Men of Straw

 

To cannibalise the famous line of Jane Austen, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of dictatorial ambitions, must be in search of ways to dictate." Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, Mao … How did they manage to do it? How is it that they mesmerised huge populations into unquestioning loyalty at first and then abject subservience? 

They could do it because democracy is not a natural order of things. Deep within, we have a tendency to hark back to our tribal origins when we needed a supremo. Education and civilisation led us to think and construct an alternative. However, since this is an artificial construct, it’s built on quicksand, needs constant nurturing of the institutions to maintain it and too fragile to withstand even small tremors. After tapping into that instinct, they managed to nurture it a for a considerable period through a combination of terror, a huge personality cult, adoption of religion for selfish ends, grandiose self-image as God’s chosen instrument and an eye on world domination. 

Stalin “purged” around nine million calling them “enemies of the state.” Mussolini promoted the idea that he was God’s gift to Italy. At morning assembly, Italian schoolchildren were taught to recite, “I believe in Mussolini”; he can do no wrong and never be questioned.” He also had a crucifix fixed in each classroom. Despite being a Communist, Mao is said to have referred to himself as a god and a law unto himself. Hitler proclaimed himself “Master of the World” and that the Third Reich would last a thousand years. 

History may or may not repeat itself, but it rhymes. Today we have Bicycle Pump, Put-out, Chi Chi Pingpong, HWMNBN (He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) and so on. What’s common to them? 

All of them terrorise. USA could’ve deported illegal immigrants in a civilised fashion but they had to be chained and handcuffed. People disappear in Russia and China. ED and CBI in India are now something. 

All of them behave like kings – off with your head if I don’t like you. Thus, Trump says to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, “We love Viktor; I know a lot of people don’t agree with me, but I’m the only one that matters. You are fantastic.” Again, Trump to Kevin Rudd, Australian Ambassador to the US and a former Prime Minister, “I don’t like you and I probably never will.” Initially, they feed their supporters regarding their mythical powers and their divine mandates and, gradually, they start believing in the stories themselves. Trump proclaims himself as a very “stable genius.” Nearer home, we have non-biological beings. 

As kings, and divinely ordained at that, obviously, they think of themselves as above the law. When the legal process decided that her election was illegal, one iron lady declared Emergency in India and put everybody behind bars. Despite Brazil having a trade deficit with the US and not having any adversarial relations, Trump has chosen to tariff Brazil under the pretext of economic emergency and economic security threat from Brazil. 

Even a peon in a government office is thrown out if it turns out that he has lied about anything in his application or declaration. Even if he suppresses any relevant information, he loses his job. However, these strongmen do not feel the necessity of making their certificates public even though it is quite apparent that there was falsehood in their affidavits and obviously, there was suppression of marriage information in previous affidavits. Even when they are convicted (like Bicycle Pump has), they just brazen it out. Gradually, the lies attain epic scales. Politicians always lie. However, there are certain lines drawn. For example, there are two places where they always hesitated to lie at – in the Parliament and on the files. Even those have now gone by the board. Thus, Boris Johnson, when cornered over Partygate, first denied any such thing; then denied any knowledge of such thing; and, finally, when the photographs of him lustily swigging away amongst his equally-sozzled colleagues came out, stated that he didn’t know it was a party! 

These strongmen have little regard for facts and seem to be impervious to being made laughing stocks of. Anything remotely resembling scientific temper is anathema to them. Thus, according to Bicycle Pump, India and Pakistan have been fighting each other for thousands of years (even though they came into being in 1947); Masks are undesirable in COVID-19 management; People could be injected with sunlight and sanitiser to be cured of COVID-19. According to another such, there was plastic surgery in India way back when so an elephant’s head could be grafted on to Lord Ganesh; If we fly in under cloud cover, we’ll escape detection by Pakistan radars. 

Most of these guys have very murky personal lives. Trump’s shenanigans with Stormy Daniels are too well-documented. Around two dozen women have accused him of sexual assault, harassment and rape. I guess, being active in one field means being active in all other fields. Crudity is their calling card. Unfortunately, they have a very loyal support base which sometimes condones and at other times cheers this conduct. There is another problem with them. When they abuse with crudity and utter lack of grace, it’s all right but they can’t take it coming back. They feel persecuted when thwarted and display petulant, childish behaviour. The classic example again is Trump – nobody is giving me the Nobel Prize, boo hoo. 

So, what’s the way out? Usually, all these people meet very sad, ignominious ends. The quotation from Gandhi: 

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it—always."