| by N.S.Venkataraman
( November 21, 2012, Chennai, Sri Lanka
Guardian) Mumbai virtually came to a halt on the funeral day of Bal Thackeray
and taxis and all public transport
stopped plying in the city and all shops and establishments were
virtually closed. Such scenario and the
massive crowd that assembled for the funeral procession of Bal Thackeray must
have surprised those who do not understand the psyche of the Indian masses.
This is not the first time that such
massive crowd gathered for the funeral procession of political leaders in
India. When Mr. C N.Annadurai and Mr.
M.G.Ramachandran in Tamil Nadu and Mr. N.T.Rama Rao in Andhra Pradesh passed away, similar large crowd did assemble for the funeral
procession and in some cases a few people self immolated themselves and died
due to heart attack and due to stampede.
Many of the admirers who feel so demonstratively despondent when their
political leader dies may not show
similar reactions even in the event of
death occurring in their own families. What do these emotional outburst of the
followers indicate ? Does it mean that they view these political leaders as demi
God and believe that they are totally blemishless, honest and superior human beings ? Are they so naïve to think that these political leaders are
persons of unique character ?
Such behaviour of the Indian masses
indicate as to why the Indian political leadership is now becoming family
centred and most of the political parties are organized now on the basis of
loyalty to the families who are in
control of the party , rather than loyalty to the policies and principles of
the party. The hierarchy and succession
to leadership in most of the political parties in India are based on blood
relationship , with the sons and daughters or wife invariably succeeding to the
leadership position. It has now become impossible for anyone outside the family
of the top political leadership to occupy important positions in the party.
Obviously, the Indian masses all the time look for leaders
and the spirit of self esteem in them appear to be quite low. Many photographs have appeared in
the media of the followers falling on the feet of the political leaders irrespective of their age and they are known to be even reluctant to address their leaders by their
names but only by the title, which the admirers confer on them on various
occasions generously.
The Indian political leaders understand clearly that what the masses need
is showmanship, tall slogans that would whip up their emotions and occasional
extension of symbolic gestures. They
also know that Indian masses respect only the strong leaders who can be
dictatorial . Very frequently we find
the political leaders (political party family leaders) called upon to name the
new born children and they are even sought to be honoured by weighing them
against all kinds of stuffs such as sugar candy and even fruits and vegetables.
Now, this behaviour of the masses only
reminds about the traditional Zamindari system in the country, where the local
chieftains would occupy the position of zamindar with the entire areas under
their control and citizens remaining subservient to them. The traditional mass
psychology of Indians accepting the zamindari system now appears to be taking a
new form in the present Indian democratic pattern that is shaping up.
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