One of the shortest but
classical works of fiction on the futility of revolution is George Orwell’s Animal
Farm [1945]. The animals on the farm revolt against the oppressive
human master and seek to establish an egalitarian society where all animals are
equal. The revolution is driven by very noble ideals which have the potential
to create a paradise on the farm. But sooner than later, the ideals give way to
venality and the new rulers among the animals become far worse than the erstwhile
human master. The human master only exploited the animals for labour. Now the
animal masters are utterly vicious. They enjoy the highest forms of luxury at
the cost of the other animals which are treated as worse than slaves. There is
not only inequality but also injustice, cruelty, violence, government’s
surveillance on the citizens, and plain butchery.
It was the
aftermath of the Russian Revolution that inspired Animal Farm. The
Russian Revolution sought to replace the dictatorial Tsar with a people’s
government founded on socialist ideals. What Russia got, however, was a government
far more inhuman than the Tsarist one. Something very similar happened with the
French Revolution too which began in the name of the noble ideals of liberty,
equality and fraternity.
Revolutions
are too idealistic to be practical. That is why the great thinker and writer,
Albert Camus, said that revolutions culminate inevitably in police or in folly.
The kind of perfection quested after by revolutions is impossible in the human
world. The humankind has not evolved yet to that level of sophistication (emotional,
intellectual and spiritual) required to create such paradises on earth. The human
is far too fallible for that. Too frail. Too guilt-ridden.
The human fallibility,
frailty and guilt require gods. To fear and worship. To forgive and give a pat
on the back. To take revenge on the enemies, whole races of them if possible.
It is not Ram
Rajya that the bhakt quests after. It is Ram – with all his might and hate and
vengeance. Let us build glorious temples for him. Let us sacrifice fellow
beings for him.
“All animals
are equal, but some animals are more equal.” That is how one of the ideals in
the revolutionised Animal Farm of Orwell had metamorphosed under the new
leaders.
PS 1.
This post is provoked by a Facebook visitor to my space who told me bluntly
that I, being a non-Hindu, am “only an unwanted guest” in his country
which was destined to become Ram Rajya under the present political leadership.
PS 2. Thank you Blogchatter for the following award.
Brilliant. I really enjoyed this piece. It triggered another thought in my mind, something similar that I shall soon share. Sometimes I think we are all in a spiral, and there's no one better than the other. I am so sorry about the Facebook trolling. It's become some sort of culture. Congratulations for the award.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sonia. Don't worry about the FB thing, I've got used to that sort of things. I look forward to your post on "something similar".
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteInteresting you should use Animal Farm (and appropriately, I may add)... have you seen the news that in some of the [dis]United States, there is a move to ban books because they are perceived as having potential to 'misguide our youth'? (An article on this...) Driven by fear of the mighty word, requiring the censorship sword???
Congrats on being recognised for your contribution at Blogchatter! YAM xx
It's rather odd that the US is seeking to ban books. They're supposed to be liberal, aren't they?
DeleteInteresting post. I don't think bhakts quest after Ram too. In fact i think they don't even know Ram because what they are doing is directly opposite to what Ram stood for. Facebook trolls are funny things. I have lost count how many times i have been called a Vampanthi (communist). Congratulations on winning top blogger award.
ReplyDeleteThose who really know their god and religion won't indulge in hatred and violence.
DeleteI take trolls in my stride, no problems. 😊
Thanks.
👏
ReplyDelete