Sycophants all around

All-pervasive sycophancy has emerged as the distinct hallmark of the national Democratic Al liance (NDA)-led Central dispensation which has been holding the reins of governance since 2014. Be it media, corporate sector, academia, bureaucracy, there is an all-out attempt to silence the dissenting voices, stifle opposition, prioritize personal loyalty over performance, seek submission and curb professional meritocracy. It is not that the government is not aware of the risks such an attitude poses to the system of governance. Consequences are before all eyes to see.

Independent reporting has declined and media out lets that favour ruling party narratives have turned into propaganda churning institutions. There is no prize for guessing that avoiding pressure and securing advertising is the guiding motto. Merit is taking a backseat in the academic institu tions where autonomous research and critical thinking has been replaced by propagation of government ideology. Bureaucracy now seeks solace by aligning its policies with the official line and following prefer ences of the political bosses rather than what really helps development and popular weal.

Business leaders seek regulatory favours. No wonder then why nation’s credibility has suffered a drastic decline on the world media freedom index to 157, even lower than that of Pakistan and Nepal. The month-long protests at Jantar Mantar by the youth has partly manifested the risks inherent in surrounding oneself with sycophants and reposing belief in the hyped up narratives from the government-patronised media which has come to be known as Godi Media in public. The refusal to see and seek reality ultimately leads to the consequences suffered by the proverbial emperor without clothes.

Leaders accustomed to receiving filtered view from the handmaiden media were caught off-guard when protests broke out in the capital and internally churning rage spilled out onto the capital’s thoroughfares. When institutions such as media, academia, bureaucracy and judiciary give up the role of keeping the democratic conscience awakened, public faith in foundational pillars diminishes and gives way to conformity and still worse, complicity. Space for Innovation, creativity and dissent shrinks when questioning authority demands professional sacrifice and social costs.

Media institutions which have dared to question and refused to toe the official narratives—The Wire, Indian Express, Scroll, BBC India, News Laundry etal—have faced raids by the central agencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who shied away from an independent NDTV of yore, now gets the coverage without asking following the channel’s takeover by a loyal corporate house. Corporates that purchased the BJP electoral bonds top the list of favourites for contracts.