Symbolism in the Bharat Jodo Yatra
My first piece in this short and unsolicited series highlighted the idea of how the Bharat Jodo Yatra under Rahul Gandhi could be a game-changer for the Indian National Congress if executed the right way.
As readers sent in feedback, the question arose, What is the point of a now minor Opposition trying to get on the streets? Would it do any good? Will they be able to build traction? The answers can be found on the streets of Thiruvananthapuram today as the yatra completes four days.
The strength of the direct connection between the shepherd and the flock is unmissable and unmistakable. What many missed is the fact that Rahul Gandhi isn’t the only one on this pad yatra. There are thousands of people including MPs, MLAs, senior leaders, and analysts who are joining the movement. They are the catalysts for change. It is a moment in history that comes rarely but creates enough discomfort for the reigning regime to create diversions for the media through inaugurations, celebrations and purport a false sense of victory.
Historically, should one check the major movements in medieval and modern world history, there have been multiple instances where a peaceful movement created a sufficient stir in the people, enough to reform an entire nation’s mindset.
India reset the global discourse when it chose peaceful protest and one that won global appreciation in satyagraha. The stand for truth and justice needed for people to come to the streets at a time when WhatsApp, email blasts and the internet were not a part of the narrative. It needed for people to look beyond the corridors of power. The power politics of the British were defeated by the People Politics of the Indians. Today, this has metamorphosed into a digitally sound network of Indians of all ages joining hands for different reasons. Young Indians marching in Í AM WALKING FOR A JOB just goes to show that despite multiple attempts to showcase that India is on an ‘accelerated growth’ radar unemployment numbers are still high despite records to prove otherwise. Can the records really be trusted in the wake of this unrest? This is for the people to decide. There seems to be a stark difference in the truth behind the Indian economy on paper and in reality.
Should one pick a stray segment from history, it is no small secret that Winston Churchill the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom could not fathom a man laden in no more than a white dhoti and shawl to audaciously sit at the negotiating table as many times as he did. Yet this was reality that he dealt with for a very long time. Something akin is happening today. Rahul Gandhi has just finished with another day, connecting with the people, as he comprehends the depth of distress that the common man faces. A failed attempt was made earlier by the government to divert the people as it inaugurated the Central Vista just so that the mainstream media would turn their attention to the regime again. Then came the t-shirt episode. How could the leader of the Congress party wear a shirt from Burberry’s worth 42000? Many forgot the monogrammed suit worth ten lakh. Historical amnesia rules the day.
At this point, it is fair to ask, if Rahul Gandhi is not a perceived political threat, why is the ruling government so anxious to buy back media attention? Why does he matter to those who have seemingly written him off?
When the reins slip from the hands of the ruler, it is the result of a single moment of lapse, it is the result of loosening the grip because power has been taken for granted. For now, the Bharat Jodo Yatra may continue to be ridiculed and labelled as a political stunt, but for those who truly understand the power of the people in a democracy, this is not just a regular national event, it is the first signs of change owed to a nation and owned by its people.
While one leader indulges in media appearances but recuses from press conferences, the other is sitting on the floor, walking with his people and sleeping in containers, despite the luxury of never having to do so. This is not a romanticised version of the Congress but the ground reality that has inspired everyone from a strong-headed Chief Minister like M K Stalin to analysts like Yogendra Yadav who have chosen to show their solidarity.
The symbolism within the Bharat Jodo Yatra cannot be missed. It is the re-assertion of the people’s supremacy in a country whose government has refused to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Unemployment is hitting record numbers, hospitals are bereft of beds and respect for human life, and most of the middle class and lower middle class is crumbling under the weight of price rise and inflation, all this while the country’s wealth stays concentrated in the hands of a few.
The evolution of every revolution started with bread and ale and ended with the dismissal of authority. Next door Sri Lanka is a more immediate example of the natural breakdown of state machinery which brought the people to the streets albeit in a violent way. India cannot afford to go down that road. An early course correction is possible and in some small way the yatra is a designed reminder for the people to remember that human life and dignity is their right.
To mobilise the collective memory of the people, the symbolism in the Bharata Jodo Yatra is much needed. Scores of people out on the streets, connecting with their leaders, and sharing their problems with those who they believe in, is the INC’s way of getting back to the high table of political affairs.
Coincidentally, today also marks the birth anniversary of Acharya Vinobha Bhave, the first satyagrahi who in many ways had as much of a profound influence as Gandhi. It is said that Bhave was the first to envision an equal social order and adopt non-violent means. What made his version of satyagraha so unique was that he independently walked thousands of miles barefoot for a cause, slept outdoors and fasted, remaining silent for months. It is said that his Bhoodan movement was one of the most successful movements. The difference between Vinobha Bhave and Rahul Gandhi is simply this, no one ridiculed the former, and no one questioned his wisdom.
Bhave is said to have responded at one point, “My aim is to bring about a threefold revolution… I want to prevent a violent revolution and bring about instead a non-violent revolution.” Despite the strong critique of the Bhoodan movement, it must be noted that by the end of 1956, more than 4 million acres of land had been collected. In the same way, while the yatra moves through different parts of India, its outcome will also be a part of contemporary history’s narrative.
It’s not the means that need a re-think but the outcome. Those who have taken the Gandhi scion lightly, now feel the pressure of his presence and that can well be marked as the first success of this yatra, indeed, of this movement. As the days unfold what remains to be seen is how far this yatra sustains its influence on different parts of our country and how far the regime will go to divert the attention of the people.
The next article will highlight the potential challenges beyond the yatra and the INC presidency.
