Shia Daluyen HUMSS-12 Creative Non-Fiction
“The Heir” (OATH IS MY BREATH)
The phone ringed, a call made Bharat flew from Oxford to Tamil after the
sudden death of his father. While on the plane, the past flashed into his
memories remembering his younger days with his family. A young boy who
embodied his mother’s words of wisdom until she passed away. Adjusting to a
new mother made life a struggle to him that urged him to go abroad and
graduated to a foreign country.
Flashbacking made clearer to Bharat how a friendship is ruined in
politics. Through flashbacking Bharat knew the betrayal of Varadarajulu to his
father. That he killed him through poison for he is threatened that he will be
sent to jail by Raghavan (Bharat’s father). He knew the truth that his father
had not suffered from asthma but he is killed by Varadarajulu.
Irony was utilized from the movie and part of it was the words of wisdom
by Bharat’s mother. “Promise is faith we live with that faith only. Sun is setting
on the west now but it has made a promise that it’ll come back tomorrow. If it
breaks the promise and fails to comeback world will turn dark. There’s light in
everyone’s heart, it has to remain like that never break a promise.
Hence, “My mother is my world. Her words is Bible to me”-Bharat is a
metaphor where he compared two unlike entities to give more emphasis how
much he value his mother. Also, when Bharat stated “Politics is not my cup of
tea” when he is forced to become the next CM.
Bharat gains praise from the people as Chief Minister however his co-
politicians are not in favor of his decisions because Bharat is a barrier to their
corruption. They are trying to pull down Bharat and watching his every move
to find holes that will be used against him that would ruin his reputation.
From the party’s meeting Varadarajulu’s statement “Won’t he commit a
mistake too? A small one is enough” prepared the viewers that there is
something to happen that would ruin Bharat’s reputation. Foreshadowing
indicated that trouble is approaching to Bharat.
Shia Daluyen Politics and Governance
“The Heir”(OATH IS MY BREATH)
Democracy is by define by Samuel Huntington as a political system where the
most powerful decision makers are selected through fair, honest and periodic
elections.
Politics is a game where you play dirty or clean. Democracy is a type of
government wherein the power is held by the people to appoint their leaders through
election. However, it’s not the same thing on the movie. Bharat is forced to be the next
Chief Minister by Varadarajulu to protect the party his father and Varadarajulu had
established.
Bharat being the next Chief Minister after his father made him a heir that is
more related to aristocracy. Though their government system is democracy they
cannot be called democratic. It’s mixed government where his actions after he seated
as CM resembles dictatorship.
We think democracy is the most efficient way of government, we think it is just
however if we dig deeply, it is where the dirtiest political issues happen. In the movie,
Raghu is running for the coming election however Bharat let Ramana run against him
that threatened their party so they had taken an action in killing Ramana but it did
not happen. This scene does happen in democracy (Philippines) where candidates
would try all their best to win the election that includes murder to name some Kalinga
and Abra.
Government accountability is a characteristic to make democracy possible. The
government is held accountable in securing the welfare of the citizens of the country.
Before Bharat became as the CM, the politicians turned the government to business.
Did they hold accountability to the people? They didn’t only after Bharat seated where
he made a change on improving the laws.
“Polticians never get punished” this line by one of the politicians under
Varadarajulu’s party made a mark to me. Imagine the power they hold they can cover
up crimes and corruptions. It is the same the Philippine government where Leila de
Lima was proven a corrupt politician. However, she is running as a senator for the
upcoming election. I mean is it just? This proved that a country’s government system
can be democracy but will never be called democratic. Just like in the movie and in
Philippine government, there will always be lapses in the government that will always
go against the law.
In addition, democracy is not effective in a country where politicians use it to
gain profit from the people. Dictatorship from a wise leader like Bharat will lead the
country, government and the people hold unto the law taking a step towards
organization. A leader who stands firmly bannering his oath as the Chief Minister had
changed Tamil, Nadu.
