30 April 2014, 03:11 PM IST
No gathering is complete these days without a long discussion of AAP. Condensing the pros and cons (and great many jokes such as "Kejriwal fears being out of the news so much, he gets himself slapped and punched!") one came up with the following thoughts.
Some say that this must be the coming (at last) of the rising awareness, participation and empowerment of the previously indifferent or marginalized Indian citizen. That this is an avalanche of desperation brought about by corruption, self-absorption and indifference to the common good, at the highest rungs of government and business. That it has unleashed the passions of the people into a movement that will change politics and governance for the better.
Depends, on whether we can separate the 'messenger' and the 'message'.
AAP the party is the messenger and support for it should ultimately be based on the worth of individual candidates. Whereas, the message is the movement of empowering the common citizen (through good governance, eradication of corruption, equity, communal harmony, education, etc.), and this is a fire that needs to be stoked and fed so that it burns into every corner of national life.
Kejriwal and AAP are political entities that will be preoccupied in finding a space and then struggling to survive and grow in the political arena. Whereas, the movement of empowerment is a long overdue national endeavor that extends to the day-to-day lives of all Indians.
Kejriwal and AAP may sometimes feed the common citizen the fleeting sense of 'power' that comes from pouring onto streets creating mayhem, storming offices, conducting extra-legal raids, passing short term populist measures and holding dharnas … the euphoria and commotion … keeping them in the limelight. Whereas, the movement would bring true empowerment with this anger and hope of the people manifesting in far reaching and profound improvements in governance, respect for rule of law, judicial integrity, business ethics, equity, communal relations, educational standards and so on.
The messenger and the message must be separated for the movement to succeed.
Already, AAP's politically motivated decision to resign after 49 days has been a bad setback to the movement. A principled AAP government working concertedly to empower the common citizen against the odds would have been an example to the rest of the country where the movement needs the growth of many AAP-like leaders each with their own local relevance and character. It needs able and principled people to take a stand in their own professions. AAP seem to constrain the movement to one that has to be led by AAP and Kejriwal, effectively stunting their great message.
The surge in confidence and hope of the previously marginalized urban poor or apathetic youth resulting in strong support for AAP during the Delhi elections, and its disproportionately strong social presence in the national elections, lies fundamentally in the appeal of the message – that power must lie with the common citizen (their interests being paramount), so to speak. It cannot be said to reflect people's confidence in the dynamism of Kejriwal or AAP though they do profit from its appeal.
Thus, it is important that the message remains the priority and not hinged to AAP's national success or failure.
To his credit, Kejriwal has said this movement will give birth to new leaders to take it forward. However, he must also acknowledge that it is more immediately beneficial to the country if those already in the seats of power reform their mindset and breathe the winds of change. That it is not necessary for AAP to win, but more important instead, for the people to carry the movement forward by holding their elected governments as well as the bureaucracy and other institutions of governance to the highest standards. And that these leaders and institutions have no option but to submit to the will of the people.
That would do more for the Aam Aadmi than waiting for the messenger to become PM Kejriwal. Still, how wonderful that no matter who wins these elections, the entry of AAP has raised the expectations of the people, and the bar for leadership and governance.
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