Goliath, His Ghost And Many Davids
By Anil Gokhale
17 March, 2014
Countercurrents.org
GOLIATH AND HIS MULTIPLE FACES
Condensation is one of the most powerful and empowering weapon of the Cartoons and Sir David Low used it spontaneously all along. David Low was a complete ‘Character-logistic' by experience, Artist by birth and ‘psychologist' by habit and historian by hard work. He perceived his conception of caricature eagerly in capturing in visual terms “ most elusive of all qualities, individuality ?
While exploring the techniques of creating character, David Low says, “1 would aim at carrying each subject a stage or two further towards fuller and more rounded representation”. In doing so he aimed at “ Analysis and synthesis of character ”. As brilliant psychologist and as historian his search for knowledge usually began “ at the apex and worked back to the base, from effect to cause, from current affairs to historical origins, instead of the other way round ”.
Today when the political crash is imminent, we intensely remember Sir David Low when beginning of India Elections 2014 coincide with his Birth Anniversary (Born on 7 th April 1891) and the character of Adolf Hitler he created through several of his cartoons and caricatures. Relevance of Sir David Low's critical Art is distinctly visible with presence of large number of Cartoons specifically of GOLIATH posted on internet and Face Book. Sensitive Cartoonists have been provoked to brush their perceptions of the looming threats of Saffron March and political fights ensuing from the political combats between demagogic personalities and clumsy, inept or unarmed, common and unassuming individuals. They have discovered in the image of Legendry GOLIATH the saffron March of NAMO. I have not been cartoonist but have selected a few such good cartoons which are critical and humorous and attempting to provide representation of NAMO's character as they perceive. The Biblical Legend has several versions dating back to (BC 7 th or 6th). GOLIATH of Gath (one of five city states of the Philistines) was the Giant Philistine Warrior who was defeated by the unarmed young David representing the helpless people facing threats and aggression from the unstoppable Goliath. Poor people cowering in fear of GOLIATH with history of 2002 massacres today are in dire need of DAVID and who will play his role in countering NAMO. NAMO is vanquishing the voice, freedom and means of living of the poor and the toiling masses. GOLIATH's Power rested in his armor he carries. The Legend depicts this as borrowed or integrated from typical sixth century BC Greek Homeric amour weighing 750KGS. However, none of these cartoons have identified source and origins of NAMO's armor. Similarly there is no single opinion how to create character named DAVID. Every cartoonist has his own David and hence so many DAVIDS . Today we need one more Sir DAVID LOW who can match his power of condensing several situations into a formidable historical Plot of Political Crash of 2014 and create DAVID to take on this GOLIATH. In spite of not being Cartoonist, in the memory of Sir David Low, I have attempted to bring together and synthesize perceptions of these creative cartoonists by making an (single) hotchpotch or Collage named- Old is Crashing –India Elections 2014.
Cartoon Hotchpotch is centered on character GOLIATH and his Legendry Combat with DAVID. Cartoonists and Caricaturists with their critical eye were the first to paint this conflict and the inherent paradigm. Nevertheless their DAVIDS rep resent parts or angles of a Complex Image. Few notable cartoons ‘ One Goliath and Many DAVIDS', ‘SADBHAVANA YATRA', SECRETS OF POPULARITY, ‘ Humans have history of Violence Lord'and ‘No, they are the splendid Robes' ( Ambani's Darlings- GOLIATH & KING) 9All these Cartoons are in Public Domain) constitute the consecutive faces or forms of GOLIATH's characteristics in this hotchpotch. GOLIATHY'S ‘Character' consist of sum total and synthesis of his Public- external political actions and postures, his Interior- psychic life and his Private life & Business relationship. Character GOLIATH is the synthesis of these characteristics.
The Central theme of the first original-source cartoon depicts GROUP of Congressmen, ‘ MANY DAVIDS , Israelis, in confrontation with GOLIATH , pelting stones from their CATAPULTS at unbothered Giant NAMO marching with roars and by holding the enviable ARMOUR of 750 KGS in his left hand (NAMO's connection) instead of in right hand in Biblical legend) and resting on left shoulder. This Congress army displays futile and ridiculous anger towards mighty Goliath and their combined force is no match to the giant killer. In the cartoon two of the old controversies, who Armed GOLIATH with the terrifying display of ARMOUR and How Goliath acquired this giant hood remains unanswered. The Original source cartoons are reproduced below .
In the current situation Chetan Bhagat's documentary presents the evidence of how the NAMO was armed by ‘Confederation of Indian Industries' and other corporate bodies rallied behind NAMO in the aftermath of carnage 2002, and threw formidable protective ring around NAMO to turn him into GOLIATH. The convened conference of CII in 2003, ruthlessly drove out the finest Cambridge Historian Jairus Banaji from the meeting venue, who accused NAMO's involvement in 2002 carnage. Since year 2003 GOLIATH moved from strength to strength with fierce and sponsored-orchestral propaganda of good governance and visionary Developer and integrator by the Industrial cartels to fully repress and overshadow 2002 carnage. Good Corporate Governance is another name of this ARMOUR to crush the resistance and opposition of the helpless and the organized and unorganized toiling people and projecting him as ‘HERR NAMO'.
This itself is not sufficient to create GOLIATH's gigantic character to occupy larger than life space of the political scene? His emergence as so gigantic on the political scene, dates back to the womb of history 1948 Gandhi murder and which grew into raging movement of hatred and mass carnages. It amplified growing despair and discontent of mass of middle classes and classes marginalized by Capitalist social Order echoed in rise of GIANT. The growth of violent discontent of the primitive human instincts and threat to modern Indian Civilization is depicted by the Cartoon showing NAMO throwing arrogant tantrum at Judiciary ‘ Humans have history of Violence Lord'. The cartoon has been scissored to create a milestone in the historical process of rise of NAMO. The ultra patriotic mass violence became permanent feature with rise of Bajarang Dal formed on 1 st October 1984. It was born amidst raging lumpens on the streets of Delhi and elsewhere in defense of Indian Nation State against looming threat of KHALISTAN and directed to Sikhs to preserve National Integrity at ‘any cost' from internal threats. This Indian version of the STORM TROOPERS forms the force which carried through the 2002 carnage and remains as the FOUNDATION of GOLIATH's march forward. Lengthening shadows and ‘ Snooping Eye' remind us of Europe of 1930. Hotchpotch integrates these images of stepping stones for marching on SAFRON Blocs to represent both historical Progression and Psychic Regression of GOLIATH's character.
Cartoon SADBHAVANA YATRA resembling ‘DANDI YATRA' forms cover up as well as retarding pull on the rise of GOLIATH. Cartoonist articulates inner psychic life, interior character of GOLIATH' marching ahead and brings out the haunting fears of this GIANT Killer who is frightened of rise of his own shadow in GODHRA. The GANDHIAN exercise by this GOLIATH is done not only to cover up the post Godhra Carnage and project his image as peace maker but GHOST of the SADBHAVANA YATRA' forms the reflection of his fears and fright. Giant Killer, GOLIATH is attempting to dispel or whisk away his own haunting trouble making GHOST, fears by wearing Gandhian garbs and offers Roses to his own frightened self. ‘SADBHAVANA YATRA' cartoon image exactly explores and brings to the fore NAMO's frightful struggle with his own image. The two shadows of two cartoons display historical dilemma for the NAMO the GOLIATH. His inner life remains subservient to fright and is haunted by GHOSTS of crime it committed in post GODHRA in 2002 and continued with suppression of irrepressible till 2014. Finally the shadow- GHOST resembles REBIRTH and return of assassination of M.K. Gandhi. Life of a Fascist is prone and ridden with fears and fears cannot be lured or wished away through offering roses- the SADHAWANA YATRA. Cartoonist has aptly depicted this. We have attempted to fuse these representations and perceptions of inner and outer life of GOLIATH in a single Image-plot. The marching figure is ridden with these obstacles of fears.
Third good cartoon, of GIANT GOLIATH has shown to be pumping to inflate and build ‘SELF IMAGE' to become commensurate for ‘ National Scene as Presidential- Prime-ministerial contender' to lead the patriotic people and Indian nation. However the HYPERBOLE, tall claims of development and jargoning for image building is an exercise driven by the Leaders and Captions of amalgamations and cartels of Capitalists. NAMO pumps to inflate his Ballooned Image (See the cartoon) for a National Display. His forward march is nothing but drive of the collective capital under the garbs of Good Corporate Governance to ensure unfettered powers and means to inflate POPULARITY and gain control over state.
MANY DAVIDS
Three Cartoons integrated makes the Character of GOLIATH. The central cartoon- MANY DAVIDS & the GOLIATH portrays Historical GOLIATH- DAVID battle in current electoral context-2014. Many DAVIDS in the cartoon misses the classical legendry situation- combat between GOLIATH and the leading individual of a repressed and threatened community but opens up space for many DAVIDS. The HOTCHPOTCH or Collage takes the same theme forward. DAVIDS have been provided individuality, RAGA, KEJ, THIRD FRONT, Poet KV etc. who are representatives. The legendry combat was very popular theme in Europe with the rise of Dictators in first of the century. Two of such representational Cartoons, one the GOLIATH as triumvirate during World War Two and other DAVID who himself an ‘unwilling' nervous DAVID (In 1984, David Lange was minister of foreign affairs as well as prime minister, and led New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy but showed conciliatory gestures towards relinquishing his fight against NUCLEAR WARSHIPS) are reproduced above. The hotchpotch or collage cannot roll out unless cartoonists' project C haracters of the claimants of self proclaimed DAVIDS. There are number of cartoonists who have resorted to turn RAGA into DAVID .
GOLIATH has many targets and immediate one is to ‘FREE INDIA FROM CONGRESS' forms the veiled agenda to instigate the Storm Troopers to damage the existing shadow of Nehru's secular legacy after the Elections and instigate communal flare up. Can RAGA be expected to take on this role of DAVID and project itself so as many expect? A cartoon depicting RAGA as DAVID hurling out stone from his catapult in the direction of NAMO is one such. It pictures two congress leaders wearing GANDHI CAP and garbs, making funs of RAGA's endeavor to imitate the legendry fight. The cartoon aims at ridiculing RAGA confronting the towering GOLIATH but does not communicate his Character embedded in legacy of MAMO and bankruptcy of ideas. Hence we searched for cartoons communicating sense of DAVID's helplessness, nervousness, constraints and incapacity arising out of his inheritance of MAMO'S RULE OF LAST TEN YEARS. MAMO WHO BEGAN IN 2004 on Promising note as SINGH IS KING, Economist of repute to pull India out of the junk and keep the progress rate. His drive, particularly in last seven years has been lost along with his ‘INDEPENDENCE'. MAMO became increasingly subservient to maneuvers and lobbing by Capitalists who are driving for an “ABSOLUTIST' political solution amidst the CRASH . More he attempted to accelerate the growth rate more he became prisoner of the ‘Will of the Corporate and Monopoly Capitalists' and sold his own freedom. State failed to project itself as ‘INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR' within the pulls of classes. Annajee's Lokpal agitation demolished his credibility and his courage to stand up against Goliath particularly after the outbreak of the scams and his total exhaustion. This made MAMO a ‘Non starter'. He exhausted his road and is correctly depicted by the cartoonist and we placed the cartoon as backdrop and anchored in RAGA'S legacy. RAGA 's character is premised on the legacy and cannot pick up the Herculean or ‘DAVIDIAN' task of pulling out from the rut. Also Inherited the legacy of Anti Sikh riots, he is unable to dart the GOLIATH directly and offers ridiculous solutions to Fascist March. Similarly clueless RAGA has exhausted the options to turn his party into that of fighting mass agitating organizing force on popular burning issues. Hence RAGA's options are miserably limited to issues like RTI, empowering Women & Youth – issues which cannot dent NAMO's advance and aggressive propaganda to rout & demolish Nehruvian secular tradition and ride on the crash. An unwilling DAVID is appealing MAMO to get up for a fight with limited resources. We have copied this sense of unwillingness for a head on combat from the WARSHIP cartoon showed above . We have integrated these perceptions of the cartoonists into a single situation of Unwillingness and helplessness of RAGA and ‘NO GO' to pick up and encourage Congress followers and leadership to stand up AGAINST Fascism.
The cartoon ‘KEJ WITH BROOM' holding Broom to bash MUKESH- NAMO & MAMO Darlings pictures the fourth facet,' PRIVATE one' of NAMO's character. With its Broom, symbol of criticism and change it has succeeded in stealing the thunder show amidst Political Crash by exposing the cozy relationship between Big business and the Ruling class. His aggressive stance on Kaveri Gas Basin, gas exploration project exposed NAMO and MAMO as darlings of Big business. (One outgoing and the Other- New Found face of GOLIATH). AAP is credited as emergence of a critical tendency and as single most National political event which changed within one year, the political scenario of last more than thirty years. Political Party of disgruntled CEOs of Indian Industry has joined Kejriwal's bandwagon. Armed with Broom symbol it swept aside the existing paradigms . Bashing of Islamic terrorism, bomb blasts together with Pakistan infiltrations had become the political discourse for both BJP and Congress and it overshadowed and suppressed all and every political, social and cultural expression and resistance. Mostly rightwing, Centrists and mildly leftwing tendencies made it into an umbrella of undefined political outfit. It automatically lifted the primary layer of political repression to free the buried psychological processes to the surface. It is the first critical tendency which sprang from mass agitations in last thirty years and launching criticisms of style of social-political governance. ‘ DAVID THE kEJ' confronts the Goliath as Feminine Rightwing face of Big Business and AMBANI but AAP itself stands on shoulders of CORPORATES hence hardly posses any threat to advance of the GOLIATH . KEJ' took upon himself the role of DAVID who lacks intellectual critical tools or agenda of reaching to the deeper and deepest layers of repression and exploitation of mass of people who live by toil and work, to create this wealth. KEJ's perception is confined to ‘Corruption' crowned by JANALOKPAL' Bill with its coercive and repressive teeth. In this fight this DAVID THE KEJ is destined to assume the role of Hatchet man.
There are many claimants of DAVID in AAP's camp and ranks, one of them has escaped to avoid NAMO and takes on the role of countering SHEHEZADE the dynastic ruler-RAGA. This DAVID represents the far right wing of AAP, KV the poet, the open admirer of NAMO displays all his reactionary and poisonous parochial characters in his NAMO poetry comparing him with Neelakantha, who stomached the poison of 2002 holocaust and kept the poison stored in his throat. This DAVID is represented as serpent Cobra confronting RAGA in the HOTCHPOTCH.
Third Front with major presence of left parties is another Claimant of DAVID; Indian left is facing a situation of no return. In case it does not discover the gravity of GOLIATH's advance. Its attempted electoral tie-ups with JAYA who passes the pro fascist Bill to prevent religious conversions clearly indicate that threatening March of GOLIATH is beyond its sight. This DAVID is utterly confused in its declared intentions to fight GOLIATH and SHEHEZADE at the same time!
With so many DAVIDS around finally not clashing with GOLIATH but roaring against each other is the crisis situation for DAVID. Is real DAVID, the repressed, exploited mass of working men and women, languishing, scattered, and whose organizational strength is decimated socially is in the process of MAKING?
GOLIATH & DAVID IN MAKING
The advance of GOLIATH is not just ‘advance by ‘communal forces'. Today Goliath is armed and fully protected from every danger by almost all segments of Corporate and organized bodies of Indian Industry, MNCs and all wings of the state powers. Industry is propelling image of Goliath as rescuer of Nation. Goliath has been built with intention to create ABSOLUTIST State by hook or crook and by overpowering the resistances of the toiling mass of workers, as well as tribal and agrarian wage earners under the name of Corporate Good Governance. GOLIATH is not NAMO but the mass movement of hatred, fanned by political parties, both Saffron right and the Congress ultra rights which have used the organized force of state to crush the organized resistance of poor, exploited and the oppressed in their scattered struggles. Goliath is moving forward with specific Ultra Patriotic, agenda and ulterior motive of steam rolling the Unions, mass organizations, pushing veiled campaign against minorities and Muslims in particular. It has ambition of redesigning the India's secular fabric with force and the foreign policy through wars. The Agenda is post-polls, irrespective of whether GOLIATH succeeds in 2014 Elections or not . It has ambitions to remodel the Indian social structure by capturing or seizure of powers through force or coup in the post poll scenario.
It's a time for the intelligentsia to awaken from slumber to realize that we are at Crossroads of History and to recognize that Old is Collapsing and New is still not born . The DAVID, the organized resistance of toiling masses is in the MAKING . Unlike the German and European situation where Fascism triumphed on the debacles of Revolutionary upsurges of Proletariat after the First World War and found itself exhausted, the mass resistance, the mass awakening is at our doors. It i s yet to show its strength and target the GOLIATH. Today's situation compels us to think and also recall quotes from E.P. Thompson's Historical Works-The Making of English Working Class, in discovering its history. "reflection on the past history and discover the class as a relationship rather than a structure or category; the working class being ‘present at its own making'; the potentials of working-class resistance ; and, perhaps most memorably, the responsibility of historians to ‘rescue' ordinary people of the past, especially those whose struggles were defeated, from the ‘enormous condescension of posterity' . The collage represents this Modern DAVID is destined to awaken sooner or later as a process of ‘Making of Working Class'. When Old is crashing intellectuals need to rise to the occasion by reestablishing links with its inheritance of “those whose struggles were defeated, from the ‘enormous condescension of posterity”.
Anil Gokhale is an Engineer by profession and have been a reader and student of Marxist and Freudian literature for last four decades.He has been a professional translator of medical and other literature from English to Marathi. As a non regular writer on political literature he has always been attempting to intigrate Psychology and Marxism.He has t recently published book ‘Condensation And Condescension In Dreams And History: Essay - From Sigmund Freud To E P Thompson' by Author House London.
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