Political parties should teach leaders to mind their language
Language of leaders during election-campaigns speaks about the health of democracy in India
Language is one of the yard stick to judge the health of democracy and hardly any political party in India or its followers could match with this criterion. We could scarcely find any answer to this question. During the election days, the fall of standard in language could be easily felt. Have you ever thought, as to why it happens so? One of the reason behind this is that it is in the nature of politics in which there is always a race to show-up in the eyes of others, to prove every wrong of others and to tell about yourself as perfect person. In case this perception and confidence that we are better than others, is not there then the base of feelings and intelligent group would be lost.
It is an admitted fact that to treat as best among others, there is a need of self introspection otherwise the confidence is converted into hollow and the same is observed everywhere. In fact, our politicians have stopped have interaction with self and analyze and this is the reason, they see wrongs in others barring self and our own. It is very strange that election-campaign is converted into criticism-campaign.
Just a few days back, during the Assembly elections, the decorum of language of politician was beyond one’s imagination and the same is happening in UP elections. No one wants to be lacking behind on the policy of ‘Attack is the only solution of safety’. What to say of others, even the Chief Minister or Prime Minister have not shown any inhibition. The hidden intention behind such statements could be easily felt.
Normally the attack is on the issues of caste and religion to keep intact the vote bank. Neither the model code of conduct is followed nor are the decisions of the Apex Court in this regard taken care of. Only the idea is to be in headlines at the back of the charges and counter charges through the statements, to which even the media houses are after the sensational statements and give maximum coverage at the front pages than Page 3.
It is very unfortunate that the recent elections have brought down the tone of discourse to disheartening levels. Just for example, even the Prime Minister Narendera Modi who has helmed his party during UP campaign along with BJP President Amit Shah, opened the breach with his caustic coinage of the acronym SCAM short for SP, Congress, Akhilesh, Mayawati, for his oppeonets by saying “Behenji Sampatti Party to BSP – Bhaujan Samaj Party.
Notably, the standard of election-campaign is going down day-by-day and the odd talks become the talk of the town and the real issues are side tracked. Thus the ultimate loss is to our democracy and particular to the weaker sections that treat vote as the highest power with them. With the invention of new smart phone applications, the social media helps of becoming election-campaign as criticism-campaign.
In politics, every type of persons is there but the question is that negativity is visible to all but where is the positivity? As to why the problems of the common man are not getting opportunity to become a part of debates? The public life runs with traditions and safeguarding of honour but its feeling has become very difficult. The feeling of Election Commission could be beyond its imagination when the drugs are in the well and leaders of the political parties are in it and what would be the standard of political workers?
The message of the campaign contains the ideas that the candidate wants to share with the voters. It is to get those who agree with their ideas to support them when running for a political position.
Modern political campaigns have set new standards for how successful campaigns are conducted day-to-day. The campaign is conducted in what would seem to the public like pseudo-military style, with a strict chain of command, zero tolerance for certain prohibited actions, and an extended daily schedule that starts early and ends much later than most days job. Now a days, the statements by the political leaders through the media houses and counter statements on the next day without caring for he language has become a fashion and keep waiting the readers for the next statement.
Frankly speaking, a political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making process within a specific group.
But my point is a very simple one. Anyone can use whatever language they like as we live in a free country but with certain check. But at the same time, politicians paid by us to be legislators and parliamentary representatives, owe us a certain courtesy.
Political parties, especially those in power, should educate their ministers, legislators and workers on decency and decorum in public life. In other democracies, elected representatives have lost their jobs for much smaller linguistic misdemeanors. The language of the street corner should not be elevated to high office; in fact it should not be used at all.
It is an admitted fact also that many of our politicians were and are known for their brilliant oratory. Nehru, of course, stands out. Vajpayee is another speaker extraordinaire. One can think of Piloo Mody, Indrajit Gupta, Shashi Tharoor, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and the PM. These are people who are mesmerizing when they speak. They have substance and language to back them up. And I am mentioning just a select few. None of them have ever found the need to cater to the lowest common denominator to get their point across.
India is said to be having the biggest democracy in the world but does all this indicate towards the huge educated or uneducated population of the country or democratic awareness? In such scenario, the politicians need to be more sophisticated and taught to mind their language. Over to politicians!