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| From Times of India |
Donald Trump is a big bullshitter but Narendra Modi is
far more sinister. This is what Harry Frankfurt, author of On Bullshit,
would have said, and what Meera Nanda, author of many books, actually said. I
haven’t read the books by either of them. I’ve read quite a few articles written
by Meera Nanda in various Indian periodicals. The latest is an interview with
her by a Malayalam weekly (Mathrubhumi).
In that interview, Nanda
differentiates between ‘big lies’ and ‘deep lies’ and goes on to illustrate the
two concepts with the examples of Trump and Modi. Trump is a ‘big liar’ while
Modi is a ‘deep liar.’ Both are similar in their respective ‘visions’ of
America-First and Hinduism-First, Prof Nanda says. Both endanger the secular
fabric of their societies. However, Trump is yet to declare Christian
nationalism as the official American stance while Modi has declared Hindu
nationalism as the state ideology.
How do the two go about materialising
their vision? Trump tells big lies and Modi tells deep lies.
A big lie is a blatant, often
demonstrably false claim, repeated persistently with the aim of overwhelming
public discourse and sowing confusion. It aims at distorting reality so aggressively
that it forces people to either believe the lie or give up trying to discern
the truth. Trump’s insistence that the 2020 US election was stolen is an
example. A big lie is outward, performative, and confrontational. It is meant
to dominate public attention.
A deep lie, on the other hand, is an ideologically embedded falsehood that reshapes the foundational narratives of a nation’s history, identity, and values. Its objective is to subtly rewrite cultural memory and institutional truths over time, making the lie seem like an eternal truth. The portrayal of India as inherently a Hindu nation and Hinduism as the essential core of Indian identity is an example.
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| Table prepared by ChatGPT |
Meera Nanda has lived and worked in
both Trump’s and Modi’s countries. She has witnessed the working style of both
the leaders. Both are dangerous for the world, but India’s Prime Minister is
the greater menace.
Modi’s lies have penetrated the best
of institutions in the country, such as the IITs and IISERs. These institutions
which were known earlier for their outstanding intellectual standards and
professional commitment are now proponents of pseudo-science that glorifies the
virtues of cow’s urine and dung, the power of Vedic mantras to heal illnesses, the
existence of the consciousness without the body, and so on. The textbooks of
India’s schools are now adulterated with similar pseudo-science. Ayur-genomics
sits side by side molecular biology in those books which are to enlighten the young
generation of the country. Vaastu shastra is rammed down the throats of
students along with urban planning lessons.
Narendra Modi turns out to
be a far more sinister invader than any conqueror in India’s history. He is invading the
nation’s collective memory and identity, gradually eroding the foundations of
democracy, pluralism, and truth itself. India’s quintessential strength, its
diversity, is being decimated by a narrow, majoritarian identity. Languages,
customs, and religions that don’t fit the dominant narrative are erased or
vilified.
Once deep lies are entrenched, it
becomes nearly impossible to reform systems or correct the course. Deep lies
do not just deceive – they reprogramme. They slowly replace shared truths
with ideological fiction, making it possible to control not just people’s
actions, but their beliefs, memories, and sense of self. The result is a
democracy that may still have elections, but is hollowed out from within.
Metanarratives of any hue, areisan Algorithm dangerous, whether of Trump, Modi or even Nehruvian. They have inherently, within them, Subtle Traps and Trojan Horses. Only Hope is the Democratic Sagacity and Wisdom of the Indian Mystical Pluralism, which can cut to size the Magical Hocus Pocus of the Sangh Parivar, like during the Last General Elections. That Indian Sagacity is an Algorithm in and by itself.
ReplyDeleteMy fear is that the classical Indian sagacity is being corroded by the magicl hocus-pocus.
DeleteFirst Algoritham is typo jump.
ReplyDeleteHopefully not, though it may be sluggish like a Polar Bear in hibernation. Or an Indian Elephant or even a Buffalo in a puddle. But all rise.. And once they rise No one stops... I am an optimist.
ReplyDeleteOk, let me try to share that optimism. I like your metaphors 😊
DeleteI feel both are equally dangerous. A reprogrammed individual is like a robot and a society which works on lies also becomes robotic.
ReplyDeleteBoth are dangerous, but which is more so?
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteRe the question in your response above, which is more dangerous, a demolition bulldozer or a roadroller? One doesn't want to be standing in front of either for they are equally dangerous but in different ways. Both are about reshaping the 'environment' to their will. Another aspect to bear in mind is that one has a truly global effect, the other, almost entirely local. Neither should be allowed to continue - and yet they are... YAM xx
And yet they are growing stronger and more powerful!
DeleteWhistle blowers are only considered as CSK fans!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's CSK?
DeleteThala for a reason
DeleteChennai Super Kings - IPL team Sir! Blowing Whistle is their symbolism!
DeleteJust mentioned here as an analogy
I'm not sure if I'm comforted by the orange cheeto being the lesser menace. Both are a menace. I don't know why the world has to go through this with leaders who want to hurt the masses, but here we are.
ReplyDeleteAnd they are elected by people!
DeleteI don't like to be cynical. But I am tending to be cynical when it comes to politics and politicians after having seen them in close quarters for over three decades.
ReplyDeleteI don't find anything very different among all the parties and politicians. They appear different. But dig deep, they aren't much different.
A businessman survives by teling different types of lies to their customers. Politicians survive by telling different types of lies to the electorate. Big, small, deep, shallow, broad, narrow ... all forms.
I have seen that every party has a few good points, and a few bad ones. Fair enough.
But what all of them lack is a service mentality, to improve the living conditions of the people. All are busy trying to score brownie points against the other.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Right. All parties are alike in hankering after power. But BJP, under Modi, is different. It's about a lot more than power.
DeleteIf Modi continues in power, India will become worse than Pakistan as far as tolerance of any kind is concerned.