Experiencing the State

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in its second wave, there has been an outburst of public reactions driven by both reason and emotions. The reason that finds its expression seems to be regularly active in exposing what could be called a “bugaboo” politics of striking fear and intimidation. The emotional outburst against the governments’ failure is also backed by legitimate reasons. The emotionally charged reactions on social media point to the truth that is seen in the failure of the governments. The emotional reactions are the result of the pandemic crisis that should have been controlled by the ruling governments. The emotions intensely expressed by those who are directly affected and those who are also affected by the looming despair of insecurity and anxiety point at the truth of failure which those in power do not fully and publicly acknowledge. The truth, however, does entail the compelling power that is so important to fix the responsibility on the state on account of the latter’s failure in terms of providing timely health cover to the common people who desperately needed it and who continue to need it.

The truth that is closer to a person’s struggle for immediate survival places them firmly in the position from where such a person mounts a legitimate criticism of those who, in the victims’ judgment, fail to offer respite. The loss which is real in terms of the mortality of the dear and near ones is perceived to be much greater than the loss that is at a distant or ephemeral level. For example, people perceived the loss of the money promised in the 2014 election as ephemeral, which is why some of them elected the government for the second time in 2019, which, at the first instance, had made a promise of `15 lakh to the voters. For some, it could be seen as a virtual loss, as the promise of money transfer did not see its realisation.