YE "Ecosystem" Kya Hai?

14 April 2023, Mumbai

YE "Ecosystem" Kya Hai?

Today, Indian media is abuzz with claims and counter claims on the encounter that happened in UP. Some Writers, Journalists, advocates, politicians, debaters, social media influencers making commoners believe that this was a staged encounter. No wonder if an NGO file up a PIL for setting an enquiry committee to validate the encounter (like in many other cases).

A few days later some legal expert, educationist, celebrities may react emotionally, and some filmmaker may make a film showing him being martyred. Obviously this is to lead the commoners to the old trap that a part of the society in India is victimized. Media will play to the gallery as usual. A very old ploy.

This is not the only incident. A few months earlier, a small firm based in the USA called shots to cause one of the steepest falls in the fortunes of the one of the world’s richest people, who happened to be an Indian! We saw, how passionately some students were chanting “Bharat Tere Tukde” and, a lot of so-called intellectuals supported them.

Time and again, we see luminaries (?) or people of yesteryears in high position writing letters to court or the president of India, on some or other issues that could set bad precedent. A few years ago, some lawmakers wrote a letter to the president of India for clemency for death row convict and a dreaded criminal.

As India is rising in the stature, its economy getting wealthier and its leadership being acknowledged and considered in the international affairs, obviously there would be many who would fear of this new world order. They could be living in India or abroad. Globally there is a system of rich and so-called intellectuals, who want the world leadership to work as per their agenda. Through their local linkages they create a sense of anarchy among general public in the countries whose leaderships or government do not give in to their desires.

Why is this being done? Most importantly, when the facts are quite clear, why some people of the society are fueling a wrong perception which will ultimately make a wrong narrative Stronger - that, "Democracy in India is in danger".

Those who are burning the midnights' oil in creating such Perceptions, would very well know that they are on a weak wicket, but still, they keep batting with full strength until they make their international “akas” happy. 

Who are these people? They may be just names, some of them could be established names or celebrities. But that is irrelevant, as they peddle the agenda uniformly. They are the "ecosystem".

Yes, the word "ecosystem", as we know is a collection of elements that work together to fulfil a goal. We often see in corporate or industrial world - Value chain or ecosystem. For example, a car is made of thousands of parts, and no one entity can or make all those parts. It is sourced from different vendors. Thus, there becomes a chain of all vendors (tiny, small, medium, big, giants) which is nothing but an ecosystem, this is automobile ecosystem.

Likewise in a democratic setup there are set of people from Different sectors who tend to work with each other, with a common goal of benefits (for some it could be contribution to ideology while to some it could be monetary, for others it could be power or authority or immunity or recognition).A common thread or glue binds them so that they work in coherence as the goal is attained, and remain Sustained for longest possible time. This is not new

Human ecosystems must have existed for centuries, and in politics too. Together they strive hard to achieve the set goal. They feed each other to make a Unified and well-oiled system. One will remember the famous dialogue from film "The Kashmir Files" - "सरकार किसीकी भी हो, सिस्टम तो हमारा है "

"Biko"system 

With power access, Such groups become so powerful that they start peddling lies internationally and succeed in selling wrong stories or stories that would harm Bharat (in which India lies). So, in a sense it becomes a “BikoSystem” (Biko =selling in Hindi). Some of them are would be filled with so much of hate against a thought (Bharat) or a person, that they will not understand if they are selling their conscious in the process. 

"Ego"system 

Lets go to  Mumbai. Till mid-2019, Mumbai metro project was going well in track, however, suddenly some so called ecological lovers decided to have fun. They claimed that the proposed metro car shed for Metro 3 in the Aarey Colony was a danger to ecology. Initially they were thought to be a group of individuals, later it occurred that there are some NGOs.

But the biggest surprise was when a son of the alliance partner's chief emerged out of nowhere and patronized the movement. Ultimately the work was stopped for some time due to the court’s intervention, and when the power situation changed in Maharashtra in November 2019 the son became more powerful. So, the idea to have the carshed was thrown to dustbin. While the court ruled in favour of the carshed at the same site, and after two and half years, a new government came in which reinstated the project work. But in the melee, the project cost said to have exceeded by a few thousand crores!

During these two half year, media, NGOs, celebrities, social media influencers they were all feeding to the "ego" of a person. It was an ecosystem which was squeezed to massage the ego of an individual!

There could be several versions of ecosystem – like “Leako”system -which selectively leaks sensitive information to media – for example in the Rafael case, sensitive documents were leaked. (On a lighter side, a “Feko”system may be working too).

The key entities of such an ecosystem seem well secured, and would work on single line of action, or power-centre so to say. The narrative is always shepherded towards the victimhood, and war on democracy. India is too big a country in terms of population, segments of society and geographies. So, a left leaning ecosystem, can make fodder of smallest possible issues, or even if there none, they would make efforts to make one.

Why they succeed? 

This is a wrong question, probably!

The question should be, why the majority of law-abiding citizen fail or made to pay for wrongdoing of handful others? If there are two sides then both sides can have an ecosystem. And they have! Why is that the other ecosystem seems prevailing most of the time could be a question. Size? Resources? Calibre? Management? 

Well, size does not matter always. Resources do play a vital role. What might matter most in such cases that whether there is an awareness among the beneficiaries of a thought or goal, that they too need a well-oiled ecosystem.

One will not doubt that there is lack of awareness.

Then why it does not yield desired results? Most probably because of the management of such a setup. Developing a favourable Ecosystem in a geographically and culturally diverse country like India is a tough ask. It needs time – as  some institutions had been setup in the old regimes!  In addition, it needs an open-door policy. Sometime, when a potential contributor is turned down by an egotist gatekeeper – he or she would either sit quiet, or join the space where he is welcomed or at least acknowledged (and that space could be "the other" side)!

Some political parties of India manage to get contributors due to so-called secularism and inclusiveness. But that is not the key factor. There must be something unique that their setup offers to the participants. Benefits, social status, favours, immunity, or direct and indirect support. It is a big ocean to study. Maybe they do not have too many gatekeepers o(people who built their own setup within the empire) or lines (it’s an old play in which people tend to develop own line of followers, rather than thinking of their organization or guiding principles. And its quick way to become “somebody”)?

Most importantly, those who are considered as an "ecosystem", do they really know what their role is? What their progression will be? Are they in for a cause or ideology (which is very noble thinking, a rarity) or for materialistic gains?

In the ecological terms, all elements of ecosystem interact with each other in a physical environment. The “interaction” may not be like what we assume in humans. But, in the end, it is the nature in which the ecosystem thrives and probably works, and nature "takes care" of it! 

Thus, in the corporate world or politics, it is the same - a system of different elements of the society – be it businesses, authors, students, public organisations, social groups, industry, economy, people from services, bureaucracy, healthcare, political parties, media, executive, law, finance or social (NGOs) or creative spaces (films, writing, music, artifacts, or dance), or influencers (offline or online social media, bloggers/vloggers) or professionals like sportspersons, doctors, or lawyers etc. The ultimate beneficiary will have to recognize the elements, and their efforts in case it wishes to harness the ecosystem to its advantage.

In short, “ecosystem management” is the key to its success. Some possible factors that could contribute to a successful management of a political / organisational ecosystem–

1. Understand what is the need for an ecosystem in their respective field
2. Understand and map all elements – online, digital, and offline
1. Social media alone can NOT be the ecosystem for any party, at most It is one of the many elements
2. Offline ecosystem is still thriving, or rather plays key role
3. Make a vision, and set measurable goals
4. Be aware of its
1. Usefulness, and overbearing-ness
2. Requirements – resources, monetary, tangible, intangible
3. Collateral benefits and damages
5. Identify the smallest possible contributing element
1. Map them in the whole system
2. Understand their requirements
3. Attach a responsible authority to that
6. Monitor the growth, reach, and evaluate the quality
7. Nurture it – this is the most important aspect that could make or break the ecosystem (communicate)
1. Acknowledge efforts of the elements
2. Award or reward policy can work wonders
3. Make a central policy on whom to engage with
8. Beware of letting the gatekeepers becoming decision makers
9. Remember it’s an ongoing activity, elections, or no elections
10. Always look for new, and innovate the ways to maximize it.

Last bit..

It is a battle within battles of a never-ending war. War of principles - in which; on one side there is acknowledgement to Bharat’s identity, heritage, and nationalistic ideas; while on the other side in the garb of so-called plurality and inclusiveness, there is more of appeasement and wokeism . Bharat, in which India resides, has always been a multi-cultural, and various sects developed and established since discovery. 

Since 2014, there has been a paradigm shift as how the world sees us - as a civilization, as a nation, as a capable element of the new world order.

Traditionally, there has always been two sides in any setup, and they are always at war with each other. Today’s India believes (and works for) “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, which means "The World Is One Family”. This “One Family” believes in prosperity, peace, respect for each member irrespective of their ethnicity.

Select your side, and elements of your ecosystem wisely!

- Dhananjay M. Deshmukh, Mumbai
(Author is an independent market research and business consulting professional. Views are personal. Data and information presented is collected via online secondary research).