(Asian independent) ‘Pappu’ as he was termed for nearly a decade, is now replaced with ‘ji’ in their speeches. A massive shift in their discourse and address to the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Mr Rahul Rajiv Gandhi. Many of my ‘bhakt’ friends used to argue and debate as to how unfit he is to be in the chair of Prime Minister. And I always countered, even if Congress gets a majority, I wonder if he would take the oath of PM office.
We all want to outgrow our parents, grandparents, and this is an instinct in every human being. We Indians have this embedded in our culture. Parents feel proud when their child has outgrown their success. For most Indians (poor and middle-class), who are employed, this growth is measured in economic value: a purchase of car, a house and foreign trips. But for the few (Leaders, celebrities, ultra HNI, power lobby), the economic measure holds no value; its calibration methodology would change. Eg, a movie star or a sports person would not measure success purely economically for their child but in success of the domain.
Now, try placing yourself in the shoes of Rahul for a moment. Your great-grandfather was India’s first Prime Minister for around 17 years; your grandmother was Prime Minister for a total of nearly 16 years; your father was Prime Minister for 5 odd years. You were virtually born and brought up in the Prime Minister’s Residence, 7RCR. Your early childhood and schooling happened around it. Now, what is the minimum benchmark to certify you as successful, and how would you outgrow it?
You have feasted the power corridors in childhood; they won’t entice you enough. You would look to scale up, level up. Being a Prime Minister would surely not be enough. Tenure-wise, you need to hold the position for 4 terms to make a mark in the books. Yet, you would still feel something is lacking; you won’t be satisfied with that growth. It’s just equaling, not scaling or creating a new benchmark. Now, you need to figure out something beyond the PM chair and office.
The soul of the nation, the mascot, the spiritual guide of this land is Mahatma Gandhi. A person who didn’t hold a single chair, no official position, yet a leader associated with India all across the globe. Neither Nehru nor Indira, with their collective 30 years, can match the aura of the Mahatma. A person whose name is given to most government schemes; nearly every city and town in India has an M. G. Road. Gandhi’s photo not just hangs on the walls of every government office, but also on the currency every Indian uses. Internationally, India is known as the land of Buddha and Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi was known to walk across India and meet people, stay in villages, interact, interdine and move to the next village. He read Indian people, learnt Indian conditions, experienced Indian cultures and diversity and hence he became a Mahatma. He was politically connected to the remotest person in India. His voice was not to be ignored, even if you had a different opinion or approach. People would ultimately give in to his demands. Be it Nehru or Patel, Bose or Ambedkar, many differed yet obliged to him.
No other leader across the globe has walked 4000+ kms to meet the people of the land, except Rahul. The people (youth) connect programs he organises have been receiving stunning response. The best part is that he is not the only speaker. He gives space to voices; he encourages them to speak. Uncomfortable topics (like patriarchy) have helped him make inroads into new territories, beyond politics. He does not talk of elections or his party. He talks about the soul of India. He voices India.
He is aware that the government machinery (Parliament mic) won’t let him speak. The media, everyone knows, is biased. This challenge thrown at him, he converted into an opportunity. He got into the people. Now, no ruling party leader can equate him in this mass reach and connect. He has direct influence, information and access to the people. Something we have not seen for long in Indian politics. The last 12 years were full of monologue and one-way communication; prior to that, 10 years of Manmohan were purely parliamentary. This nearly adds up to a quarter of a century. Rahul has refreshed the political approach, and the ruling regime has no idea how to handle this novice technique.
Rahul has now outgrown the chair of Prime Minister. Even if the Indian National Congress secures a full majority, he would hesitate to be in that chair. If they don’t, he shall spend his time in channelling the soul of the nation. What Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi did in 1925-1948, Rahul is attempting to do now. And this success shall help him outgrow Nehru, Indira and Rajiv.
