And then there were 6- The fall and fall of the Indian National Congress

Those of us born between the late forties and early fifties  have been a witness to the gradual decline of the Indian National Congress, a party linked so inextricably with our independence. The label of   a “National Regional Party” as coined by a BJP stalwart is perhaps an over statement.

Institutions come and go – why bother? Further, in this specific instance, the BJP with a welcome vigor is attempting to make up for the lost years. The people are comfortable with regional parties within the State and a national party at the Centre.

The bother is for two reasons - firstly there is no national party left to challenge the BJP. Secondly (and for me a matter of anger) , is the murder of an Institution by self serving , narrow minded sycophants who   could not care a fig for the people they were to serve , and built personal empires under the umbrella of the Family.  They are happy clinging on to the coat tails of the family as they know that on their own, they have no standing whatsoever.

Otherwise, how else can one explain the ignoring of a simple irrefutable fact- – that once a public serving Institution becomes a Family affair, the decline is inevitable? The RJD had to quickly align itself once the family experiment failed. The SP is sure to face the heat in a years’ time. The ADMK, DMK, TMC, BJD, would continue to be a force as long as their current leaders are in place. Once the second generation is thrust on the party the decline is inevitable. For three of the above four though, that threat is absent. But the ADMK is doomed otherwise, for there just is nobody from the feet touching minions who have any public face.

Unless a fresh relatively young face, untainted by corruption and fired with zeal to take on the BJP nationwide, challenges the Family, the INC would increasingly not find takers in the State as well. I wish this face would appear  in my limited lifetime. 

If you prick us, do we not bleed?

Observing the antics of our maverick new Member of Parliament Dr Subramanian Swamy, I am reminded of the Bards lines spoken by Shylock. Yes, prick Dr Swamy and you would identify the “politician” in him, with the negative traits that most commoners (like me) ascribe to our Indian polity.

For many years (in fact till very recently) I admired the Doctor for his gutsy approach to take on the high and mighty. I was impressed at his “ordinariness” as he stood in queues at Airport counters, his dress very Indian and modest. But in recent months his backing off from some of his more active pursuits, then the call to the Rajya Sabha and recently the potshots at the Governor of the RBI, and the dots all seem to connect!

What much ado about Mr. Raguramans comment! He is supposed to have commented on Indias’ relatively better performance as “...in the land of the blind the one eyed is King” This was enough for the baiters in the BJP to go after him as if he called the PM a one eyed man.

Did anybody else (like me), feel the comment was actually referring to the world? In a world of blind Finance Ministers our performance stands out because we were at least one eyed. It was a tacit admission of our countrys’ good work as well as a  recognition that much more could have been done. The fault for the shortfall, as Mr. Rajan would be the first to admit, is as much at RBIs door as it is with the Finance Ministry.

If our PM were to use Dr Subramanians’ attack to shift the Governor, I feel the nation loses a wise and mature counsel.

If you prick us ,do we not bleed?

Observing the antics of our maverick new Member of Parliament Dr Subramanian Swamy, I am reminded of the Bards lines spoken by Shylock. Yes, prick Dr Swamy and you would identify the “politician” in him, with the negative traits that most commoners (like me) ascribe to our Indian polity.

For many years (in fact till very recently) I admired the Doctor for his gutsy approach to take on the high and mighty. I was impressed at his “ordinariness” as he stood in queues at Airport counters, his dress very Indian and modest. But in recent months his backing off from some of his more active pursuits, then the call to the Rajya Sabha and recently the potshots at the Governor of the RBI, and the dots all seem to connect!

What an ado about Mr. Raguramans comment! He is supposed to have responded to a question  on Indias’ relatively better economic performance as “...in the land of the blind the one eyed is King” This was enough for the baiters in the BJP to go after him as if he called the PM a one eyed man.

Did anybody else (like me), feel the comment was actually referring to the world? In a world of blind Finance Ministers our performance stands out because we were at least one eyed. It was a tacit admission of our countrys’ good work as well as a  recognition that much more could have been done. The fault for the shortfall, as Mr. Rajan would be the first to admit, is as much at RBIs door as it is with the Finance Ministry.

If our PM were to use Dr Subramanians’ attack to shift the Governor, I feel the nation loses a wise and mature counsel.