IN the rich tapestry of world literature, carols, hymns, and lullabies occupy a place of pride. Lewis Carroll evolved his nonsense rhymes as a distinct tradition to add sarcasm to the repertoire of this genre. In our own country, Sukumar Ray, an exceptionally talented cultural personality and father of the film maestro, Satyajit Ray, made a distinctive contribution to this tradition through his own nonsense rhymes. One of his rhymes spoke out to power with biting sarcasm. The sharp piece brought out the poser, why are the rulers afraid of laughter? Why do they always feel tense and fearful?
The exact same poser could sound very contemporary in the Modi regime also. On December 3, in its press release the government highlighted the orders it had issued to all smart phone manufacturers including those which are imported. The order smacked of the mentality of a control freak. It was very precise: all manufacturers would have to pre-install a government sponsored app ‘Sanchar Saathi’ in all the equipment to be sold in the Indian market. With an apparently non-discriminatory tone, it also urged that this app has to also be installed in all those mobile phones which are already in vogue. The government also elaborated on the objective for this new measure. It was to protect smart phone users from cyber-crime and fraud. That this constituted the attitude of a benevolent dictator was of little concern.
Predictably, there was all-round opposition and disdain. The reaction was premised in the actual experience of the people and the clear violation of the provisions of the Constitution – the right to privacy as well as the possible undermining of dissent and its weaponisation. This was borne out during the course of incarceration of number of academics, lawyers, activists and intellectuals in the trial over Bhima Koregaon violence. There was clear proof of incriminating material which was planted into laptops and other digital devices of those who were alleged to have ‘plotted’ to trigger violence. The malware, which was downloaded into the devices, altered the data of these machines and was in large parts used as ‘evidence’ by the police to keep the framed accused in prison for years. That ultimately, all of them had to be granted bail is a clear pointer that the case based on such distortions did not stand on firm grounds.
Again, similar mischievous use was seen with the use of weapons grade spyware ‘Pegasus’. The condition for the sale of the spyware demanded that it would not be transferred to non-state actors. Since there was concrete proof that the spyware was actually installed in the device of targets including our former General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury, the entire process led to an enquiry where both these facts were established. But surprisingly, the Supreme Court did not mention the agency which was responsible for this act. Incidentally, Israel’s security and surveillance related equipments have come to be associated with the overall nefarious genocide culture that the country has drawn notoriety for, with what has been done in Gaza. Naturally, with the attempt to install Sanchar Saathi mandatorily in all smartphone devices, those references are coming alive.
The people have earned a reprieve, with the government now climbing down and announcing that this mandatory pre-sale installation will not be insisted upon. But there can be no reason for premature celebration. The government’s backing down was the result of strong resistance from global players like Apple, Samsung and Google, who refused to surrender to the government’s strictures. It is not the people of this country or their constitutional right to dissent, which is of any concern to the government, but the threat of the global techno-corporates which had the decisive stamp over this outcome.
So long as the tendency of the government to breed a sense of fear and insecurity continues, such attempts will also be in evidence. This tendency is inherent in the fascist playbook. Notwithstanding the recent episodes of trying to control collective thought, there are growing signs of people’s resistance as well. With the use of Election Commission to bring in and legitimise measures which had never in the past blemished the universal constitutional right to vote, these efforts will undoubtedly increase.
Based on factual evidence provided by the government itself, it is clear that democratic rights can be undermined on a large scale by merely invoking the weaponised draconian provisions of the UAPA. The Union Home Ministry data tabled in the Lok Sabha on December 2, has revealed that only 335 of the accused have ultimately been convicted under the UAPA between 2019 and 2023, even though there were 10,440 arrests in the corresponding period. In the data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and presented state-wise, the largest share was from Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh! It is evident that this is meant for coercing conformism and force abject surrender to the Establishment.
From Sanchar Saathi to UAPA, the message is clear. This government has come to fully assume neo-fascistic characteristics in snuffing out the lifeline of our vibrant republican constitution which has human rights and the right to dissent as one of its cornerstones. This is too precious for us as a nation and a people. We can salvage our rights only by collectively putting up a strong resistance.
(December 10, 2025)
