With Indian democracy already gasping for its breath, will Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta, nation’s last beackon of hope, amidst all palpable gloom, pick up the gauntlet to step into the shoes of legendary Nani A Palkhivala to restore the democratic freedom of expression which is purportedly under siege under the current regime?
Vivekanand Jha Ranchi.Almost couple of years ago, I came across a piece of news in Indian Express, informing us that Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta, the then Vice!-Chancellor of Ashoka University, due to his personal dilemma brought about by the constraint of his time, he was forced to resign from his Vice-chancellor’s post; however, he added that he would continue to write for Indian Express. I felt delighted, for being one of his ardent admirers of his columns- I seldom missed any of his columns, since i got introduced to the behemoth of the intrinsic worth of his columns-in Indian Express.
Significantly, I also mulled over the implications of his writings for awakening the national consciousness towards its constitutional duties, rights accruing from it, and the obligation that constitution enjoins upon the governments formed through electoral mandates. Further, Dr Mehta preferring to write, over that of administrative role of a vice chancellor, enormously endeared him to me, for his burning zeal to discharge what he dubbed his patriotic zeal, was self-manifest in his decision. Incidentally, Dr Mehta had conveniently skipped dropping any hint as to his humongous dilema that triggered his ultimate decision to settle for writing in preference to his administrative responsibility. But then barely a week back, he dropped the bombshell: how the founders of Ashoka University were pressurised into forcing Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta out of the office of Vice Chancellor of Ashoka University. Thus making a candid statement, Dr Mehta was categorical, ‘He was proving to be a political liability for the founders of the university and consequently he felt it safe to call it quits to spare the founders the travails that his continuance would invite. No wonder the bombshell dropped invited the world war condemnation from academics.
Importantly, the hue and cry raised within India and abroad, irrevocably sought to cement the fact that the incumbent government is paranoid towards any dissent, far less any criticisms, directed towards it. Its antagonism towards anyone dissenting towards its decisions, is well known by now, for the government’s unwarranted trepidation at its criticism by even a young girl of 23 years old, Disha Ravi, resulted in that girl being sent to prison, after being handcuffed and brought from Bangalore to Delhi. No wonder then this government overwhelmingly perturbed over incidences of criticisms directed at it, would surely persevere to gag the columnist of such stature as that of Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta was a foregone conclusion, for the government sincerely feared Dr Mehta’s columns that influence the public perception. Interestingly, as Disha Ravi was quickly dubbed as a ‘ terrorist’, yet any such tag or label would not stick against India’s greatest columnist whose columns evoke trust and confidence in that of English speaking intelligentsia of this country and this is what Modi government overwhelmingly feared. Moreover, notwithstanding the overwhelming number of readership of Hindi newspapers, it has been doubtless English dailies like Indian Express which is an opinion maker in the country.
Thus, sooner than later, Dr Mehta had to be tamed, for his fierce audacity was what Modi government exceedingly feared. No wonder any direct coercion, if it became apparent, would invariably expose the government to a far greater criticisms; hence, the subtle, rather subterranean tactics needed to be applied to browbeat Dr Mehta into an abysmal submission. And what else other than jeopardising his economic interest? Founders of Ashoka University were arm twisted to throw Dr Mehta out, and they fell prey to it. The exit of Dr Mehta, followed by Arvind Subramanian, the former chief economic adviser of Prime Minister, the latter walking out as a mark of his protest, is the vindication of the beginning of the arrival of authoritarian regime, which brooks no dissension, far less any criticisms, directed towards it. The academics, from across the world, Raghuram Rajan, the former R.B.I governor, being one of them, vindicates the growing concern of regimentation even in the private universities. Also, the growing legitimate concern is, whether the government, which has successfully subordinated the judiciary, conveniently converted it into an executive court, will dare tolerate an individual whose columns still retains the charm to influence the public opinion?
No wonder as the momentum of protests picks up, with academics from across the world, having extended their overwhelming support in favour of Dr Mehta and freedom of speech, the moot question remains: Will this strong Modi government, which had arrogantly refused to reconcile with the farmers despite the protest entering its four months, will show any leniency in sending a conciliatory gesture towards a columnist even though he may be supported by the world academic community? In fact, Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta stands at a cross road of history, almost at the same edge where Nani A Palkhivala stood decades ago, especially when other dictatorial regime, intoxicated by its own whimsicality sought to crush the underlying spirit of Indian constitution.
The legendary Palkhivala rose to the daunting chalenge then to nip in bud the then regime’s unwarranted hubris, will Dr Pratap Bhanu Mehta succeed in stepping into the shoes of the great jurist to insulate Indian democracy from its impending doom, if the situation fast degenerating, is not forthwith arrested? Unfortunately, Palkhivala fought on legal and constitutional front, immortal Jayaprakash Narayan fought on the political front, contemporary India has no Jayaprakash, yet it is fortunate to have its own version of Palkhivala and the same Indian Express as a platform to fight for the nation’s democratic rights. In the meantime, it would be difficult for Modi government to shake its new Mehta albatross off its neck. Alas, Modi government should not have encroached upon the individual freedom as enshrined by Indian Constitution!
