Priestly and celibate are actually two completely unrelated things in Indian culture. Priests have always been allowed and even encouraged to marry in Hindu societies. And celibacy is one of the lifelong vows that anyone, from any background, can take in service to a specific deity or cause. There are actually a dozen or more local leade…
Priestly and celibate are actually two completely unrelated things in Indian culture. Priests have always been allowed and even encouraged to marry in Hindu societies. And celibacy is one of the lifelong vows that anyone, from any background, can take in service to a specific deity or cause. There are actually a dozen or more local leaders in the BJP that have taken such vows. I am inclined to believe that they do actually follow this lifestyle because if they didn’t the opposition party would be screaming about it from the rooftops. A vow of celibacy is of course a very simple and highly effective way to lend credence to your political agenda but that’s not enough of a reason to doubt the sincerity of it.
One thing that I don’t see enough people talk about is how genuinely progressive the BJP has been in its approach. Their leaders, even the geriatric ones, don’t hesitate to use and integrate the latest technology in any way they can. They have come up with some of the most effective tools for money transfer and online portals for all kinds of administration, and recently they are rolling out AI tools for real time audio translation and softwares for self-directed learning. They have heavily subsidized internet access and mobile connectivity in the past and now they are promoting startup ecosystems. One of the most refreshing things is when the party leaders and parliamentarians can get onto podcasts and openly discuss politics and their work for several hours at a time- it clearly shows the level of intelligence and competence of any politician to see them be spontaneous and engaged. They seem to be embracing all change while the opposition is stuck in the past, and even the most apolitical, simple-minded and disengaged person can clearly see the difference.
Priestly and celibate are actually two completely unrelated things in Indian culture. Priests have always been allowed and even encouraged to marry in Hindu societies. And celibacy is one of the lifelong vows that anyone, from any background, can take in service to a specific deity or cause. There are actually a dozen or more local leaders in the BJP that have taken such vows. I am inclined to believe that they do actually follow this lifestyle because if they didn’t the opposition party would be screaming about it from the rooftops. A vow of celibacy is of course a very simple and highly effective way to lend credence to your political agenda but that’s not enough of a reason to doubt the sincerity of it.
One thing that I don’t see enough people talk about is how genuinely progressive the BJP has been in its approach. Their leaders, even the geriatric ones, don’t hesitate to use and integrate the latest technology in any way they can. They have come up with some of the most effective tools for money transfer and online portals for all kinds of administration, and recently they are rolling out AI tools for real time audio translation and softwares for self-directed learning. They have heavily subsidized internet access and mobile connectivity in the past and now they are promoting startup ecosystems. One of the most refreshing things is when the party leaders and parliamentarians can get onto podcasts and openly discuss politics and their work for several hours at a time- it clearly shows the level of intelligence and competence of any politician to see them be spontaneous and engaged. They seem to be embracing all change while the opposition is stuck in the past, and even the most apolitical, simple-minded and disengaged person can clearly see the difference.
Interesting about the celibacy. And yeah the BJP's campaigning seems very effective. The holograms are a bit gimmicky but I think pretty cool too.