BEYOND THE BARRICADES: THE ‘MANTAR’ OF HARMONY AT JANTAR MANTAR – Major General Rajiv Edwards, VSM (Retd)

BEYOND THE BARRICADES: THE ‘MANTAR’ OF HARMONY AT JANTAR MANTAR

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II could have scarcely imagined that one day the  famous open air astronomical observatory built by him in 1724 at Delhi, would host the  largest voluntary student agitation in the site’s history, and by default, a powerful  36 day display of ‘pluralistic synthesis’ – the composition of the protestors a striking tapestry of a deeply diverse nation. For the duration, a resilient cadre of ‘cockroaches’ assembled at the monument for a common purpose….forgotten or so it seemed, were the deep seated societal fault lines of religion, region, caste, creed, language, culture and status….the structural challenges which impact the country’s multicultural fabric.

Unique as it was, the ‘convergence’ manifested in other parts of the country in much the same mould. Spearheaded by Gen Z, it also included a sprinkling of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and even the pre-teens of Gen Alpha. Looking past the why, how and what of the student agitation and the buzz that it continues to generate, the defining success of the mobilisation was perhaps the harmony in its heterogeneity. At its peak on 20 July, amidst the bricks and bats, the rallying cry was patriotic in fervour….the National Anthem, the ‘Ma Tujhe Salaam, Vande Mataram’ and the ubiquitous display of the ‘Tiranga’ became a unifying symbol, muting narrow divides under a shared, overarching Indian identity. That is not to say that everything was beyond reproach……but then, as the saying goes, ‘you cannot demand order from those to whom you have dealt chaos.’

India is like a pendulum nation; a society that swings between internal divisions sharpened by electoral politics, and the occasional situational solidarity witnessed during national crises or even sports, like cricket. This so called ‘latent unity’ or ‘rally round the flag’ effect is like a ‘honeymoon phase’, before the adrenaline wears off and it is business as usual. The fact of the matter is that, India is essentially a continent masquerading as a single nation. Thus, while it is unrealistic to expect absolute cohesion in a nation as expansive, establishing a shared baseline of respect, equality and dignity allows individual differences to enrich society, rather than driving conflict.  By carrying the inclusive spirit of Jantar Mantar into daily life, the country can ensure that its diversity becomes a source of national strength rather than a political fault line.

Expectedly, Jantar Mantar exposed a deeply compromised media landscape.  When the media fails to carry the voice of the people, the feet of the people carry their own message, and so it was.  This catalysed the transformation of digital frustration into a potent physical presence. On balance, media did not exactly cover themselves with glory. By curating the narrative and insulating power from the groundswell of youth frustration, they chose to downplay the situation, until public pressure reached a flash point. The backlash faced by certain media outlets at the venue underscores the deepening trust deficit between the public and mainstream journalism. Media also has a huge role to play to ensure inclusivity is not a fleeting sentiment reserved for protest zones. Rather than chasing polarising tangents and dissecting contentious sub plots, the media needs to document instances of cross community solidarity, so as to cement the protest’s fleeting harmony into the broader social fabric. It must serve as the thread that binds the country together, rather than the blade that cuts it apart.

India has the advantage of a large youth bulge, but it has a long way to go before this becomes a true demographic dividend. A harvest is only as good as the seeds we plant and the nutrients we provide. Whether current investments in the younger generation are sufficient in scale and substance remains a question for the jury. However, it is undeniable that they cannot be propelled forward on a diet of negativity and cynicism – a short sighted strategy with fleeting gains and, in the long run, a lingering sense of rue!  In order to leverage its greatest asset, there needs to be a serious commitment to address their critical grievances, until then, the country will remain like a sleeping giant that never awakens to its true power. As Ralph Waldo Emerson aptly wrote in his poem, ‘A Nation’s Strength’, ‘Not gold but only men/Can make a people great and strong!’

The backlash of Jantar Mantar is a reality check for the political dispensation. It  heralds a watershed moment for cross party accountability, signalling that leaders must take ownership for systemic failures rather than wait for public outrage to force their hand. The movement also brings to the fore the truth that, if the populace refuses to ‘bite the bait’, the political focus will shift from spin and rhetoric to tangible national progress…..implying not merely an increase in macro-economic indicators, statistical data and infrastructure, but qualitative improvement in the bread and butter realities of  the citizens, and the host of  endemic issues which plague the society, chief among them  the scourge of systemic corruption at each and every level of governance. Jantar Mantar has given the youth a powerful taste of success. It is a warning bell that the ruling dispensation and authorities in general need to heed, as they may well be taken to task by rising demands for accountability in future.  As it is said, ‘the students first victory rewrites their fear into appetite!’

Poetically speaking Jantar Mantar implies an ‘instrument for measuring the harmony of the heavens.’ Hopefully, it will also serve as a divine blueprint for unity and goodwill within the diversity of Bharat. If the country can emulate even in a little measure the same unified spirit shown by the students, the collective power and momentum can certainly propel the country forward, turning the dream of a developed nation into a reality. One hopes that this was not merely an ephemeral ‘negative unity’, but the beginning of a lasting, positive cohesion built on shared values, tolerance, and mutual respect. Gen Z has shown how to collaborate across differences; perhaps the rest of the country can benefit from reverse mentorship!

(Major General Rajiv Edwards, VSM** (retd) is a historical researcher and commentator on societal issues.  He is apolitical. Views expressed are personal)