Stuck in Twitter & 'nationalist media' echo-chambers, RW chowkidars refuse to see the writing on the wall. What started as a fake kisan andolan has now become a major talking point in the hinterland. No amount of fact & data is going to counter the negative perception.

At this point, the khalistani agenda has been slowly withdrawn coz they've done what they wanted- push the Overton window to remove the taboo on Khalistan. Now, the 'poor farmer' is back as the face of the protests. This, despite the "self-exposé" by Greta Thunberg et al.

For people used to reducing societal complexities to winning elections, nothing matters as long as it doesn't translate to election losses. Even the demonetization circus was a masterstroke in these circles. But the trust deficit beneath the surface is not inconsequential.

This trust deficit and polarization makes it possible for breaking india and anti-H forces to ally with the disenchanted sections of society, which may well outnumber the 'nationalists'.

So, the disenchanted may not be electorally effective (yet) but will still call the shots when it comes to where the nation is headed. Add to the mix a 'peaceful' minority group waiting for the unfinished business of partition to be taken to its logical conclusion.

The way forward is, in Sri Aurobindo's words, to rekindle the "thought power" of those who can see beyond personalities and parties, those who haven't reduced a millennia old civilization to a book, a party or a person.

Chowkidars will do chowkidari, others can try making sense of what's going on and maybe a ray of hope emerges from there.