Cognitive Dissonance and the Autocrat

Cognitive Dissonance and the Autocrat

You are a true Indian and a nationalist if you quietly stand in queues for withdrawing cash only to be turned back when your turn comes, or providing ID proof to buy subzi at Mother Dairy. We are reminded each day this is small pain in the larger interest of the country. So said every dictator in the world,

PM Modi's klaxon call Kala Dhan Hatao has a similar ring to PM Indira Gandhi 1971 election slogan was 'Garibi Hatao, desh ko bachao', both slogans cleverly crafted to strike emotional cords with the people of India. The current slogan will be consigned to oblivion just as the earlier one was, once the larger aim of the autocratic leader has been met.

History shows us Garibi did not leave this country, in fact it has festered, grown, become more profound, just as inequitable distribution of wealth has made the richer, much richer. Bank nationalization, coal nationalization, seizure of assets, and the 44th amendment of the Constitution withdrawing owning property as a fundamental right; were among the many draconian steps taken by Mrs Gandhi to impose state ownership over what was legitimately owned by an individual.

Currency demonetization is no different. Let’s look at the figures; experts agree 25 % of the GDP operates in the parallel economy; of this a mere 6% consists of cash, the rest is spread across other asset classes.

The spigot of black money is the rampant graft and corruption that runs across all political and bureaucratic genres. Eradicating the source of black money generation should have been the first recourse; rather than being left to posterity, if at all. With this spigot being left open, after the initial shock, new currency will start funding graft and corruption, and once again the black economy will spring alive, vibrant and active as before.

Hence to cleanse 6% of 25% of the black economy, 86% of money in circulation has been withdrawn. Imagine a human body in which 86% of the blood is removed, what would the outcome be? Withdrawing 86% of currency from a predominantly cash economy has left the country gasping, affecting the poorest of the poor the most. Thus, could eradicating Black Money been the only agenda?

 Prime Minister Modi is a case study in a psychology term cognitive dissonance, one who holds contradictory thoughts & beliefs simultaneously, and struggles to come to terms with such contradictions. One the one hand projecting himself on the world stage as a democratic leader with progressive ideas, his inner self draws him to whimsical use of regressive autocratic power. In a clear attempt to deflect the nation's attention from emerging situations, forthcoming elections, demonetization has been a used as a tool to consolidate power, emasculate the opposition, and gain laudation from the citizenry, who have been made to believe demonetization will ensure greater social justice.

Will it? 

 A poorly thought out decision of the unholy triumvirate that rule this country to consolidate autocratic power, demonetization will neither cleanse the country of the ilk of black money, nor corruption. It will however consolidate the class divide, the good and the evil; translated, the poor and the rich. Social justice will remain a distant dream, just as Garibi Hatao, Kala Dhan Hatao are slogans for limited personal ends, as Bob Dylan sang; will be ‘Blowin in the Wind’

The nation remains fooled.