Dr John Mohan Razu
Prophet comes from a root Greek word for “spokesman”/”spokeswoman” -- for someone such as God or spokesperson of government or king or queen or head of state or political party or whoever she/he represents. However, all those said earlier would either fall within the rubric of “prophets of doom” or within the category of “false prophets”. In the history of nations and world history we come across prophets of varied types including the religious domains as well.
Authentic prophecy and those who carry the messages called as prophets are usually called as “prophets of doom”. Their prophecies or foretelling comes out of or revealed to them are to be told to someone in power and authority or to someone who is despotic or oppressive to change or mend their ways failing which have to face disastrous consequences. We find some of them in polity, institutions of governance, media, religious and other domains as well. Since they predict what would happen if not changed. Since they are involved in such vocation they are branded as “elements of negativity”, “spell gloom” and “prophets of doom”.
We do come across another set of prophets whose job is to distort truth and cover with bundles of contractions; spreading fake news and offering false data. Outwardly they put up false mask; “look genuine and caring”, but within they are power crazy and keep employing deceptive modes. Towards this end, they would go to any extent of calling anyone by names; if need be eliminating or intimidating those who come in their ways. They tend to use all kinds of rhetoric and narratives convincingly to woo the masses
Questioning them about their policies, programs and governance shall never be tolerated, particularly those in the media and others committed to prophetic tradition by asking difficult questions. Interrogating, critiquing and cross-examining their statements, narratives and governance by the journalists, columnists, press and in sum the media; those political parties that opposes, individuals, activists and whoever is skeptical of them are termed as “vultures” and “prophets of doom”. We live in a world of fake news promoted by social media.
In order to capture power and to retain their authority all sorts’ of sops, deals, schemes and packages are offered. Those who raise difficult questions, view, analyze and evaluate with data and evidence are put to a number of difficulties by the agencies of the government and apparently have to face the wrath. Those who head the governments and their cronies brands them as anti-nationals and unpatriotic. We have a few leaders across the globe at present known for such behaviors hitting out those TV channels, journalists from print media and others posing difficult questions at them. It is absolute power that corrupts absolutely and blinds them.
The price paid for being “prophets of doom” is imprisonment that depends on charges. Despite that there are some who prefer to be part of prophetic vocation. For example, we have seen in recent times that who have challenged and questioned leaders during press meets and elsewhere, made scathing criticisms at those heading the institutions of governance and their policies such as defense, economy, welfare, finance and others are targeted and ridiculed. As a result, some had to resign or forced to quit, others either been murdered or silenced, while a few live in exile since they are wanted for sedition charges. So, the stakes are high being “prophets of doom”.
Nowadays we come across those in responsible positions ridiculing journalists and media persons openly as they in their writings and questioning sessions may have raised difficult questions and analyzed the way they govern critically. Keeping those exchanges in mind they tend to humiliate by calling them with names “prophets of doom”, “vultures”, “anti-nationals” and what not. Recently Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told the apex court in the context of the plight of migrants that those images and data being provided a handful of people – “Prophets of doom” – who were always skeptical of everything that the Centre (GPI) does.
He was defending the works of GOI during lockdowns and ridiculing those questioned GOI’s apathy and unpreparedness. SG’s grouse was that some high courts seem to be running a parallel government, deviating from law. For him there were those critiquing the government all the time should be called as ‘prophets of doom’ and ‘vultures’. Another glaring case is the President Trump who used derogatory words against those reporters from top dailies of the world and came down heavily on some a few TV news channels.
He humiliated and snubbed a Chinese-American reporter in the press meet when she raised sharp questions about coronavirus for which he asked her to ask China and he left abruptly. He has his own bias against those who oppose. In a world of false narratives, fake news and distortions of truths it is imperative that prophetic vocation should be invoked and restored. For the sake of establishment post-truth and set many free prophetic vocation becomes a categorical imperative. Many do not opt for prophetic vocation because it is risky. It demands total commitment that could arise out of many factors—sociological, philosophical, theological, political, ideological and religious.
Whatever may be the underlying factors, prophetic vocation somehow slowly losing its ground because people generally want to live a secured peaceful and comfortable life with a premise—“what is the use, nothing is going to change”! “Prophets of doom” tell the reasons for the current fiasco and if continues without any course correction they foretell disaster would ensue. They tell those in power to mend their ways for the sake of present and future generations.
Those engaged in prophetic vocation bring to the fore the dire issues such as poverty, hunger, inequality, oppression, exploitation, patriarchy, climate change, abuse of power and authority, freedom of speech and many like these because of wrong policies and skewed development processes. They present their views with data and analysis describing and evaluating the macro-micro locales heading for doom due skewed governance and mal-development policies. This is why they are called by fakes as “prophets of doom”, but in reality they are the prophets of hope.
