Dear Sam,
I read your article The great Dictator. Though it was written several years ago, my sense is you would argue that it is valid today as much as it was then. Clearly, your dream is a reflection of your strong desire to do something to our country which, you believe, needs some drastic measures. I don’t disagree with you on the need for some bold, revolutionary, even very disruptive, actions. But regardless of the immense problems the country faced then and faces today, the very notion of a dictator is deeply troublesome to me, however benevolent they may be. Of course, the dictator in your dream has all “good” intentions but nonetheless I will have huge reservations in endorsing the dictator’s edicts such as suppressing the uprising of masses—including communal and religious uprisings–, banning hartal, strikes, bandhs, and decreeing how many children a family can have. I can go on and on. I don’t think I can think of any circumstances wherein I will acquiesce to the idea of dictatorship.
March 1, 2017
Devadoss Pandian