A Satire:MAGA, MIGA-Meow: A Cat(ch) called...

"History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce." — Karl Marx (And then as a government app with biometric login and a slogan.)

India is on a mission. A mission so visionary, so futuristic, so developmentally divine, it makes Elon Musk look like a roadside astrologer. It’s called Viksit by 2047. A promise to become a fully developed nation by the centenary of independence. But don’t ask for details—this vision is best viewed in low light, with patriotic music playing in the background.

It’s not the first time we’ve been promised greatness. Hitler had his “Thousand-Year Reich.” Trump had MAGA. India now has MIGA-Meow—a slogan so catchy, it purrs. But beneath the fur lies a familiar itch: the illusion of invincibility.

The Catmander-in-Chief

Every great illusion needs a mascot. Hitler had eagles. MAGA had red caps. Viksit Bharat has a Supreme Leader who’s everywhere—on billboards, in textbooks, and possibly in your dreams if you sleep near a government building.

He’s the Catmander-in-Chief. He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t meow. He roars development while his ministers purr in chorus. Parliament is now a scratching post. Dissenters are declawed. And the Constitution? It’s been turned into a litter box—decorative, but not functional.

Emergency Furballs

Ah, but we’ve seen this before. In 1975, India declared an Emergency. Civil liberties were suspended. Newspapers were muzzled. Leaders were jailed. Democracy was put on airplane mode.

Today, we don’t need an official Emergency. We have the soft purr of control. Journalists are arrested for asking questions. Activists are labeled anti-national for breathing too freely. Investigative agencies now specialize in sniffing out sedition in poetry.

The Emergency was loud. Viksit Bharat is quiet. But the effect? Equally chilling. One was a bulldozer. The other is a velvet paw with claws.

Institutions on a Leash

Democracy is supposed to be a watchdog. But in Viksitland, it’s been trained to sit, stay, and roll over. The Election Commission fetches. The judiciary naps. The media chases its own tail. Investigative agencies now operate like catnip dispensers—triggered by dissent, activated by hashtags. And if you ask too many questions, you’re sent to obedience school, also known as preventive detention.

Identity Politics: Fur Real

The Reich had racial purity. MAGA had border walls. Viksit Bharat has WhatsApp forwards and prime-time debates. Identity is no longer a matter of culture—it’s a matter of convenience. You’re either in the litter box or out in the cold.

Films now come with disclaimers: “Based on true events, but mostly imagination.” History textbooks are rewritten by cats with selective memory. And communal harmony? That’s just a myth—like the idea that cats and dogs can share a bowl.

The Stray Cats of Resistance

But not all cats are domesticated. Some roam the alleys of dissent, scratching at the doors of truth. Farmers, students, poets, and meme-makers—they’re the strays who refuse to be caged.

They don’t wear slogans. They wear scars. They don’t purr for power. They howl for justice. And they know that Viksit Bharat isn’t a destination—it’s a distraction.

Even during the Emergency, resistance found a way. Underground newspapers, secret meetings, and poetry that could get you jailed. Today, resistance lives in memes, marches, and the occasional viral video of a cat refusing to obey.

The Final Scratch

But wait—wasn’t that “Thousand-Year Reich” supposed to last a millennium? It barely survived twelve years, and not even with a warranty. Turns out, invincibility has an expiry date. Just like slogans.  MAGA lost its grip in four. Viksit 2047 still has time—but not forever. Because illusions, no matter how well-branded, eventually meet reality. And reality doesn’t care for hashtags.

So here’s the Cat(ch): if we keep chasing slogans, we’ll miss the truth. If we keep feeding the cult, we’ll starve the Constitution. And if we forget history, we’ll end up repeating it—with better lighting and worse intentions.

"You can cage the cat, but you can’t silence the purr." — Ancient Feline Proverb (possibly scratched into the walls of Tihar Jail)

(Disclaimer: This is a satirical piece. All references, metaphors, and characters are fictional or exaggerated for comedic effect. Any resemblance to real events or individuals is intentional—and entirely satirical.)

(The writer is a retired officer of the Indian Information Service and a former Editor-in-Charge of DD News and AIR News (Akashvani), India’s national broadcasters. I have also served as an international media consultant with UNICEF Nigeria and been contributing regularly to various publications)