12 May 2014, 01:24 AM IST
If someone ever made a statement that India is among the nations that are difficult to govern, the only correction one can make is that indeed it is the most difficult, bordering somewhere close on "ungovernable".If you thought that this 60-plus democracy has matured, one would agree to the extent that from the "teething" stage, we are now into pubertal confusion. There has been an awakening of the "master gland", but physical manifestations do not always sprout in a neat succession. The armpits have grown more grease and sweat, than a decent manly beard, or a symmetrical powering of the shoulders and hand grip. The last month of polling has shown this, the next five days will show the final outcome.
There are various hangovers of all previous mini-eras, and truncated leaderships. They invariably add up with each new regime. The foremost dates back to the inception of the nation-state. The split was on religious grounds, but the forefathers rightly clamped a great Constitution with an unambiguous secular structure. Few constitutions have such categorical clarity on this as ours. That should have been the end of any infighting or rallying for votes on communal grounds. But political maturity has little to do with the guiding principles of state policy. The guiding principles of political expediency took the upper hand at each political crossing. The Constitution was compiled by Dr Ambedkar, not so much to balance the caste system, but because he was the most capable man to do so. Merit was respected over community backgrounds. Statesmen as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad joined the Congress, because the Mahatma found a common purpose in his fight for Independence by supporting the Maulana's stand on the Khilafat Movement. The divisions in society were understood, but there would have been no Independence without enrolling everyone who had the common will to fight for freedom, and sufficient intrinsic talent to contribute. Despite a bloody partition, India held on with its stand to be a land for those who wanted to remain Indian, under an exceptionally well-carved Constitution.
Ruling and governance are so different from revolutions. Subsequent generation of politicians had no idea how to steer the nation-state forward. Development, economy, GDP should have been the key agendas for the making of a progressive nation at peace with itself. Maybe the manufacturing centres in the Heavens produce composite leaders in limited editions. Subsequent cadres of political leaders were not that meritorious, and with little insight or zeal in uplifting the common man out of plight, matters conveniently fell into the vote traps of short-sighted self-serving groups. The scholarly Ambedkar was stamped to be a champion of the backwards, and one would not know what would be his reaction to the present state of caste divisiveness. His embracement of Buddhism as an elite philosophy was considered a reprieve from caste-ridden Hinduism. Whereas the Buddha was born as a prince and his philosophy of renunciation and ultimate nirvana enthralls the most evolved minds, Buddhism became a social shelter to restore civil dignity. The neo-nomenclatured Gautam Buddh Nagar in Greater Noida, UP, is perhaps the most lucrative, luxurious real estate hotspot in the country. Politicians have the guile to attach their own meanings even beyond the dictionary. Perhaps there was one more "noble sight" which the Buddha failed to take note of. And whereas his analysis led to an overall uplift, this particular state of existence is to be perpetrated for permanent hold to power. The so-called leader of the dalits is perhaps the richest politician in that state.
Religious identities are universal. It is natural that they may have internal leanings. Political maturity and focused minority governance was a way towards a healthy nationhood. The first riot that ever took place should have been studied well enough to stop any other. Perhaps lessons of political gains were more easily understood by such hate, to be emulated in future. Religious fundamentalism in every sect should not be a surprise to any government. Enough programmes for reconciliation should have been put in place. Thoughtless leadership found it more convenient to copy-paste their old masters' policy of divide and rule. The big blunder was that they were ruling their own country, and not an annexed territory and people. Clearly, our leadership was either too dumb or too crafty.
Considering this labyrinthine mess, and the innumerable other issues that can spurt animosity within hours, today's times offer a rather welcome and achievable solution. This is the panacea of economic prosperity. Let every man have a job, education for his children, and adequate and affordable healthcare. Old sins may not be entirely forgiven, but forgotten for all practical purposes. Considering the success of Indians abroad, irrespective of caste and religion, it is quite clear that our self-perpetrated problems on the said fronts are because we are underachievers. We yet have to evolve programmes that start making immediate, even if small differences in the life of the common man, naturally upgrading to universal standards.
To corroborate the above hypothesis, a substantial minority vote has gone to AAP, rather than their local religious heads, or bigger parties with their communal baits, or long-established and taken-for-granted loyalties. AAP's agenda is anticorruption, pro-common man. It does not talk of any sect or religion. Just clean public life and governance. The final outcome of success of this party may not entirely be measured by the seats. Percentage of voting in each segment would be a more appropriate criterion. The bigger parties may like to take a page or two from AAP's strategy. I believe, the day has come when being fair, straightforward and effective in governance is what the polity will appreciate more and more.
This was a queer poll, where everyone had something vicious to say about everyone else, without projecting their own national candidates. Except Mr Kejriwal and Mr Modi, none of the other parties put forth a PM candidate. Not a healthy trend. It is better to have contested and lost, than not to have contested at all. That is the only way to get a feel of the nation.
The results are not for me to speculate on. A good state executive should know how to get the best from every segment of a diverse population, and to see that they reap the benefits of the opportunities given. Nation heads mostly have one weakness. They love to be loved, to be adored for being just and non-partisan and strive for respect and adulation from all their people, keeping constitutional fairness intact. Let these positive ambitions come alive in whoever takes the seat.
One positive aspect of this election has been that people have spoken freely. Every skeleton in the cupboard was exposed, and every one spoke, particularly the young. They seem to have a more objective analysis of each other. This new generation is what will matter.
So what will it be? "Rahalofication", "Modification" or "Ar-vindication"? Irrespective of the electoral arithmetic, it will be a bit of everything. That accusations, particularly the scary communal ones, have come out in the open is good. They will have to be addressed, and fairly sorted out. The days of pampering are over. Everyone must see tangible benefits. That alone makes one people, one nation.And your usual couplet:
"Huyee muddat, Ghalib mar gaya, par ab bhi yaad aata hai/ Wo har ek baat pe kehna, ki yun hota to kya hota."
(Though long passed away, Ghalib is still remembered/ His penchant for pondering, if this be done, then what would happen.)
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