"Hey Ram 'Madhav': when discipline gave way to impulse…Twitter!"
The utility of social media websites is that you can rant against your ma, or mother country (Bharat Mata); you can post nasty comments about your ex (boy/ girlfriend, or spouse; boss or employer), you can express unreservedly and unrestrainedly at your friend with whom you may have fallen out after a late-night brawl/binge drinking or over financial matters/lover; you can get away by being mean towards your own caste or class, or indulge in self-flagellation; you can take the position of a moral high-ground and preach about this and that from your perspective; you can express infinitely on finite and infinite things even using 'split infinitives' (further angering the grammarians and puritans who are shaking their heads in disbelief at the language on Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and WhatNot).
You can say, and get away from anything: online. Yeah. Because you are just a digital user: you are most probably a tax payer, work for a private company (that doesn't have global-and national-influence), you may not be accountable to the State or a political party: your comments may touch the raw nerves of someone somewhere. If you believe you're a digital commoner (from Left: proletariat, or plebian): feel good because blessed you are! You can express, and expand your digital orbits, and yet save your employment; and most importantly derive digital pleasure in the place of tangible or physical pleasure.
However, celebrities in the realm of movies, sports, music and inheritance (Parish Hilton or a Kapoor/Khan); politicians, revered journalists (who set the agendas for verbal duels and have risen as the moral compass), and those who subsist on the taxpayers' money should exercise restraint on social media sites (online). Offline: They can live without restraint but should watch out for their staff (remember that lawyer's driver?) especially if they are not paid 'decent' wages. Celebrities, politicians and 'risen' stars can post comments on a website but they ought to pause, and read, before 'sending'. If not, it will dent the 'brand' image, and future prospects. What is there on Internet is indelible: inerasable.
RSS & Discipline:
RSS pracharks command the admiration of a Khan from Khairtabad in Hyderabad for their involvement in socio-developmental causes, RSS pracharks demand the adulation of a Stalin in Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai for their discipline (morning drill, evening discussion), RSS pracharks command reverence from a trader in a Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Road in an Indian town, or metro, or city for their stance on Swadeshi and also from non-practising Hindus for their spartan existence, and also for their sacrifices!
Bachelors and sadhvis (spinster has a ring of rejection) of RSS background in the BJP command more respect, and attention, from the Union Cabinet Ministers in the Government of India, including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi is technically married but lives alone (without a companion but happy) or lonesome (without a companion but miserable and unhappy).
Bachelors and sadhvis are the symbols of sterling sacrifice.
The ambitious BJP workers without RSS background have few opportunities (positions of power & authority), and has a lesser chance of survival if accused or implicated in a scam or scandal. They are always wary of 'pracharks' in the party because they are symbols of sacrifice for Bharat Mata. Who could have dreamt that a first time MLA without any frontline political experience, without any corporate or political pedigree, could become the Chief Minister of Haryana saving for an affiliation to RSS, and proven sacrifices!
In retrospect, Manohar Lal Khattar proved the best bet for the BJP (Modi-Shah) n the wake of allegations against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who allegedly assisted and helped Lalit Modi the fugitive, who in turn allegedly helped her son Dushyant Singh the MP, financially in setting up a firm! Also, Advani could not qualify as the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP in 2014 possibly he was a 'fired arrow' or 'lacked sacrifices'. However, he had his chance (2009) but frittered it away!
The defining qualities of a RSS' prachark are being 'single' (away from marital or conjugal spheres), away from the material life (the need to earn money for the spouse and children, working for his children's education…those family demands), and a reasonably dignified distance from family and friends (who could come for one or the other reason in spite of having enough resources for their lifetime). A human being who sacrifices so much usually lives away from the crowds, and cities. But being blessed, BJP has the unique advantage of having such human species working for it: RSS' pracharks! They are known for their restraint (not married, not striving for me and myself, but endeavoring for Bharat Mata).
Hey Ram!
Ram Madhav is the risen star of the RSS, and in the BJP. He is the national general secretary of the BJP with an unblemished track record and holds durbar at the BJP's office on Ashoka Road in Indraprastha. Since his elevation to the national level, his authority and importance has soared, and soared: sky has no ceiling. But muffled voices in the party point out to Ram Madhav's failure in getting few more seats for the party in the Assembly elections of J & K but he was exonerated: still it is a party in the government. However, he could not pause before sending a tweet. He questioned the Vice President of India Hamid Ansari for failing to attend the International Yoga Day! There are other people holding constitutional positions but were not questioned: why? In a fitting response to the tweet, Vice President's office informed the country that he was not invited to the Government-sponsored yoga session on Rajpath. A shaken, and stirred Ram Madhav removed his tweets but it was late, too late: what is there on 'online', is there forever (online and offline) even if you delete it!
Not only journalists should 'check' their facts even politicians: the impact of lack of restraint p on social media websites can be unquantifiable: silly, stupid, poor, such a shame….
Tweet on Twitter: pause before you 'send' so that you know what is tweetable, and what is not tweetable, not only on Twitter but also elsewhere.
(Kovuuri Ganapathi Reddy is the author of 'Handbook of Journalism and Media: India, Bharat, Hindustan'. He can be contacted at [email protected])
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