

Time to take sides

In the context of the duelling narratives, neutrality cannot be a choice for any serious citizen of India. If you believe India is on a dangerously destructive path, we need to speak up.

The facts, though not highlighted by the mainstream media who have largely been bought up by the rulers, are out in the public, thanks to the social media and the still remaining, though miniscule, bold visual and print media willing to take the risk of speaking truth.

Take sides: The side of truth and humanity, the side of forgiveness and reconciliation, before it is too late.