Thread by @shrikanth_krish

We live in a democratic age where "divine right monarchy" is almost unmentionable as a viable alternative

Yet our popular culture somehow retains a fascination for divine right monarchy (even in the West)

E.g.

The Lion King
Game of Thrones

Not to mention in India, where the two great itihAsas, Ramayana and Mahabharata, follow the model of divine right monarchy.

Even in the Islamic world, there is nostalgia for the Abbasids, Umayyads, as well as the earlier Rashidun caliphs - practically monarchs

In contrast there is less fascination with the purveyors of republicanism in popular culture. Or for that matter, advocates of constitutionally limited monarchy

Men like Washington, Jefferson have a following yes. Though not quite idolized as much as the kings of yore

In England, the popular culture has great affection for Elizabeth I, Henry VIII, maybe even Alfred the Great, Ethelstan

But not quite parliamentarians like Robert Walpole or Pitt the Younger, or even Peel and Disraeli

The latter lot somehow seem lesser figures

We idolize the pioneers of our modern system of government much much less, than we do the kings from the past

In India the fascination with "founders" like Gandhi, Patel, Nehru is dwindling by the day

While there is far greater interest in Shivaji, Krishna Deva Raya, and others

This is something that liberals need to think harder about

While we live in a world of regular elections, universal franchise, limited government, constitutions, among other things, there is a genuine nostalgia for a less democratic age

Perhaps the democratic arrangement appeals to our appetite for license, freedom

But not quite our ambition for elevate ourselves to greatness

Democracy is too leveling. Too interested in the "comfortable" life. And hence not as interesting

The Broadway play "Hamilton" is a somewhat refreshing aberration

It is a celebration of a man who wasn't a monarch (though he was more politically conservative relative to other founders)

But for the most part, popular culture is more deeply interested in monarchs

While it is very sceptical of the virtues of "modern" democratic statesmen

What about Jefferson's slaveholding?
What about Churchill's mismanagement of Bengal famine and his apparent racism?
What about Gandhi and his dubious, sleazy experiments?
What about Roosevelt's affairs?

So the aura surrounding "democratic" statesmen never sticks.

In contrast the aura around Alfred the Great, Elizabeth I, Shivaji, Raja Raja Chola, KDR and others lives on