The fallen and the fusty
Muhammad Nurul Huda
Sensational happenings emanating from the alleged Ershad-Bidisha feud that crossed the limits of the household and in the process engaged and occupied substantial time and space in both the electronic and print media of the country have amused many but without doubt portray an atmosphere of lack of direction in our mainstream politics. The nation would not benefit by venturing to find out those whose reported machinations behind the scenes are suspected to be instrumental in pushing the scandalous affairs of a fallen president into the forefronts of national publicity. Equally disappointing is the apparent comical pretensions of an irrelevant and non-descriptor woman to attract people's sympathy with the questionable motive of creating a niche in the center stage of politics. Authorities that regulate the detention and custody have allegedly acted in a less than appropriate manner as legal experts tell us that the series of criminal cases lodged one after another against Bidisha do not have much substance in them to prima-facie justify her continued incarceration. That may be a matter for the courts to decide. However, the considered view is that the responsible citizens of the country should know whether non-events should dominate our public life at the cost of overlooking or shelving matters that in the penultimate year of a political government when a debatable budget is undergoing scrutiny and serious issues like the proposed reforms of caretaker government and the Election Commission have not been resolved.Disproportionate publicity
Whether one likes it or not the fact remains that politics and politicians, for reasons better left unsaid, occupy a disproportionately large portion of our media reports. The cynics, however, say that in varying degrees the politicians are the promoters-distributors of favours and more so in our kind of a society and no wonder therefore that the favour-seeking satellites continue to hover around them. Under such circumstances, the less-than-holy relations between the favour-giver and the receiver make good news especially if there is a prurient dimension to the unfolding drama. The tabloids have their readers everywhere but they definitely are not the mainstream media. So when men and women of doubtful virtue succeed in getting undeserved attention that becomes a damper to the conscientious folks who are desirous of entering the public life. The political stage needs the vibrancy and grit of a new breed of politicians who are expected to lift the polity out of the frustratingly lackadaisical scenario. The question that needs an answer is whether prominence in public life can be attained without some record of public service. Similarly, if the media should, willy-nilly, be a facilitator in furthering the career progression of questionable players. These are important issues demanding resolution because events of the last two weeks relating to the two persons mentioned hereinbefore and the manner of media coverage thereto have sent confusing signals to many, particularly the young and the impressionable. One has to know the rationale of precedence in our scheme of priorities relating to the national life. Heroes and the villains
History is replete with the graphic and sordid descriptions of the misdeeds and malevolence of the 'Neros' and the 'Caligulas.' Those being very exciting stuff draw the reader's attention instantly but momentarily because it did not do any good to the public cause. Students of history, however, evince keen interest in the achievements of Julius Caesar or Augustrus Caesar. The depredations of the four bad Roman emperors expedited the fall of the great Roman empire. That was a climate where distinction between good and bad evaporated and crass villains were placed on high pedestal of statecraft. The point to ascertain is whether we are upstaging villains in our history because the fallen ex-president, according to many observers of our socio-political scene, stands accused of toppling a lawfully elected government through brute power and of corrupting almost all the institutions of the state. His name is synonymous with autocracy and high handedness and all the evils that are associated with it. The massive tarnishing of the electoral process was initiated by him and the consequences are felt now. His was a time when even wife-swappers tried to become guardians of public morals. It was also the time when sense of propriety disappeared from public life and religion was put to unprecedented misuse. Accountability, both administrative and financial was at its lowest ebb and conspicuous consumption was officially patronised. All in all, there was a deliberate effort to convert our society into a conglomerate of self-serving lesser individuals. The above observations do not mean that our socio-political scene has perceptibly changed for the better but the country definitely has a government enjoying mandate from the people and stands committed to hand over the reins of power, at the end of the stipulated period. It does not draw sustenance from the flexing of muscles of some quarter. Therefore, in the fitness of things, history should gratefully record the sacrifices of those valiant men and women who laid down their lives for the restoration of democracy. The struggle of small traders, school teachers, development workers, conscientious public servants working against odds, lawyers espousing public interests, physicians working quietly to alleviate miseries and many others should occupy larger space in our print and electronic media so that the present imbalance is gradually lessened. Let us believe in the proposition that every individual is of some worth and let that worth be recognised. This is important because media reports are history on the move. The desired way
The time has come to cleanse our political and public life. The so-called over-bearing political heavyweights whose real worth are doubtful need to be exposed so that people can choose at the appropriate time. There should be conscious efforts to accord less prominence to sensational stories. All concerned in the media can decide on the desirable course of action. Let the media be equivocal and forthright in saying that the single-minded pursuit of money impoverishes the mind, shrivels the imagination and desiccates the heart. We should not take more wrong turns at the crossroads, misuse our time and take gold for dross and dross for gold. We can face any crisis if we have the benefit of the correct facts. The nation can no longer make the mistake of thinking that those who hunger for political profit or profit in the form of power are any less dangerous to the society. Our people will be further disillusioned if our democracy is not a rule by meritocracy. Therefore, thinking men and women must take the trouble of giving public expression to their views, otherwise the loud and vociferous voice of an incompetent minority will pass as the voice of the policy. They have to overcome the inactivity resulting from fatalism. Falsehood of the political brats can not be allowed to have too long an innings. Identity of views may not be possible but harmony of goals is. The profligate must not be allowed to overtake the pious in the political battle. Muhammad Nurul Huda is former Inspector General of Police and Secretary to the government.
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