The opposition was also reminded by the lengthy march of the importance of cooperating in the political struggle. One part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, howeveru2014its contributionu2014has been unnoticed by the general public.
The difficulties that face the contemporary model of political communication have been made clear by this march. Technology’s advancement and the emergence of social media have led to dangerous trends in political communications that despise public outreach initiatives. Tweets, Facebook posts, and WhatsApp texts appear to be the most popular ways to communicate with people. The justification for this predilection is clear. Without sacrificing the innovative components of these initiatives, social media and technology-driven campaigns can magnify political messaging to previously unheard-of levels.
Video Courtesy: The Quint
The end result has been a communication crisis, as the Bharat Jodo Yatra exposed. Exaggerated or false assertions, whether they relate to social reality or political accomplishments, have so-called clogged the networks. Truth, unsurprisingly, has been a victim of such curated messaging. The issue is not limited to that. The voices of the real Indiau2014farmers, workers, evicted communities, women, etc.u2014have been marginalised. In an admirable effort to correct this imbalance and, one can only hope, for the government to pay attention to these voices, the Bharat Jodo Yatra has done so.
The importance of two-way, personalised discussions between leaders and followers was another point the yatra highlighted. These discussions, which are uncommon in authoritarian India, are crucial because they can bridge the vast gaps not only between the government and the people but also between the people themselves. Indian democracy, ideally a continuing conversation, could heal through such banter and reflections. The political benefits of the Bharat Jodo Yatra will be tested during elections. But its contribution to the art of political dialogue with the people is irrefutable.
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