The concept of a book
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Collect copious quotations to suit your argument. String them into a narrative that brooks no complications or explanation. See conspiracies everywhere. Punctuate the story by something that looks like analysis. This usually consists of repeating an accusatory question over and over: Who is going to do something about this? Pre-empt all criticism by labelling potential critics as anything from statistics-deniers to intellectual persecutors. Create a sense of authority by insinuating that virtue, clarity and determination resides only in [him]. Anyone who dares criticise him cannot possibly be serious about national defence; anyone who demands more methodological complexity is guilty of evasive obfuscation.
posted by Anand @ 5/30/2005
9 comments
9 Comments:
Splendid! I got asked last week to review Shourie's book, declined and passed it on to someone I know; now I'm not sure whether to be happy or sad I didn't have to read it!
C. Raja Mohan's review:
http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEB20050520050117&eTitle=Books+%26+Literature&rLink=0
"Shourie’s account of the state of India’s internal and border security will send a chill down the spine of the reader. The Indian state has ceded ground amidst the dramatic rise in the influence of criminals, smugglers, drug traffickers, insurgents, terrorists and left-wing extremists. The nature of non-military threats to security has long been debated in the public domain. But coming from someone who has until last year has been an important cabinet minister, Shourie’s analysis reveals the extraordinary depth and breadth of India’s crisis of governance.
Shourie’s polemics inevitably invite controversy. This book will be no exception. Many will question Shourie’s style and premises. But no one can ignore the the big questions he has raised about India’s national security management."
Well, I'm not surprised that Arun Shourie finds an admirer in Raja Mohan. Raja Mohan is a great admirer of power, especially military power. (Pamela Constable, of Washington Post, once described him as a pro-government columnist). He is someone who's comfortable with the dictum that "winning is not the only thing; it's everything". When you are a lover of power, it's only natural that you love propaganda that's meant to create paranoia.
Anand, when BJP is accused of having a "final solution" to eliminate Muslims from India is that paranoia?. Just asking.
When BJP is accused of having a "final solution" to eliminate Muslims who aren't willing to live as second class citizens in India, it's not paranoia, to my mind. Because in this case one is not cooking up anything new, but only quoting their guru Golwalakar. BJP has time and again proved that they are willing to practice what Golwalkar has preached. Don't you agree, Rajagopal?
I don't agree that BJP doesn't want Muslims to live in India as equal citizens. Be that as it may, hasn't Pakistan waged 4 wars against India without provocation. I don't think it is paranoia to think that Pakistan, or its rulers atleast, doesn't have noble intentions vis-a-vis India.
I agree that to attribute every action of our neighbours or China or USA or Russia to malice seems paranoid. But I feel that the same is done with regards to BJP (and maybe of late to the Congress, what with its misadventures in Goa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Arun Shourie, George Fernandes etc). BJP has been labelled communal and that will never change or so it seems.
We had the spectacle this weekend of Mani Shankar Aiyar procliaming himself a "Better Indian" than anyone in BJP, RSS etc, because ofcourse he was secular. He even went so far as to say questioning the introduction of reservation at AMU was communal.
I agree that to attribute every action of our neighbours or China or USA or Russia to malice seems paranoid.
That's a main point of the quote in my post too. I don't think we disagree much on this point.
You forgot Shourie's bizarre titles. I mean, what kind of a journalist or editor would choose "Can the iron fence save the tree from the scleroris of termites?" . Or is it, "Termites will inevitably eat the the tree weakened by sclerois seven if there is an iron fence surrounding it?".
Dilip D'Souza is being disingenuous. The person he passed on the book to review was Shri J B D'Souza (see review in Time Out, Mumbai)
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