Shades of masquerading.

"Optimism is a rare trait, especially amongst the 'intelligentsia'. This is acutely the case with sections of the Indian intelligentsia, which forever ignore the many positives and only zoom on selectively sampled negatives," wrote Mr Krishnamurthy Subramanian. Apparently, opinion of Indian intelligentsia is influenced by politics. Prof Subramanian was the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India and has been appointed by the government "to the prestigious post of Executive Director (India) at the International Monetary Fund, with effect from November 1, 2022 for a period of three years or until further orders." NDTV. In Washington DC no less. He is therefore not at all influenced by politics. What is the reason for his fury at the Indian intelligentsia? "As a recent example of politics masquerading as expert commentary take the claim that Sri Lanka's economic crisis is because of their persecution of Tamils decades back." He says the crisis is because Covid slashed tourism and remittances which together contribute 30% of Sri Lanka's GDP. Actually, the civil war between the Sri Lanka government and Tamil separatists lasted from 1983 to 2009, wikipedia, and no economy can grow during a civil war. Sri Lanka's tourism industry was already suffering massive cancellations following bomb attacks on churches on 21 April 2019, well before Covid. AA. Another major reason for economic collapse was that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa "banned synthetic fertilizer and pesticide imports practically overnight, forcing Sri Lanka's millions of farmers to go organic." Vox. Because he wanted to save $400 million. "It proved disastrous, as a group of scientists and agriculture experts had warned." 'Intelligentsia', oh dear. Gotabaya was elected president in November 1991. He was the defense minister responsible for crushing the Tamil rebellion which made him a hero among the Sinhalese Buddhist majority. TOI. Cause and effect. "Next, consider farm reform as another instance of politics masquerading as expert commentary." At last, the real reason. Apparently there is an "unimpeachable principle that greater competition enhances welfare". Provided competition is genuine. In May, the Union government banned export of wheat to bring down prices within India. TOI. In August, it banned the export of "wheat flour, maida, semolina and wholemeal aata with a view to curb rising prices". BS. High food prices reduce votes. So, farmers' income was sacrificed. This is pure politics and definitely not competition. In 2020, farmers from Punjab started protesting in Delhi against 3 farm bills which aimed to increase competition. wikipedia, They were withdrawn in November 2021. A study by the Punjab Agricultural University found that 9,291 farmers committed suicide in just six districts in Punjab from 2000 to 2018 whereas the official National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) counted only 1,805 suicides in the whole state in the same period. The Wire. 'Intelligentsia' should not be influenced by politics. But, Subramanian should not be just a mouthpiece for the government. As a citizen he has a duty of truth to the nation. Which should override gratitude.