An Incomprehensible Infectious Culture: Power Proximity : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 An Incomprehensible Infectious Culture: Power Proximity

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

August 2, 2025

In a telling reflection of how genuine reverence transcends ceremonial optics, ‘The New York Times’ reported in November 1966 that, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan sat cross-legged before the Sringeri Pontiff, a quiet yet profound gesture of humility. Indira Gandhi also visited the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham for darshan of Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Saraswati. On another occasion, while the sage was in North India, she made the journey there to seek his blessings. In 1993, PV Narasimha Rao visited Kanchi and spent time with all three Kanchi Acharyas. Rajiv Gandhi, too, visited Kanchi and sat with marked reverence.

Narendra Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, stood respectfully beside the Shankaracharya of Kanchi during the inauguration of the Sankara Eye Hospital in October 2008. These encounters were private yet powerful, not orchestrated media events, but quiet affirmations of the Pontiffs’ Spiritual Gravitas, where even the highest political figures went to them, for guidance and grace.

In gentle contrast, prominent spiritual leader Chinna Jeeyar Swamy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter’s venue. Its wide amplification on television, social media, and in print, seemed to place equal emphasis on visibility as on sanctity. The meeting may have stemmed from noble intentions, but it inevitably raises questions: Are we witnessing a subtle shift where spiritual engagements are increasingly tailored for stagecraft rather than solitude? Is the line between piety and publicity being inadvertently blurred? This evolving dynamic hints at a deeper transformation in how society perceives spiritual stature by who is sought after in silence.

Against this transformation, it is significant no note that, the quiet dignity and unspoken pride with which people of yester years, preserved meaningful interactions with those in high office or iconic public figures, for personal memory, not for publicity, being eroded. For that matter, in the past, even replies to letters to Prime Minister or President, normally by youngsters, which were acknowledged promptly, often with an autographed photograph, were never shared with the world but treasured in family album. Gradually, meeting high-profile individuals, especially in political and constitutional offices, is reduced to a photograph, and manage its publication. That era which had its own grace, people valued the meaning of the moment with pride. Gratitude was private, and dignity was not diluted by display.

 Few Congress Party Chief Ministers whom I have known personally since 1980s, long before social media began dictating relevance, used to feel genuinely gratified when they received even a brief note or a message from the AICC High Command or Prime Minister, which were carefully filed, but not flaunted. One Chief Minister, with whom I worked as his PRO, preserved a congratulatory message from RK Karanjia, the legendary editor of BLITZ. There was only a brief press release, touching the very important content related to Punjab, without any photograph, which can be described as, just a silent satisfaction and respect for the gesture.

We live in an era where the currency of proximity often outweighs the value of principle, and optics dominate over substance. What was once a subtle, respectful acknowledgment of authority has now evolved, or rather devolved, into a widespread culture of excessive showcasing, of visibility over substance, of proximity turned into propaganda. From Sarpanches to Renowned Spiritual Leaders, from Corporators to Cabinet Ministers, and from Regional Party Workers to National Figures, this Incomprehensible Infectious Culture, and the infectious need to be seen with someone powerful, demands immediate restraint.

In an age where political branding has transcended party lines and merged with personal image-building, being seen with a Chief Minister or Prime Minister, even if briefly, has become a prized possession. The photograph, the handshake, the framed smile, all get proudly displayed in newspapers, television channels, websites, and social media platforms, giving an impression that the person photographed holds some special favor or closeness with the high office. What was once a routine, internal communication, like a newly elected MLA receiving a congratulatory letter from the Chief Minister, has now become front-page news.

A mere handshake or a casual meeting is no longer enough; leaders now eagerly share photographs or selfies with Chief Ministers or Prime Ministers, often planning ‘Chance Meetings’ at public events just to secure that prized frame. MPs and Union Ministers, too, routinely issue press releases on receiving birthday or festival greetings from the PM, even when these are likely typed and signed by an aide. Senior bureaucrats, once known for their dignified restraint, are no exception anymore. The culture infected beyond the political and administrative elite, and spills over into the religious and spiritual domain as well, with little exception.

Why is it that in a democracy where every individual is equal, the mere act of meeting someone in a higher position is considered worthy of publicity? The answer perhaps lies in the intersection of insecurity, ambition, and media-fueled vanity, as well as, visibility being often mistaken for credibility.  Yet, what makes this culture truly incomprehensible, and infectious, is its sheer scale. Even heads of states without hesitation publicize their meetings with counterparts from other countries, often going to lengths to issue joint statements, despite insignificant benefits to both the countries.

There is nothing inherently wrong in publicizing important meetings when they serve national, administrative, or policy-related interest. The problem begins when this act is done disproportionately and without relevance, merely to exploit the optics. In such cases, the culture transforms into self-serving vanity rather than a communication of public interest. Even more worrisome is the mimicry this culture encourages at grassroots levels.

A Panchayat member feels empowered only when he is seen in a photo with the Mandal President. The Mandal President chases the ZP Chairman for a selfie. He or she in turn seeks out the MP, and the MP queues up for a handshake with the Chief Minister not to speak of Union Minister and or Prime Minister. It is a never-ending chain of upward-looking aspiration, but rarely does it translate into downward-looking responsibility.

What is even more ironical is even senior journalists, reputed columnists, and intellectuals fall prey to this behavior. Writers who once thrived on sharp analysis and independent thinking now proudly display their ‘Courtesy Visits’ to Ministers or ‘One-on-one Interactions’ with the CMO or PMO officials. The independence of opinion, their biggest strength, is getting compromised, not because they are necessarily co-opted, but because the image makes it appear so.

Is this behavior symptomatic of deeper psychological needs? Perhaps. In an environment of cut-throat competition and diminishing ideological space, the desire for validation becomes urgent. Power proximity offers a shortcut to relevance, at least in public perception. And in a world where perception is often more powerful than reality, that becomes a drug few can resist.

The remedy to this cultural ailment lies in conscious restraint. Those in positions of power need to actively discourage this glorification of access. Institutional dignity demands that public officeholders and spiritual leaders maintain the sanctity of their positions, resisting the temptation to convert every meeting into a media event. Just because a moment was captured does not mean it must be posted. The message is not always in the medium; sometimes, the silence speaks more about stature than speech.

Ultimately, a mature democracy is not just about who is in power, but how power is viewed and handled. It is not about who stood next to whom in a photo, but what they stood for. The obsession with selfies and statements, greetings and gestures, photographs, and proximity, this incomprehensible, infectious culture, needs a thoughtful introspection. A little humility and a lot of focus on real outcomes can go a long way in detoxifying public sphere from this affliction of exaggerated optics. True leadership, influence, and grace need a legacy not a frame.