Mind Blogging. Mind Boggling.

The concept of India has been questioned in culture. Especially in the late 80s when the country was in doldrums economically. The question arose from time to time in my mind, too. India's diversity, its strength, could also be its weakness. People from different regions can be suspicious of each other. Stereotypes abound. A military veteran told me that India is the only country that has its army's divisions named after communities (eg: Jat regiment, Gorkha regiment). He added that many soldiers do their gallant acts more for glory in their community, to be feted when their village, than from dedication to the country. India features a dizzying array of cuisines, languages, religions, traditions and behaviours, which often create schisms on their basis. Conflicting narratives on history. Just this year which is 5 months young, there has been Karnataka - Maharashtra friction, friction between south and north on tax revenues and delimitation, big debates on caste census. 'Small is beautiful', was the title of a popular economics book I was influenced by at age 19 ; is India too big to govern? Is it Indian union, like the European union?  

One can define something not just as what it is, but also as what it is not. War can serve this purpose. It helps define the country not just by itself but also as an opposite of the adversary. That may sound negative, but that negative perspective can be a starting point for clarifying something positive. It makes one appreciate the positive aspects of the concept. Like the guiding principle behind gratitude meditation: you start with one or two aspects you are grateful for, and then others come tumbling out. 

In my mind, that dynamic certainly played out. To the extent that I will be putting up a lapel pin on my bag (inspired by ApRa), and a small yet visible flag on my desk. So after the bloody events of the past month, here are some tenets of the concept that came out in sharp relief for me. As I write, they get further clarified for me. Their sure are flaws in the way the tenets are executed on ground in the country, but conceptually, this is the dominant narrative: 

Lovely symbolism of the press briefings of Operation Sindoor demonstrated points 1 and 2;   

1. Women on the same footing as men. No misogyny, crashing glass ceilings. Wing Commander Vyomika won a case against armed forces tribunal to secure permanent commission. What a perfect serendipity that in the ruling in her favor, the SC quoted the exemplary performance in the army of none other than Col Sofia Qureshi. I am gladdened by how the widely viewed briefings would have a positive effect on the many misogynists still out there in the country.   

2.  All religions on same footing, with the two spokespersons belonging to two different religions. In the final post-ceasefire press briefing by the PM, he mentions that the day of May 12th is Buddha Purnima, referring to both the symbolism of peace and yet again bringing to mind the diversity.  

3. Hopeful. Lots to lose in an all out war, as opposed to an enemy who had nothing to lose with economy in doldrums, IMF begging bowl in hand. It was worrying whether India would find this delicate balance- how to be harsh, yet at the same time not provoke all out war. Just the previous week, there was news about how majority of iphones going forward were to be manufactured in India. A country with hopes for a brighter future, like in all those Pew surveys. Don't want to endanger that. 

Some other tenets: 

3. Syncretic globally. Technologies from Russia (S 400, Su 30), Israel (Harup) and France (Rafale) coming together- showing India's default friendly countenance towards the world, nature of not cultivating enemies. Equipment origin list not dominated by one country. Independent enough to decide as per situation.          

4. Developing indigenous muscle, in the form of Akash and SAMAR missile systems.

5. A functioning democracy, with elected lawmakers being the top decision makers, 'calling the shots'. At the same time, top military generals with authority, eloquence and presence. The calm authority of Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, the controlled aggression of Air Marshall AK Bharti, clear words of Vice Admiral AN Pramod. All with the signature eloquence of people from the armed forces. 

6. Rational behaviour and precise tools to enable it: wherewithal to plan a mission against precise terrorist locations, and successfully execute it. Then build a policy of 'retaliation only' - only when the enemy triggered did India respond. A credible riposte despite bandying about of the nuclear blackmail, by the enemy. Precision to avoid the civilian plan which the enemy used as cover. If you've landed a robot on the moon, then you gotto have the precision built in.   

7. Multi-language diversity. The final presser had quite a few questions in Hindi. A twitter video I watched was from Rajasthan, where the drones were visible and someone said something in a language which I don't understand, with a voice of excitement at seeing the enemy drones, ending with Jai Hind, which I did. At the same time- more sensitivity required. Modi's final speech should have had english subtitles; for example, MIL was watching , she's not that good with Hindi; and she was faced with PM's impressive utterances. I had to google Fauladi (means steely)  and gloss over some other incomprehensible words.   

8. A status quo power and not a revisionist power, in terms of geographical aspirations. 

9.  An increasingly bold power with the firmness to stay the course, independent of global commentary. If the same act of terrorism had struck US citizens, one can guess what the outcomes would have been. As PM said, a new normal has been set. After Mumbai and Parliament attacks, the consequences were not this clear.    

10. Strategic regional depth in terms of distance and diversity. The entire South, Center East seemed safe and BAU. Whereas the enemy seemed to be short of it, considering the deep strikes by India and the fact that their west is also conflict torn- not quite a harbor of safety. The three generals from 3 different parts of the country. Chandrababu Naidu posting the eulogy for a soldier from Andhra who passed away during the war.      

11. Cricket as a unifying factor. Much brouhaha about IPL being paused. Gen Ghai referring to Virat Kohli and Australian test bowlers. 'Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if  Thommo don't get you, Lillee must' . Ahh. Class. Also relates to #5 signature eloquence. (link)

Apart from all these points, I also experienced for the first time the 'fog of war', when it's hard to discern the truth, and separate fact from fiction. Which led me to believe that India has a way to go in terms of narrative building, especially in the western media. Some of the coverage in CNN and NYT left me and my friends fuming. It also shows how the press can damage a country's prospects, with incendiary comments and lies. Press should be held to account for mentioning complete untruths. At the same time, there should not be too much proscribing power in the hands of the government. RR had an interesting comment, when i was trying to ferret out the truth- he said, how is it benefiting the country if you learn the truth? It made me focus more on official briefings. I was releived that there were open press interactions in the briefings by Chiefs of the armed forces.   

Subsequent edit : Apparently PM speech was broadcast in 14 langauges. But that should have been a caption in the broadcast that other languages are available; i did not know. 

# posted by Ashwin Ravikumar @ 10:45 PM