The unprecedented adulation and celebrations across Russia
marking the 62nd birthday of Vladimir Putin, appended a new chapter personality
cult culture characteristic of Russia. The phenomenon not completely oblivious
has resurfaced with renewed vigour and the World media is brouhaha about it. Russian
Duma declared holiday on October 7th, birthday of Putin in honour of
polite people, the soldiers who paved way for takeover of Crimea and the man
who spurred the initiative. Ever since the annexation of Crimea, Russians have
been upbeat in spite of threatening reappearance of Cold war like situation, massive
sanctions and international isolation. The economy too is on the verge of
recession. But a sense of nationalism is running thick and high across the
nation with heightened visibility of Putin cult. People developed a sense of
gratification towards their leader for rise in salaries and increase in
standard of living. Another greatest accomplishment has been successful organisation
of winter Olympics at Sochi for the year 2014. The nation is doubly elated for the
first ever Grand Prix was successfully held in October 2014 again at Sochi. These
new distinctions and honours made the country proud that people generously
forgave him for his transgressions. Congruently people elevated him to the
status of father of nation and conferred him the honour for audacious
annexation of Crimea. The practice of cult worship was in vogue in Russia starting
with Lenin whose unparalleled admiration was slowly taken over by Stalin and
other successive Russian leaders, who tried to cement their own personality
cults.
Though Russian historians are nonplussed by the new
phenomenon but resent the symptom of this deep demodernising trend. The new
sense of reverence towards their leader was exemplified by an exhibition held
in Moscow titled “The twelve labours of Putin” on lines of “The Twelve Labours
of Hercules” which embodied Putin’s personality cult. This feature of cult
worship of World leaders of course is not entirely new. History is replete of
personalities who wielded a complete control over the state on all matters and
have evolved into cult a personality. This phenomenon was mostly the domain of
totalitarian states where state holds total authority of the state and seeks to
control all aspects private and public life as much as possible. With the
emergence of democracy such totalitarian regime has obliterated and nations of
late have seen resurgence of strong leaders, often anointed as staunch
nationalists who single-handedly changed fortunes of nations. Personality cult
is not a bastion of leaders alone but several reformists, social leaders,
thinkers- Che Guevara, Dale Carneige, Werner Erhard, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, John
Bradshaw etc who by their charismatic influence etched a deep influence on the
society.
The personality cult or hero worship is on wane across the
World now. By definition- personality cults are temporary usually ending with
unceremonious disparagement of the previous ruler and the establishment of cult
around a new one. Hero worship has been in vogue since times immemorial where
the head of the state or monarch were held in enormous reverence. Several
nations idealized, worshipped leaders with unquestionable faith and praise who
wielded absolute control on their states and subjects as well. More often they
are associated with revolutionary transformation who sought to transform
society with radical ideas. Leaders like Mao Zedong of China propelled cultural
revolution, Adolf Hitler of Germany, Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Benito Mussolini
of Italy, Muammar Gadafi of Libya, Hafez al-Assad of Syria, Hugo Chavez of
Venezuela and more recently the Kim Jong-Un of North Korea hold testimonies to
personality cult.
Hero Worship omniscient even now and individuals with
charismatic authority are reverentially admired by masses. It largely differs
from cult of personality where in state patronises an individual and
popularises the image of the person through mass media and propaganda in
totalitarian states. Pragmatists, luminaries, visionaries, humanitarians across
the world are still adored and respected by people for their ideologies which
are truly inspiring and infectious. Most of them have changed the course of
civilisations as such. Such leaders are voluntarily and unconditionally
worshipped by people, perhaps for times immemorial. Individuals like Mahatma
Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc, Martin
Luther King Jr etc have been most influential and will be revered for eternal
times.
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