‘Intellectuals’ or ‘Prostitectuals’

Opinion: ‘Intellectuals’ or ‘Prostitectuals’

Since last week, I am completely stunned by the miraculous transformation in views and approach of the ‘intellectual’ or ‘political pandits’ towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party. Suddenly, a large section of this unique species has softened its stand towards Modi while few others have even taken a complete U-turn unapologetically.
In the forefront of this dynamic transformation are the ‘so called intellectuals’, especially belonging to Lutyen’s Delhi cocktail circles and undoubtedly, their shift towards Modi stems from their battle for survival and remaining relevant in the emerging de novo political scenario in the capital. I refer to these intellectuals as ‘so called intellectuals’ as majority of these dubious characters are just power brokers and not real thinkers. Hence, it will be indeed foolish on our behalf to view their tactical shift towards Modi as a genuine change of heart.

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We need not forget that these were the same intellectuals who were targeting Modi for last twelve years for his so called ‘divisive’ politics by continuously browbeating the bogus boggie of ‘Secularism’. Moreover, these intellectuals believed that they were the sole ‘thekedars’ (I do not wish to use word ‘custodians’) of secularism and everyone must agree only to their definition of ‘secularism’. If you disagree with their rhetoric, then immediately you were branded as communal. On multiple occasions, they even shifted the goalposts during course of debates on secularism and were completely unapologetic even when it became synonymous to minoritism.
Even one week before May 16th, majority of these intellectuals were super-convinced that Modi does not fit into their brand of secularism and is in complete anathema with their ‘Idea of India’. But post 16th May, suddenly many of these ‘so called intellectuals’ have changed their tone towards Modi and since last few days, they have even started seeing a softer and humane side of him. Many have even commented on how Modi has seamlessly and successfully transformed himself into a statesman (all this in a period of just one or two weeks).
Undoubtedly, Modi was always a statesman but these intellectuals with vested interests at paramount chose to suffer with selective amnesia and blindness towards him. Although, there are umpteen examples to substantiate his statesmanship like conduct, these intellectuals always branded him as a ruthless, unpardoning megalomaniac. But chose to ignore his magnanimous gesture towards the defeated opponent Keshubhai Patel after 2012 Gujarat assembly elections or, sending best wishes to his most bitter political rival Lalu Prasad after the later suffered an accident; or, sending flowers and wishes to Sonia Gandhi after the news of her illness broke in spite of her describing him as ‘Maut ka Saudagar’.
Regarding Modi’s emotional dimension, mainstream media has also been unfair to him as they were driven by an agenda of portraying him as a ‘devil personality’ dangerous for our nation. In last twelve years, bitter terms like ‘Moditva’ were invented and words like ‘mass murderer’, ‘butcher’, ‘ugly man’, ‘danav’, etc. were routinely promulgated. Needless to emphasise but many of these so called intellectuals substantially benefited by cursing Modi and few even won the prestigious Padma awards.
Post 16th May, their take has suddenly changed. Currently, these intellectuals are so upset with the recent success of BJP that they have started blaming our electoral process for this unusual mandate. They are relentlessly pointing out that BJP has won only 32% vote while 68% voted against them.
Suddenly these intellectuals have realized that India’s ‘first past the pole’ system is faulty and detrimental.
Unfortunately, the reason for this hysteria within this cabal has nothing to do with their ideology but is plainly because of the fear of losing their clout within the government establishment. These intellectuals are worried that their current perks and privileges due to political patronage from the first family and their ability to manipulate power equations will become very limited, if they do not accept and align with the new political thought process.
Apart from intellectuals, various media houses have also started recalibrating their approach and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration if we say that currently all major media houses and news channels are in a race to win the coveted trophy of being ‘an NDTV of Modi’.

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To conclude, there are few commentators who are still consistent with their hard ideological stance against Modi while majority of them have started shifting their position and, it shouldn’t be a surprise in days to come, if majority of them not only toe pro-Modi line but actually eulogize him for his achievements, with the only prerequisite being that they get accommodated into the new political establishment.

-Dr Abhay Jere