Cut the Ritual, not the Ribbon |
When it comes to cutting ribbons and pulling the drawstrings to reveal commemorative plaques, politicians of Kashmir, of all hues fall head over heels to get photographed inaugurating developmental works.
The ministers and MLAs transform even routine maintenance tasks carried out by the developmental departments into high-profile spectacles complete with garlands, posters, slogan-shouting crowds, official entourages, and social media photo-ops invariably captioned as “delivering development.”
The style of feudal patronage politics — a hierarchical system of political loyalty where powerful elites provide favours, or benefits to subordinates (vassals or clients) in exchange for support– is not unique to J&K but is a widespread feature of Indian democracy. However, J&K stands out for its particularly “petty” scale of work and “grand” ceremony with monarchic pageantry and an attitude of regal benevolence. These elaborate ribbon-cutting ceremonies reflect a deeply entrenched form of politics that resembles medieval feudalism blended with modern clientelism.
In the new diarchic framework of governance, where the elected representatives are disempowered, it has reached absurd levels. The legislators are going around inaugurating rewired transformers, repaired local drains, and refurbished toilet blocks with much fanfare.
Historically too, more attention has always been paid to the engravings on the plaque rather than the functionality and utility of the asset being inaugurated. Whose names appear, in what order, and with what font size is of greater importance than the specification of the work done or asset installed.
A plaque on the entrance of a public space is a classic example of this. The gold-coloured letters engraved on a black stone reads: “Jogger’s Park, inaugurated by Jenab Omar Abdullah, Hon’ble Chief Minister, J&K, in the presence of Jenab Farooq Abdullah, Hon’ble Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Jenab Sham Lal Sharma, Hon’ble Minister Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, and........