Soul Talk With Devdutt Pattanaik: What do Politicians Really Want?
It’s a game.
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Video Editor: Puneet Bhatia
Illustrator: Mehul Tyagi
Video Producer: Prabuddha Jain
We often hear ministers, politicians, chief ministers and the prime minister say that they work for the welfare of citizens. But is this the reality? Or is it part of the ‘jumlas’ being used by these politicians for ages?
In this episode of Soul Talk, Devdutt Pattanaik talks about the position and importance of citizens in a democracy.
We asked him the following questions: Politicians are never ready to listen to criticism. Is it worth it to believe them when they say, “come with me, I will change your life”?
Life is nothing but give and take, says Pattanaik. Politicians often say with conviction that they have a magical solution to citizens troubles, only to get votes in return.
Where have the jesters gone, the mythologist asks, saying that the “king” today no longer wants the jester around and just wants to listen to the poets praise him.
In doing so, the king moves further away from reality. What is happening in the country? What do the citizens want? He has no clue, Pattanaik says, adding, the king within us wins battles not the one outside.
(First published on Quint Hindi)
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