Lying to
yourself is one of the most self-destructive things, said one of Dostoevsky’s
characters. “The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a
point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him or around him and so loses
all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to
love.”
Have we as a
nation arrived at the zenith of falsehood and the consequent impotence to love?
The latest
incident that makes me raise this question is the removal of the CBI chief Alok
Verma and his entire team. The Prime Minister misused his powers to take this
illegal and unconstitutional action. As the Opposition has pointed out, “The
only plausible explanation for this desperate and hasty move is an attempt to
scuttle the ongoing investigations into the Special Director’s [Rakesh Asthana
who is Modi’s mole] cases that might cause significant embarrassment to [the]
Government.”
Too many
individuals who became a threat to the Prime Minister’s dictatorial and
depraved ways have been victimised in different ways. Hundreds of genuine NGOs were
put to sleep merely to pave way for Modi’s free march on the royal road to
despotism. Almost all institutions of any significant influence have been
populated with right wing adherents. The country’s history is being rewritten.
Textbooks are tampered with. Young minds have been perverted.
More and more
people are learning to lie to their own hearts. Their survival depends on mastering
that craft. Or they have been brainwashed without their own knowledge. The
distinction between truth and falsehood has vanished. Rather, truth has
vanished. Has become irrelevant, unsustainable.
There are 36
official and scores more unofficial organisations working in the country at
present with a single-minded dedication towards a goal that does not seem to be
quite noble if we consider the means employed. One can only hope that the
elections coming next year will make a meaningful difference to the nation.
The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him or around him and so loses all respect for himself and for others.' Very true Sir. It may be or may not be applicable to the Indian premier because, in my opinion, he never lies to himself and must be speaking out the truth only when talking to himself which certainly is - 'I need and value power only. Nothing else matters for me'. However let's see that we do not lie to ourselves and so are always able to distinguish the truth in and around us.
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