political analysis by Ravikumar Pillai
Mohammed Younis on the cusp of making history
Bangladesh's ongoing chaos, mayhem and brutalities are pregnant with lessons for India, Indians, our political parties and the world at large. The situation is evolving, and prudence advises us to keep restraint, civility and emotional resilience. It is important to highlight the most critical five lessons that we can ignore only at the peril of our collective failure to grasp the realities of geopolitics, religiosity and good neighbourliness.
First, let me start with the glimmer of hope that I see amid the encircling gloom. That Mohammed Younis, the Nobel laureate and a highly empathetic and mature economist, respected globally, has agreed to head the new government would likely ensure a smooth transition to a stable and sustainable economy and polity in our eastern neighbourhood. Also, the benign and forthright Army Chief, apparently keen to play a facilitator role adds to the minimum viable context for the enormous task ahead for Bangladesh.
Secondly, an Indian diplomatic approach that is visibly sans hidden agenda and contrived narratives is a must for us to regain a semblance of normalcy in India’s post-Hasina relationship with Bangladesh.
Assuming that India can read the fault-lines and decipher the slim opening for building a new Indo-Bangla relationship, let us now go on to understand the major readings for us from the current scenario across the border.
The third aspect of the situation is that however well-intentioned a ruler is in a democratic setup, the facile management of domestic political diversity cannot be ignored. People don’t just want bread, they want to be treated with respect, empathy and fairness.
Sheikh Hasina assumed that just because Mujib was the Father of the Nation, she had a dynastic right to rule in perpetuity. All political families whose scions harbour the illusion of entitlement will have to pay for their arrogance at the wrath of the common man sooner or later.
Fourthly, the narcissism and the illusion of invincibility of a mass leader cannot sustain for long against anti-incumbency, inequality and deprivation of political empowerment for vulnerable minorities. The fallacy of majoritarianism ensuring prolonged power for the rulers is nothing more than a pack of cards. Whether Putin, Erdogan, Modi or even Xi, trying to build a domineering personal image cannot bulldoze public opposition over a long period. This is the lesson, loud and clear from Bangla.
Fifthly, the global geopolitical space is a crude and cruel jungle of sorts where the tendency of the mighty and the wily to steamroll the weak and the brittle nations and economies should be guarded against. China-Pak-Turkey nexus with its narrative built on religiosity and the right to trample upon the diversity of those societies they perceive as strong should be recognized and ring-fenced with inclusivity, resilience, accommodation and empowerment of fringe elements to help them mainstream.
Will India learn the lessons well and truly and resist the build-up of false, distorted and partisan narratives?
Reinventing and strengthening true inclusivity and all-pervading empathy will only bring an entire people onto a unified stand against sectarian inflammations.
I am a Hindu; I am proud of it and my faith in Hinduism and its universal inclusiveness is my insurance policy in an increasingly polarized world.
Jai Hind.
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