Have we lost our civility?

Bulging eyes, flailing arms, overblown gesticulations - that's our politicians for you, debating on the telly, writes Pavan K Varma.

I was listening to a 'debate' between two political leaders on Star News. They were both from Maharashtra. One was from the ruling coalition, the other from the Opposition. The 'debate' had been organised in the lead up to the elections there later this month. However hard I tried I could not understand a word of what they said.

This was not because they were speaking a language I did not know. Nor was it because they were discussing subjects I did not have a clue about. My television reception was crystal clear. The cable connection too was in perfect working order. The reason why I could not understand anything was because they were all shouting at each other all the time.

The result was a cacophony that would have been amusing if it was not downright shameful. On an impulse I jabbed the mute button. Now what I saw made for a fairly tolerable comedy show. Bulging eyes, flailing arms, overblown gesticulations, rapidly moving lips, lectern thumping and much finger pointing. The moment I put the sound on the comedy ended and was replaced only by noise.

What has happened in our country to the fine art of debate and dialogue? We are proudly the world's largest democracy. Our democratic institutions are based on the premise that to every opinion dissent is possible, and that both must be given due avenues of expression. People are expected to make informed choices on the basis of hearing both points of view. But how can that happen when in a debate conducted before an audience of millions, the representatives of the people themselves show such a high level of uncivilized intolerance to the other's point of view?

I often walk across to Speaker's Corner in neighbouring Hyde Park. Speakers there spout the most outrageous views. They are serious about their beliefs, even if the audience is not. But I have noticed-and that is obviously why the spot is unique-that people are willing to hear them out. There are, of course, the professional hecklers, who come primed to butt in and intervene and question and query. In fact they provide as much entertainment as the speakers themselves. But still the semblance of a debate is maintained. Both speaker and heckler can be heard.