Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Animal Farm in Goa

I just chanced upon this book which I had read in school days, Animal Farm (George Orwell, 1945). A World War II critique and satire on the communist rule and totalitarian society that prevailed in Russia, Animal Farm appealed to me more as an example of a totalitarian organisation.
Organisations [Mason Farm] with Top Management [Wild Boar named "Napolean"] evolving a totalitarian approach to manipulate every entity [animal] in the Farm through "tactics" of incentives, job security, freedom, and task.

Have we not seen employees like Boxer[the horse] who gives his life working hard for the farm?
Do we not see Boss-men [Napoleans] intimidating employees? Do we not see "Yes men" like animals who always blurt out "Napolean is right"?
Do we not see the hounding "dogs of Napolean" and Squealer pig(propoganda minister of Napolean), growling and thwarting any dissenting, whistle blower in the organisation?
Do we not see Napolean conspiring to hold on to power, and leadership by eliminating noble people [Snow ball]?

Finally, the pigs of the farm walk on two legs, like the men against whom they revolted. As the story ends..Pigs look like Men, and Men look like Pigs, until they both become one and the same. Socialism(Pigs of the farm) and Capitalism (Human Beings) merge at the corridors of power.

Do we see any resemblence to the socialists of our country who cry hoarse about disinvestment and FDI, but go about opening up the farms they rule to the capitalists? They fight as an opposition in other farms (states), but walk on two legs in the North-block and South-Block corridors of power. Citizens of the democracy, like the four legged animals shout slogans during every election "Four legged good, two legged bad". But, they finally know for sure it is the two legs that rule.

On a concluding note, The Animal Farm in Goa is restored after the 13th rebellion in five years. The two legged animals of the farm (old boars) hold on to their portfolio's. The Goan farm is a farm of boars and pigs. Some Boars instigate communal rebellion, while the other Boars buy out the four legged animals of Goa.

1 comment:

Jay said...

Hey,
Thanks for this post.. I always wanted to read 1984. This reminds me of that. I guess I should get it from the library this weekend!

Btw, have you chanced upon Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World"? Its and excellent take on Utopian society.

cheers!