Let my World awake...
"The distribution of wealth is one of today's most widely discussed and controversial issues". I always wonder about how wealth and income have evolved from centuries and how has it lead to the concentration of wealth in fewer hands. In his book 'Capital - in the Twenty-First century', Thomas Piketty says, "...capitalism automatically generates arbitrary and unsustainable inequalities that radically undermine the meritocratic values on which democratic societies are based." It is sad when he says in the introduction of the same book, "There are nevertheless ways democracy can regain control over capitalism and ensure that the general interest takes precedence over private interests, while preserving the economic openness and avoiding protectionist and nationalist reactions." It shows how capitalism has engrossed our democratic value of equity and inclusion.
Indian film, be it Bollywood films or India regional films, of twentieth century, are full of stories that depicts the presence of deep inequality in the society among different rural population, one of such film is Mother India, Pather Panchali, Apur Sansar etc. There are many such films which paint striking reality of inequalities and hence marginalization of men and women. I think the best effect of inequality, injustice and marginalization have been shown with great perfection and power by our Indian films. There can be no statistical and theoretical analysis that can match these films. Indian films made it possible to take the discussion of inequality, injustice and marginalization beyond the economists, sociologists, historians and philosophers and put it on the face of the common people of India. These made common people to have contradictory political views/judgement. Every citizen of the country have their own point of view and that why we all say, "Janta Sab Janti Hain". Common people understood through this film as to how people live and what relations of power and marginalization exist among different social groups. Thus Piketty says very distinctly that, "...there will always be a fundamentally subjective and psychological dimensions to inequality, which inevitably gives rise to political conflicts that no purportedly scientific analysis can alleviate. Democracy will never be supplanted by republic of experts - and that is very good thing."
Today when the economic decisions are skewed by the thoughts of hyper nationalism world wide, which unfurls slowly the trade war initiated by USA under the leadership of Donald Trump with a value of "America First", I find that the new efforts of inequality is on its way to engulf the world. The with drawl of USA from Human Rights Council will again create another hustle and bustle in the world politics. So the impulsive political and economic decisions will further polarize the world and I see, contradict to cold war a hot war is on its way. Hence a new narrative of inequality is in the process of making which is totally not scripted but more of impulsive. In India, the way our leadership is going ahead with all the economic and political decisions which are not based on democratic values but based on one (or two) man's (or men's) perception of nationalism. I fear that democracy and republic experts are supplanted by few individuals, which is really a great threat to world democratic values. Are we moving towards a new form of governance where in dictatorship will be covered under the sheet of democracy. The most horrific things that are happening through the social media, which was brought into public domain to unify the world people and create one humanity, is hijacked by the rights wings for brainwashing/polluting the mind of the people like shown in the film, Hirak Rajar Deshe written and directed by famous film maker Satyajit Ray, to reinforce the hyper nationalism, hyper castisim, hyper religious fundamentalism to cultivate inequality at all fronts - socio-economic and political. Today I see hyper nationalism automatically generates arbitrary and unsustainable inequalities that radically undermine the meritocratic values on which democratic societies are based.
Hence as an individual I cry out to all those still unpolluted/non-brainwashed World film makers, actors (male and female) and writers to start ventilating their opinions through their films and literature on what is happening presently and its impact on human kind in near future. Your efforts will not put a complete end to the violent political storm (that I see coming) but it will definitely inform democratic debate and focus our media (the fourth pillar of democracy) attention on the right questions. "it can help to redefine the terms of debate, unmask certain preconceived or fraudulent notions, and subject all positions to constant critical scrutiny." - which I fear is not happening or very fast losing its ground.
**I used the words, phrases and sentences from 'Capital - in the Twenty-First century' written by Thomas Piketty and used it purposefully for expressing my own view.
