A Faustian bargain is when one is presented with what seems like an attractive choice but in making it, it is like selling your soul to a devil- at least, eventually. Indians, now facing upcoming elections and part of an independent country, unshackled from the British Empire and enlightened with home truths should make thoughtful and soulful choices to keep their country on a positive sovereign trajectory. Here, I will first draw on what Faustian choices should be avoided and then, the only real intelligent and redeeming political road ahead.
The first Faustian bargain is to think those attached to globalism or over appealing to such an outside force are for Indian salvation and prosperity and should be followed.This could not be further from the truth. Globalists, like multi-billionaire, US based oligarch George Soros, in a sense their leader think they know what Is best for India, or just about anywhere, else. They want to press the accelerator to drive the world to an amorphous neo-liberalism, deferential to mostly western oligarchs and their friends and to create a global-wide, US styled “democracy”. This is irrespective of the obvious imperfections of that type of “freedom” and open society. Ironically, the latter is the name of the hugely endowed foundation run by the Soroses. Religion, national focus, positive traditions, common-sense social conservatism of family and local community building are subordinated to global elite preferences and a world focus. These outside elites think they have much less to learn from the East, including the wisdom of the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – whose approach, I call the Modi Way. Instead globalists believe the East has much more to learn from them. This is a real chauvinism of western exceptionalism.
Globalists, too often have succeeded by guile and cunningness, as well on unsuspecting populations and weak leaders. These outsiders use their crafty lawyers supporting massively funded campaigns to try to take control of justice systems by getting their chosen prosecutors to politicians elected, for example. They also buy up large portions of main (worldwide) media where also permitted, and extensively control much of global finance. In their full manifestation, these powerful western, mostly US-UK based or connected elites are sometimes dangerous, as Indian External Affairs, Minister S. Jaishankar, so rightfully described George Soros as. They have ideas of “soul-sucking damnation”. For example, with their postmodern ideas they seem to be open even to kids having a choice to change their gender by genital mutilation with some regretting such when later becoming adults. And providing access to female bathrooms to those with male physiology but identifying as females. They have a view as underlined by the esteemed, clinical psychologist, Jordan Peterson that undermines a balanced male sense of worth and place in society, where extreme feminists have been allowed to reign. In short, globalists represent or steer society more to a nihilism that Indians, even progressive ones should want nothing to do with.
And be warned that globalists and even through domestic agents in India and elsewhere are a highly and extremely determined, monstrously competitive and sometimes use plain military and other illegitimate interventions to get their ways. Too many globalists, though not all, seem to wish to cripple and plunder countries such as Russia that has been blueprinted for another globalist shakedown designed in the US Pentagon and by various Washington “think” centers. They especially despise Russia’s proud opposition to keeping globalists and their values out of their country and spiritual Orthodox ones in, even before the war in Ukraine started.
They are next trying to soften up India by falsely declaring Prime Minister Modi as not a democrat and having ex US president Obama essentially saying that the PM discriminates against Muslims, all totally false. Then, one has to wonder in whom they are vetting as their “servant” to run the most populated country that would be a “jewel in their crown” to borrow an expression that imperialists once described India as part of the British empire. However, the Modi leadership has firmly stated by its actions, not just by words that these malign outside globalist actors – and even their sycophants, domestically – not to try and treat India as a target acquisition as part of a new worldwide colonialism. If they do, as some indicate they are trying to, the collective voter force opposing such a political malignance could be overwhelming and with New Delhi making such globalists shudder?
Speaking of nihilism, there is also the wave of separatism and extreme polarization manifested in some limited locations in India to France, and elsewhere. Thus, where these ultranationalists, collectively think breaking away from or trashing the motherland is the ultimate solution.to their perceived problems.This author, as a former Quebecer in Canada who experienced first-hand powerful waves of separatism, some of which were associated with dangerous terrorism warns that such fragmentation is unconstructive to building a balanced civilization. Eventually, the Quebec splittists gained power in the province of Quebec but their voter supporters soon learned something important. The election of a separatist Quebec government did not have answers by trying to cut off the province from Canada. Yet, that Canadian government appears, today also in need to counter other various splittists there, that New Delhi is well aware of that are trying to undermine positive national sovereignty, but this time India’s.
Rather, a perspective which can be called the Modi Way is the true constructive alternative. This is steeped in India’s overall success of working with its multi-ethnic, multi-religious democracy, but with its own patience and tolerance to accept a certain manageable “cosmic chaos”. This has very eloquently been described by the India sage, Sadhguru in his famous YouTube clip in trying to explain to a journalist some of the deep spiritual complexity of India that many westerners cannot understand by being too fixed to their own western template. To be added and in conformity to the guru’s thinking are ideas of Mahatma Gandhi who underlined holistic values, including decolonization in mind not only by physical political sovereignty from empires. All of which the Indian leadership seems to ascribe to much better than some of those who push big letter statements that they truly represent what is best for India, while campaigning and playing to pro-splittest segments, including religious ones be it done at home or abroad. This is especially related to some of whom appear not critical enough to violence in imagery and actions and too excusing of it. This is not what Mahatma Gandhi represents in philosophy or from what the best sages believe, nor certainly the Prime Minister adheres to. In fact, it is the Indian top leadership that is not only providing a hopeful way -the Modi Way – but to Indian citizens, first and foremost yet to the world, too. There is no need to choose between two worst options referred to as devilish or Faustian bargains that globalists or separatists and their Indian agents are trying to hoodwink Indians into. Indians are too sharp and elevated, overall into selling their political and spiritual “souls” as elections approach.
Peter Dash is an educator and writer on global affairs.