Bereft of the antagonistic tendencies or any kind of violent strategies, the architects of the Yatra exercise a friendly approach to let everyone know that everyone matters for connecting India.
GERRY LOBO OFM
“What a colossal waste! If only the money spent on this was given to the poor…!” A very natural and spontaneous sentimental reaction, indeed, which a certain quarter of the citizens of this nation might air out at the One Hundred and Fifty day Bharat Jodo Yatra which is nearing its completion this month. Various political commentators, depending on their loyalty to parties they belong to and the news channels, depending on who is controlling their freedom and whose mouth-piece they are – have all their commentaries, interpretations and off-hand judgments on the ongoing event. The freedom of the press and the personal views which are freely voiced in public, whether exaggerated opinions, inimical barbs or encouraging support to the Yatra exercise, have invariably spot-lighted the event, allowing individuals and masses to think and speak about it as one wishes. The march is on undeterred, undisturbed and well composed. Without any fear of any kind of opposition from any quarter and corner of this country, the crowd pulls on, determined to ‘talk the walk’ and ‘walk the talk’ with a message unwritten on the walls or flashed on the media.
The Yatra is the message and the message is Bharat Jodo!
The Yatra, conceived and executed by the Indian National Congress party is not a novel concept. Mahatma Gandhi had performed it as a non-violent resistance civil disobedience movement against the salt tax imposed by the British government in India, led by a large group of people from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12, 1930 to Dandi, Gujarat. However, this Yatra, not being a civil disobedience movement, is a journey of five months covering a large part of India, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in order to connect people of the country against the fragmentation caused by the political majoritarianism and divisive politics. Bereft of the antagonistic tendencies or any kind of violent strategies, the architects of the Yatra exercise a friendly approach to let everyone know that everyone matters for connecting India, and that joining hands will join hearts for a morrow when the “mind is without fear and the head is held high” (Tagore). Hence the exercise is not playing politics towards electoral gain, even if the detractors will always have detraction. However, this is a definite measure to impact politics.
The citizens of this country have suffered through uncertainty politically, economically and socially under the majoritarian rule which has pushed its agenda into the system towards one nation, one religion goal, almost disregarding the secular fabric of her Constitution. The voices of the Opposition having brushed under the carpet, resolutions have been easily passed. A mid-way course has hardly been adopted in order to reach out to every citizen. The hasty midnight decision and implementation of GST, a stern over night demonetization proclamation, Citizens Amendment Act, caste and communal discrimination, dilution of the right to information, stifling of the judiciary by questioning its independence, spoiling the country’s economic health by selling the public wealth to the millionaire corporate, hurting the farmers by inordinate laws, dividing the citizenry by religious categorization and excluding the marginalized and the “hatred hurting our country”(R.Gandhi) – all these have provided a significant occasion for the Bharat Jodo Yatra at whose helm is Rahul Gandhi walking the highways and byways of this nation, free of any political mileage as rumored by those who feel the prick. In the words of the well known popular actor, Kamal Hassan, who also availed himself for the Yatra on the streets of New Delhi, the “idea of Bharat as a country that was stitched together by visionaries” has hurt the citizens of this country and damaged her nerve. Hence, the ongoing Yatra is a “darning material to repair India’s gashes,” as the editorial article of Kamal Hassan was titled (The Hindu, December 26, 20220).
A glimpse at the journey traversed in the three months of its commencement indicates that the leaders of the exercise have made no claims on anything spectacular, neither have they become antagonistic and inimical to anyone, even if at times prophetic words were pronounced without hiding facts to keep the nation informed on reality under their very nose. The friendly approach has gathered in masses whose sympathetic participation has beautified the event, making it their journey for a better country devoid of religious communalism and petty politics with the leaders whose initiative would hopefully provide solace and justice to ‘those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.’ Enlightened economic luminaries such as the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Raguram Rajan, well seasoned politicians across the political scenario, the youth and children, actors and sports personnel, realizing the Yatra a necessary instrument for the wellbeing of our nation, have shared the dream by their participation. The meetings at various street centers seemed a joyous festivity with hope brimming over the physic of the participants. For all that is, the Yatra is a “sacred resistance.”
The pessimistic skeptics from the majoritarian government, perhaps are raising eye brows, criticizing the Yatra in no kind terms and dumping the entire affair as an exercise in creating division among people or as a futile exercise only to disorient people. They would remark saying that it would have been beneficial for the Congress party to hold “Congress Jodo Yatra” instead of Bharat Jodo Yatra. They may be right with this remark, considering the dis-harmony and rancor within the party, and eminent leaders deserting the party.
It would truly be right if they first put their house in order before the Yatra being performed. On the other hand, however, it is also urgent to reveal the truth of the matter and to revitalize the sick organs of a honoured body and not to lie low with a failure mood, by taking upon oneself a long journey through the nation as a measure to impact politics as life of the people about which everyone need to play their responsible role. It is a fact that the opposing skeptics are jittery about the overwhelming response of the people to the Yatra. Years ago L K Advani’s Rath Yatra had created religious polarization in order to gain electoral profit, which it did. The religiously tainted saffron party might take credit for their success by downplaying the popularity that the Bharat Jodo Yatra has gained so far. In the long run, a diatribe hurled at the ongoing Yatra only makes it a unique event in the recent history of India. Those who oppose need to oppose or even ridicule the massive event taking place on its very city streets. However, what the managers of this Yatra have planned meticulously, executed perfectly and what they hope to arrive at their hoped for goal will not perish because of their sarcasm. With their tired knees and fatigued body, not permitting any breakdown, the architects and organizers of the march, march on, because the citizens of this country are their agenda.
Bharat Jodo Yatra has embraced all religions on its long journey. The elections have not preoccupied the leaders because that was not on their agenda. The forthcoming elections might be influenced on account of this march or might not. The Yatra has not been an election campaign, at least on the outset. On the other hand, if this event has its influence on the elections, the electorate would be exercising their right more sensibly and intelligently. However, for the leaders of the Yatra the exercise remains a non-propaganda process. Instead, the Yatra is to bring together every citizen for the realization of an undivided family, marching together, for no one lives in isolation or in a state of fragmentation.
The frontline figure of the Bharat Jodo Yatra is Rahul Gandhi, a passionate, highly motivated and courageous leader. He is a “marathon man” according to R. Sardesai. He does not equate this Yatra with Dandi Yatra, neither he poses himself as another Mahatma, even if an observer may be reminded of the Mahatma in Rahul. It was not to repeat Mahatma the marathon was organized but to be an ideological challenge to the Hindutva nerved government which has destabilized the normal going of citizens ever since it took over the helm of affairs. The Yatra was also organized in order to reawaken the Congress soul by enthusing the party workers who were lying low, inactive and dispirited. However, with Rahul being in the forefront of the show, the youth have found some passion in them, and the old have begun to rethink about their commitment to the party as well as to the nation. The Yatra may not change deep rooted perceptions people hold with regard to their religious allegiance. However, the Yatra, though a costly enterprise, can still recall citizens to their responsibility to hold together a nation “stitched together by visionaries.”
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