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Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim
Video Producer: Sonal Gupta
Cameraperson: Sumit Badola
In a prequel video, I have argued that Lutyens Delhi – defined as that “insufferable” (for powerful politicians) group of erudite, English-speaking thinkers/writers who believe in social/cultural liberalism, human rights, religious/gender equality, small state, constitutional remedies, freer enterprise, and a dollop of efficient welfarism – has the power to make and unmake prime ministers, including Modi who harbours an implacable hostility, calling them an elite, microscopic minority – ie, armchair intellectuals who can safely be ignored. But nothing could be farther from or more lethal than the truth.
Yes, LD thinks and writes in English because that is the natural Indian language in which they got educated. It’s a legacy of 250 years of British rule, not a willing or conscious choice. But this definitely does not make them “aliens”.
They are as Indian and patriotic as any Hindi or Kannada or Bengali or Tamil writer, or any other thinker in any other Indian language. In fact, these LD writers are among the sharpest minds in India.
Now I shall quote from history to prove my hypothesis. I have chosen the two turbulent decades from 1969 through 1989, when India transitioned from a domineering one-party rule to a vibrant multi-party democracy, riddled with competing social coalitions and speaking in several regional dialects.
It’s difficult for millennials to believe now, but Indira Gandhi started out as an anti-establishment crusader. She dismantled the right-leaning conservatives in her party, plumping for hard socialism by nationalising banks, abolishing princely privileges, and packing the Supreme Court with left liberals.
When she vanquished Pakistan to liberate Bangladesh in 1971, she hit her peak popularity. She became the darling of Lutyens Delhi. Just look at these editorials written by Girilal Jain, who was an early admirer of Mrs G, and perhaps the most influential Lutyens voice of that time:
As is scathingly evident from the above editorials – ie, the phraseology moving from “sham radicalism” to “black laws” – Indira Gandhi’s political graph fell, almost in perfect sync with the rising criticism from Lutyens Delhi. She was eventually trounced by the hastily created Janata Party in 1977, who then became the new darlings:
But soon, the Janata Party became a prisoner of internal intrigue, and was duly slammed by Lutyens Delhi. Here is Kuldeep Nayyar, once imprisoned in the Emergency and a natural supporter of the Janata government, now turned virulent critic:
Another Lutyens stalwart, BG Verghese, had this to add (15 May 1979):
Unsurprisingly, the Janata experiment failed and Mrs Gandhi returned to power in 1980. But before she could be felled by critics, she was tragically assassinated by her bodyguards in 1984. Her son, Rajiv Gandhi, scripted the biggest mandate in India’s history and took charge under a rapturous welcome from Lutyens Delhi:
Once again, inevitably, Lutyens Delhi turned on Rajiv Gandhi and he was defeated by his confidante-turned-adversary, VP Singh, in 1989. Now this Thakur from UP was the new Lutyens icon:
VP Singh barely lasted a few months in power. As always, his honeymoon with Lutyens Delhi was aborted and slashed. Yet again, Lutyens Delhi had unmade a prime minister by the sheer force of its publishing ink.
So, Mr/Ms Next Prime Minister of India, listen to Lutyens Delhi. Read their columns and editorials directly, yourself. Don’t allow aides and intermediaries to send you sanitised excerpts. Don’t flinch at their sharp commentary. Learn from it. Internalise it. Don’t become hostile or retributive.
Believe me when I say that that shall be the biggest guarantor of your ability to stay in office.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)