Digital Asia and Activism

How To Build A Political Movement: Visibility politics

How does one build a political movement? In An Insignificant Man, we see how Arvind Kejriwal becomes the figurehead of the AAP party in India with the goal of winning the elections in Delhi from then-incumbent Sheila Dikshal. Although I do not entirely understand the politics of India, the documentary gives us a look at the behind the scenes process of getting Kejriwal and other AAP members elected into the Delhi government, with little to no commentary from those filmed, allowing us as viewers the chance to form our own opinions and observe the way politics function in India. Arvind Kejriwal is also accompanied by Yogendra Yadav, an Indian politician who is readily described as a scholar of politics and democracy. I personally see Kejriwal and Yadav as character foils to one another, especially as we see cracks form in the AAP’s base and consider the importance of compromise in any political movement.

For example, when the AAP has made promises to cut electricity bills in half for all of Delhi and provide them with a ration of water each, Yadav questions the statement as possible overreach. Kejriwal and his supporters however, seem unfazed. In another scene, Kejriwal is asked by his supporters in a rather heated meeting, who does he think the right to nominate people to the government belongs to-- the people or him? Kejriwal says he should be the deciding vote and this statement seems to reflect a disconnect between what he has been saying and what he believes.

Yes, Kejriwal believes people should have power and corruption should stop, but he also seems to understand that people, especially masses of people, don’t always make the “right” decisions. I think the challenges the AAP party face are reflective of the many paradoxes that accompany discussions on principles like democracy and freedom. Even in America, terms like representative democracy are confusing, because one person is not able to effectively represent all their constituency. Unlike Kejriwal, Yadav seems to understand the level of compromise needed to maintain a democracy. He is not as loud or visible as Kejriwal sometimes, but he does voice his opinion, not in shouts, but in calm and well-calculated words.

Krystal Gallegos

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