Sloganeering: Fading charm of Indian Elections

Sloganeering: Fading charm of Indian Elections

Having travelled in almost three major elections in bid to immerse and grasp the rhymes and rhythms of the people and land in the swaying times of elections. Though I either neither see much change from the old books written in pre-1947 era nor comprehend the fever with which politicians legitimise their elections or our own faith in the system. However, its the most complex democratic exercise across the globe and if one seeks to be a traveller it’s a periodic festival of its kind.

During a recent discussion with friends, I was bemused by the class of few of the slogans in post 1947 politics.

I was just wondering on art with of Slogans their spiced up catchiness and the people who devised some of the most heady catchphrase which sometime captured the mood of the massed and sometimes when down with even a fizzle.

The two which are personally addictic since long time are:

• Teen Anna Pandrah Anna (3 annas −15 annas) – coined by Lohia on apathetic of then Prime Minister and Planning commission towards masses. It seems bland and boring; however, like Lohia it has depth and grief of nation. Seems to be true till now.
• Yeh Dekho Indira Ka Khel, Kha Gayi Shakkar, Pee Gayi Tel – one of the best one – On entertainer Indira Gandhi and distraught masses.

Before going forward I would like to apologies that most are captured from northern states, mostly because of my limited knowledge and also because of lack of command over languages.

The famous and provocative slogans: Impressive and demeaning depending where is your fence:

·         Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Indira tera naam rahega and Indira Gandhi lao, desh bachaao – Congress Slogan. J. P. Narayan may have aptly answered it by ““Indira hatao, desh bachao” for the 1977 general elections.
 

·         "Sabko Dekha Bari Bari, Abki Bari Atal Bihari" – BJP’s slogan for Atal

·         Kalyan Singh kalyan karo, mandir ka nirman karo – people asking Kalyan Singh for Ram Mandir

·         Three of the most innovative once form BSP “Tilak, taraju aur talwar; inko maaro joote chaar”, “Haathi nagin Ganesh Hai, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh hain”, and “Chad gundon ki chhati par, mohar laga do haathi par”

·         BSP saying for Uttar Pradesh: “Patthar rakh lo chhati par, button dabao hathi par”, equally witted SP’s retort “Gunda chad gaya haathi par, goli maara chhati par”. Not many considered this "Desh ke sir ka Taj banega, UP awwal Rajya banega" – BJP and this "Sonia nahi ye andhi hai, dusri Indira Gandhi".

·         "Maa, Maati, Manush” – TMC, Mamta banerjee

Short Stories:

·         “Ek sherni, sau langoor, Chikmaglur, Chikmaglur.” - Devraj Urs, for Indira Gandhi’s by-election in 1978.

·         “Hum saugandh Ram ki khate hain, mandir wahin banayenge.” - The BJP’s chant in 1989 which led it to a stupendous victory.

·         “Jaat par na pat par, mohar lagegi haath par.” - P.V.Narasimha Rao coined this slogan for the 1996 elections.

·         "Indira is India and India is Indira" by Congressmen Dev Kant Baruah during the state of emergency in the mid 70s.

·         "Aam Aadmi Ko Kya Mila?" – Congress slogan against BJP

·         Lal Salam - CPI

·         “Jansangha ko vote do, Beedi pina chhor do, Beedi mein tambakhu hai, Congresswallah chore hai.” – Jan Sangh

·         Jai Ho by Congress

·         Kushal Neta, Nirnayak Sarkaar by BJP for Advani

·         Jab Tak Rahega, Samose mein aloo, Tab tak Rahega, Bihar mein Laloo – for Laloo Prasad Yadav

·         “Chalega Haathi Udegi dhool, na rahega punja na rahega phool.” – BSP

·         “Vote hamara-Raj tumhara, Nahi chalega-nahi chalega” , “Jo zamin sarkari hai, who zamin hamari hai” , “Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, utni uski hissedari” - Kansi Ram -  master of sloganeering

·         "UP hui hamari hai, ab dilli ki bari hai; Bharat ki majboori hai, behen Mayawati zaroori hai" – BSP

·         "Aam aadmi ke badhte kadam, har kadam par Bharat buland" – Congress

·          "Vikas ka mehnatana mangne aaye hain" - Nitish Kumar

·         "Aatank mein jeena hai ya aman-chain mein?” – BJP-JDU combine Bihar

Some banal lines or false promises:

These sank without a trace or should have: Some captured people’s imagination and failed to delivery other either didn’t delivery or the if they did, the beneficiaries failed to keep them.

·         Congress  - Amethi ka danka, beti Priyanka; Congress ka haath, aam aadmi ke saath; aam aadmi ke badte kadam, Har kadam par Bharat buland; Congress ko lana hai, desh ko bachana hai;  Uthe Hajaron Haath, Sonia Ji Ke Saath

 

·          Bahujan Samaj Party - UP hui hamari hai, ab dilli ki baari hai, BSP Ki Kya Pehchan, Neela Jhanda Haathi Nishan; slogan "Khula hathi lakh ka, band hathi sawa lakh ka"

·          Samajwaadi Party - UP me hai dum, jurm hai yahan kam;  Badli badli hawa chali, badla badla mausam, kayam rahe Uttar Pradesh, kayam rahe Mulayam; Bol Mulayam Halla Bol, Halla Bol'.

·          Bharatiya Janata Party - Ram Lala Hum Aayenge, Mandir Vahin Banayenge;  Yeh to kewal jhaanki hai, Kashi Mathura baaki hai; Varun nahi, yeh aandhi hai, doosra Sanjay Gandhi hai;

And the some crispy slogans:

·         "Garabi Hatao" - Indira Gandhi's campaign in 1971

·         "India Shining" – BJP’s Promod Mahajan miscalculations

·         "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" – Lal Bahadur Shastri

·         “Work more talk less” -  Indira Gandhi, office in 1966.

·         "Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai" – if that miscalculation this one was out of proportions by Jawaharlal Nehru

·         "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan" - Atal Bihari Vajpayee

·         "Sampoorna Kranti"  – J. P. Narayanan

·         'Save Tamil Nadu' – Jayalalithaa

Setting a Bad Precedent: Sham Innocence

Setting a Bad Precedent: Sham Innocence

Too many times we get over emotional forgiving the mistakes, over burdening the public opinion almost swaying in favour of the culprit if not the crime, ignoring the deeds and the betrayal, and siding with spine doctors especially if it’s our heartthrob fall from grace. We wait neither for eugenics if only the offender is not faking coming back to senses nor make sure swift delivery of justice, rather the air becomes heavy with sob saga paving for soft acquittal of guilty.

In matter of couple of days, two cases of betrayal, ingenuity and shame have capture attention of this struggling nation - IPL spot fixing with star culprit Sreesanth and Sanjay attempt to trade his already minuscule punishment with emotional pitches and public endorsements. Both situations may have been avoided, if law was not subjugated in favour of public persona and stopped the culture of setting bad precedents. Had star criminals like  Mohammad Azharuddin for his venturing into match fixing, Sanjay Dutt for keeping company of Ak-47, grenades and underworld at the time of Mumbai blast, things may have been different.

However rather than implicating culprits for deed we are showering them with gifts, Sanjay Dutt initially arrested under TADA but gradually TADA was repealed to let crime go more or less unpunished. Once in middle of match fixing ex-captain of Indian team, Azharuddin is now Member of Parliament from Moradabad Constituency. Salman Khan roams free after driving over labourers and shooting black bucks (cases motionless in court). No wonder, good incentive for mind with criminal tendencies – letting glamour and power call shots aren’t we sending wrong message to a prospective offender. We should shameful that innumerable Salman Khans and Shakti Kapoors almost scot free or even award in India. Is this the reason of spike in crimes, on streets, towards children and women, criminalisation of youth and politics, corruption among so called educated classes, promises of easy life and easy exits? How does youth of today see as role models? Do we want toothless enforcement agencies?

If we continue with the prevailing tendency, we as society not questioning what we stand for, what we support, not stating clearly that justice delayed is justice denied and wondering rational for being concerned. Are we clueless about whose justice is denied – apparently the answer is ours - civil society, consumer, country, and humanity. When a person misuses the position to either cross the bridge unethically obtaining an unfair advantage or joins the bomb blasting conspirators, it’s putting our life and the general public at stake. We are the prime stakeholders of the modern state – all the three/four of its pillar stand on us and to connect the dots for us. The legislative, executive, judiciary and the media, would be feeble and useless we are not actively participating in the working. 

Only in state of lawlessness and disorder, such apathetic unscrupulous personalities can buy public opinions and judgments. Remember the public outcry Bill Clinton Monica Lewinsky controversy and corporate scams generate in US, Chinese criticised a controversial war memorial by Japanese leaders, outrage against Silvio Berlusconi Italy’s Prime minister – all for misuse of office. Why this is missing here, misuse of office and frauds are crimes and we need to ensure fast redressal system.

Rather than be sympathetic or indifferent towards crocodile tear shedding, half mocking and non-repenting culprits, we need to make sure it’s clear in black and white one cannot take laws in hand just for pleasure and fancies. And in case of repenting, one must before asking for leniency start from offer public apology and full cooperation to the system giving details of the conspirators and involvement. Till people start participating as stakeholder of this system, understanding their rights and duties, these social lacunas would not be plugged and the system remain corrupt and biased towards the elite exploiters.

Till then criminals would go scot free, stalking, and misusing any opportunity and we would keep on burying our necks like ostrich sham innocence. The justice would be denied, inequalities would prevail and society would not be safe.