First off, I would like to congratulate Mr. Stalin on becoming Deputy Chief Minister. Despite reports to the contrary, I did not know anything about it :-)
Secondly, in response to allegations that the Congress is dynastic in its functioning, I point to just about every other political party in India - and rest my case.
See - I'm not making an excuse by pointing fingers at others, I just think if the issue is not unique to the Congress then why do our rivals try to throw stones only at us every time they get half a chance? Agreed there is an element of dynasty driven leadership in the Congress, but we're not acting as dictators. We're perhaps the first party that is actually introducing fresh minds into our leadership ranks - not just bringing in more and more "party workers" that will "ji huzoor" the top brass as our rivals do. We're actually creating a leadership structure that has more than the Gandhi surname in it. We're actually using the power of the surname to get merit (however hidden) recognized and placed at the right spots so that overall performance of the government improves.
Let's run a thought experiment...
Imagine the Indian National Congress was currently being run by a different group of people. Assume it is a subset of the existing faces known to us, hence no new faces or dramatically different way of thinking. What then, would be the odds of getting a clean, competent and cerebral Dr. Manmohan Singh to head the government?
I know what some of you are thinking - you're questioning if Dr. Singh is indeed all that. I will address that in detail in some other post, for now just accept the mandate of the people of India.
Agreed Dr. Singh was hand picked, but his hands have not been tied. He has been functioning independently knowing very well what political constraints exist in our reality. In true shared-responsibility style of functioning, he discusses his views with senior leaders and seeks their opinion, but does indeed take his own decisions. That has become easier now with the Congress getting a stronger mandate.
Anyway, back to our experiment...
How easy could it have been for a gentleman with no mass following yet all the credentials for the job to actually get the job? I tell you this, it would have been impossible. With the dynastic craze in the party though, such decisions become a possibility, and in this case a reality. Yes it does come down to intent - does the dynasty intend to make decisions that are best for the nation, or only for its personal gain? That is out in the open for everyone to judge.
Effective leaders need to have two very important characteristics. First - they need to know how to get their people to follow them. Second, they need to know where to lead them to.
Assuming the second trait is a function of brute intelligence, compassion, trustworthy advisers and the best of intent - you would have to agree it is the more trivial trait of the two. The first trait is more tricky to exhibit. Such an ability comes (maybe) through years and years of having proven yourself right from the grass root level upto a higher level. Even then, self interest of rivals within the team can be a hindrance. What makes it easy is that magic wand called "surname". In a culture such as ours that is so driven by emotions, you would want to have a person at the helm who can take tough decisions that won't be questioned and will in fact be followed through with full rigour.
Yes, the answer now gets clearer.
If there is a political party that has this superb combination, it would be best suited to serve the people of India as a whole. Why then should it back off from such a combination? Why should it give up its competitive edge? There are some who would continue to make allegations that we're dynastic but if there are many more out there who benefit from better governance because of the Congress then the allegations don't bother me one bit. It is very rare (even in a nation of a billion) to find someone with a strong intent to improve the plight of the people, a strong group of trustworthy advisers and a strong position to influence the hearts and minds of its team.
We're not about to let this rare convergence go to waste.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Let's Move On
I am a dangerous person to be interviewed. I tend to speak my mind and I cannot hold back my emotions.
Now that the formalities are over, we know who the Ministers are and what their portfolios are. I, as many others within the Congress, have been disappointed with the process and - in most part - with the outcome but will put my weight behind making this government a success. I understand the powers that be had so many variables to balance in the complex equations they were managing. From this point on, I will not question or undermine the government in any way.
I must congratulate some of the people who I saw share my frustration with this process but deal with it very gracefully in the media. They have taken the questions/allegations etc. in their stride, defended the decisions and upheld the highest traditions of Parliamentarians. They are the reasons I feel I am not suited for interviews.
On a lighter note, several people have asked me why I wore the Devdas look at the oath ceremony today. I want to set the record straight - it had nothing to do with the choice of people participating in the ceremony. It also had nothing to do with the possibility of a love interest.
I will just leave it at that now :-)
Now that the formalities are over, we know who the Ministers are and what their portfolios are. I, as many others within the Congress, have been disappointed with the process and - in most part - with the outcome but will put my weight behind making this government a success. I understand the powers that be had so many variables to balance in the complex equations they were managing. From this point on, I will not question or undermine the government in any way.
I must congratulate some of the people who I saw share my frustration with this process but deal with it very gracefully in the media. They have taken the questions/allegations etc. in their stride, defended the decisions and upheld the highest traditions of Parliamentarians. They are the reasons I feel I am not suited for interviews.
On a lighter note, several people have asked me why I wore the Devdas look at the oath ceremony today. I want to set the record straight - it had nothing to do with the choice of people participating in the ceremony. It also had nothing to do with the possibility of a love interest.
I will just leave it at that now :-)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sad Day For India
The finalized list of Ministers has just been released. While I was not involved in those discussions and was not informed of the list before it was released, I did put forth a few points to my Mother and the Prime Minister. I must say that list has not been adhered to in its entirety - though I must also add that there never was an obligation for them to do so.
Here is a summary of what I had put forth:
- Tainted Ministers to not be allowed.
- Experience and past performance over caste/state/religion bias.
- First time MPs to not be included. Except of course, Mr. Tharoor.
I'm sure you can see some of the points have not been adhered to. When I spoke to my Mother about this, she said there are certain things you have to give up in order to get certain other things - which hopefully are more important. In this case, there are several within the Congress Party itself that needed to see things this way, otherwise they would not have put their full support behind the "Central Command" and in the absence of that, we could not have led the nation the way we would like to - the right way. Not only would the party be fractured, even the people who did not see their state/caste/religion getting represented in the cabinet would not vote for us again.
I see the point.
I understand we need to go through the transformation at a pace that the country as a whole can keep up with. But that pace is usually going to be determined by the slowest of us all. Just as a chain is only as strong as the weakest link, the country can develop only as much or as fast as the stupidest amongst us will let it. The smart ones will one day give up and head out to other countries then. No one wants to see their aspirations capped by the stupidest amongst us.
This is truly a sad day for India. What could have been a dream cabinet has been reduced to an average cabinet. All because there are those in the country who have to be satisfied. Those who see their national identity as their secondary identity, but their state/caste/religious identity as their primary identity.
There are many within the Congress that are not too happy about this new cabinet. They feel we have a clear mandate for change, and this Cabinet does not give the voters a strong confidence that we are ready to make a change. They feel we should ride the wave of voter support and impress them with what we're trying to do. There are yet others who feel this is an acceptable cabinet, that it helps us balance out things with voter and allies. They feel we need to survive the next 5 years without any hiccups and that itself will be enough to come back to power. In terms of performance, it would be fine to just got there half way.
We're already giving up what the media has termed the Rahul Doctrine. And this is just within the Congress. Don't even get me started on what we've had to give up because of our allies.
Here is a summary of what I had put forth:
- Tainted Ministers to not be allowed.
- Experience and past performance over caste/state/religion bias.
- First time MPs to not be included. Except of course, Mr. Tharoor.
I'm sure you can see some of the points have not been adhered to. When I spoke to my Mother about this, she said there are certain things you have to give up in order to get certain other things - which hopefully are more important. In this case, there are several within the Congress Party itself that needed to see things this way, otherwise they would not have put their full support behind the "Central Command" and in the absence of that, we could not have led the nation the way we would like to - the right way. Not only would the party be fractured, even the people who did not see their state/caste/religion getting represented in the cabinet would not vote for us again.
I see the point.
I understand we need to go through the transformation at a pace that the country as a whole can keep up with. But that pace is usually going to be determined by the slowest of us all. Just as a chain is only as strong as the weakest link, the country can develop only as much or as fast as the stupidest amongst us will let it. The smart ones will one day give up and head out to other countries then. No one wants to see their aspirations capped by the stupidest amongst us.
This is truly a sad day for India. What could have been a dream cabinet has been reduced to an average cabinet. All because there are those in the country who have to be satisfied. Those who see their national identity as their secondary identity, but their state/caste/religious identity as their primary identity.
There are many within the Congress that are not too happy about this new cabinet. They feel we have a clear mandate for change, and this Cabinet does not give the voters a strong confidence that we are ready to make a change. They feel we should ride the wave of voter support and impress them with what we're trying to do. There are yet others who feel this is an acceptable cabinet, that it helps us balance out things with voter and allies. They feel we need to survive the next 5 years without any hiccups and that itself will be enough to come back to power. In terms of performance, it would be fine to just got there half way.
We're already giving up what the media has termed the Rahul Doctrine. And this is just within the Congress. Don't even get me started on what we've had to give up because of our allies.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Indian Media - An Open Challenge To You
I was shocked a few days ago when the media presented the country with possible options of Cabinet Ministers and had a category for Dalits saying these would be the Dalit faces of the Cabinet. I was shocked because they trivialized the Cabinet and made it seem like those candidates were in the race only because they were Dalits. But I also realized this particular incident is just a symptom of a bigger problem. We tend to assign a secondary identity to just about everyone.
If there is a terrorist attack, it must be terrorists from a particular religion. It is not enough to just call them terrorists, we must drag the "religion" in as well as if that particular religion has a part-time job to groom terrorists. Dear God, we even put that religious tag on the victims, saying most of the victims of that terror incident were of that other "religion". Sometimes we put a caste based tag on them, and sometimes a community based tag.
Is it possible that the media is just as guilty of instigating communal disharmony as many suggest a rival political party does?
Here is an open challenge to the Indian Media - let me see you drop such classifications! Let me see you identify a terrorist as just that, a terrorist. Let that terrorist not be called a Muslim terrorist or Hindu terrorist. Let a politician be just that, a politician - not a Hindu, Muslim or Dalit politician.
Who in the media would be willing to take up such a challenge? This would probably be the first major step in uniting the country and ushering a whole new generation into a new kind of thinking.
Who is up for this challenge?
If there is a terrorist attack, it must be terrorists from a particular religion. It is not enough to just call them terrorists, we must drag the "religion" in as well as if that particular religion has a part-time job to groom terrorists. Dear God, we even put that religious tag on the victims, saying most of the victims of that terror incident were of that other "religion". Sometimes we put a caste based tag on them, and sometimes a community based tag.
Is it possible that the media is just as guilty of instigating communal disharmony as many suggest a rival political party does?
Here is an open challenge to the Indian Media - let me see you drop such classifications! Let me see you identify a terrorist as just that, a terrorist. Let that terrorist not be called a Muslim terrorist or Hindu terrorist. Let a politician be just that, a politician - not a Hindu, Muslim or Dalit politician.
Who in the media would be willing to take up such a challenge? This would probably be the first major step in uniting the country and ushering a whole new generation into a new kind of thinking.
Who is up for this challenge?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Brothers Against Brothers
The news of the Austrian Gurdwara Shootout has shook the nation. People are still wondering just what happened, but it is clear that this was a case of rivalry between two groups. The after shocks are being felt in India as well.
What shameful world do we live in? Even when we're from the same country, we find enough reasons to be violent against each other. When we're from the same religious group also we do not spare each other. When we're from the same caste, we activate the caveat of not being from the same sub-caste and find genuine reasons to annihilate each other.
Is it not enough that we are fellow humans? It should not matter what country, faith, caste or gender we belong to. We are humans. And in that capacity, keepers of each other. I remember Sachin telling me a few weeks ago that the best chance of getting united as humanity lies in being visited by Aliens. At that time I thought he was being filmy, but today I feel however ridiculous that may sound when you hear it for the first time, it might just be the only way we can stop brothers from fighting each other.
The youth, more than ever, has to take the lead on this front. Let's promise to create a new world.
What shameful world do we live in? Even when we're from the same country, we find enough reasons to be violent against each other. When we're from the same religious group also we do not spare each other. When we're from the same caste, we activate the caveat of not being from the same sub-caste and find genuine reasons to annihilate each other.
Is it not enough that we are fellow humans? It should not matter what country, faith, caste or gender we belong to. We are humans. And in that capacity, keepers of each other. I remember Sachin telling me a few weeks ago that the best chance of getting united as humanity lies in being visited by Aliens. At that time I thought he was being filmy, but today I feel however ridiculous that may sound when you hear it for the first time, it might just be the only way we can stop brothers from fighting each other.
The youth, more than ever, has to take the lead on this front. Let's promise to create a new world.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Congratulations Mr. Prime Minister
Just got back from Ashoka Hall. The first (of hopefully not so many) oath ceremony is over. I join the nation in congratulating Dr. Manmohan Singh in winning the hearts and minds of so many people and formalizing that faith in front of millions.
Someone from the media came up to me as I was discussing something with Priyanka and asked bluntly why the "young faces" didn't figure in the list of Ministers to be sworn in. It lead me to believe there is a huge segment of the population that is wondering just that. I say to you in this blog what I told that media person - the Cabinet Ministers are chosen at the Prime Minister's discretion. We've repeatedly made that clear to everyone.
If I had to make an educated guess about why we don't see those "young faces" - and this is just my educated guess, I am in no way second guessing the Prime Minister or undermining his constitutional right to form a Cabinet that he chooses - I would say that we are going through a very difficult phase in our economy and nation building that requires not people who will learn on the job but people who can deliver. We will find other ways for the "young faces" to get the exposure required, and perhaps gradually bring them into the fold once we are more comfortable with them and our environment.
When I say "we" in the above, I mean the UPA Leadership. I, in no way, mean my Mother and I. I just needed to include that disclaimer before sparking off another controversy.
The UPA Leadership now will primarily focus on urgent matters of governance that need immediate attention and are crucial for our people. I hope we can do that without anymore "berth" distractions.
Someone from the media came up to me as I was discussing something with Priyanka and asked bluntly why the "young faces" didn't figure in the list of Ministers to be sworn in. It lead me to believe there is a huge segment of the population that is wondering just that. I say to you in this blog what I told that media person - the Cabinet Ministers are chosen at the Prime Minister's discretion. We've repeatedly made that clear to everyone.
If I had to make an educated guess about why we don't see those "young faces" - and this is just my educated guess, I am in no way second guessing the Prime Minister or undermining his constitutional right to form a Cabinet that he chooses - I would say that we are going through a very difficult phase in our economy and nation building that requires not people who will learn on the job but people who can deliver. We will find other ways for the "young faces" to get the exposure required, and perhaps gradually bring them into the fold once we are more comfortable with them and our environment.
When I say "we" in the above, I mean the UPA Leadership. I, in no way, mean my Mother and I. I just needed to include that disclaimer before sparking off another controversy.
The UPA Leadership now will primarily focus on urgent matters of governance that need immediate attention and are crucial for our people. I hope we can do that without anymore "berth" distractions.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The Politics Continue
It's past 1 AM, we're still negotiating with our allies and there seems to be no end in sight. That is what happens when negotiations are not based on values. No one - and yes, that includes everyone - wants to discuss merit, vision or strategy of executing our promises. They want a certain Ministry only because they would like to. Not because they have experience in that particular sector.
In principle, we're not against sharing the responsibility of serving the people, but we're starting to build a moral framework of what to keep in mind while getting someone into the cabinet. Competence and experience is now important. Clean character is also important. But our allies clearly see that as hindrance.
I know we should see this morality trickle down to the ticket allocation process and then to even the party membership process, but you would agree such changes have to be brought about at the right speed. Go too fast, and you risk a crash. Nonetheless, I think it's about time we see this being applied to the PM and Ministers. Our PM is spotless, let's see what we end up with as Ministers.
While I am not actively involved in the negotiations - because I don't have the patience to deal with total opportunists (and might I add - idiots) I am glad to see Dr. Singh's virtue of patience and perseverance come in very handy. I just wish more people from the press could see him in action like this. They would end the debate on whether I am ready to be PM.
Ahmed Patel is at his best in such situations, and is doing a good job of keeping me calm. But the future of India cannot be built by compromising on your values for a handful of people. Come on!!! Don't be surprised if we kick out a couple of our "pre-poll" allies sometime soon. The world will be told all sorts of conspiracy theories - but the bottom line is that we'd have drawn a line between what was open to compromise.
And what was not.
In principle, we're not against sharing the responsibility of serving the people, but we're starting to build a moral framework of what to keep in mind while getting someone into the cabinet. Competence and experience is now important. Clean character is also important. But our allies clearly see that as hindrance.
I know we should see this morality trickle down to the ticket allocation process and then to even the party membership process, but you would agree such changes have to be brought about at the right speed. Go too fast, and you risk a crash. Nonetheless, I think it's about time we see this being applied to the PM and Ministers. Our PM is spotless, let's see what we end up with as Ministers.
While I am not actively involved in the negotiations - because I don't have the patience to deal with total opportunists (and might I add - idiots) I am glad to see Dr. Singh's virtue of patience and perseverance come in very handy. I just wish more people from the press could see him in action like this. They would end the debate on whether I am ready to be PM.
Ahmed Patel is at his best in such situations, and is doing a good job of keeping me calm. But the future of India cannot be built by compromising on your values for a handful of people. Come on!!! Don't be surprised if we kick out a couple of our "pre-poll" allies sometime soon. The world will be told all sorts of conspiracy theories - but the bottom line is that we'd have drawn a line between what was open to compromise.
And what was not.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
First UPA Meeting Concludes
Just after I stepped out of the meeting I saw television clips of the UPA members sitting just before the meeting had started and realized the complete contrast of what the world gets to see and what actually happens inside. No way was the meeting so cordial. The true colours of the politicians really came out in the events that unfolded inside. The issue at hand, obviously, was getting ministerial positions and cabinet berths.
I am even more dedicated to my cause of Congress Party 2.0 - the next elections should see us fight it without any sigificant allies. If anyone wishes to join us, their leadership must be a well educated lot with clear focus on merit.
I thought my giving up a cabinet berth would set an example for the nation, but I may have already failed at the ally level.
I am even more dedicated to my cause of Congress Party 2.0 - the next elections should see us fight it without any sigificant allies. If anyone wishes to join us, their leadership must be a well educated lot with clear focus on merit.
I thought my giving up a cabinet berth would set an example for the nation, but I may have already failed at the ally level.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sri Lankan War Ends
It is always a good thing when a war ends, it does not matter where in the world the war was ongoing. I hope the people of Sri Lanka finally find peace and begin rebuilding their nation.
On a more personal note, our family has been asked over and over again how we feel about the death of the LTTE supremo. I really wish the media backs off on this issue. As a family, we have nothing to gain or rejoice about in this matter. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has lost a loved one and a home.
I also think during the elections, certain parties who took up the Lankan Tamil cause acted irresponsibly. Taking up the cause is fine, but stating that they favour a separate state for Lankan Tamils borders on interfering in another sovereign nation's internal matters. These folks take offense to Pakistan showing a soft corner to Kashmiri separatists. What hypocrisy. Tamils being killed in a far off country bothers them but Tamils being in killed in nearby villages does not bother them. What hypocrisy!
On a more personal note, our family has been asked over and over again how we feel about the death of the LTTE supremo. I really wish the media backs off on this issue. As a family, we have nothing to gain or rejoice about in this matter. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has lost a loved one and a home.
I also think during the elections, certain parties who took up the Lankan Tamil cause acted irresponsibly. Taking up the cause is fine, but stating that they favour a separate state for Lankan Tamils borders on interfering in another sovereign nation's internal matters. These folks take offense to Pakistan showing a soft corner to Kashmiri separatists. What hypocrisy. Tamils being killed in a far off country bothers them but Tamils being in killed in nearby villages does not bother them. What hypocrisy!
The Cabinet Berth Controversy
Enough has been said and written about this, so I would like to set the record straight...
I am not keen on a cabinet berth at this time. I clearly see my job as building the Congress at the grass root level. You can call it Youth Congress, Democratization of Congress, Congress Party 2.0 or whatever, but it is about regaining the lost glory of the Congress - or dare I say taking our glory to never-before-seen heights. You can call me naive, ignorant/innocent or even a dreamer - but I'm not the only one. (Sorry about that Mr. Lenon).
The youth is with me on this. The youth have all sorts of wonderful ideas, and many of them really do-able. The young minds of India know what is needed to make India the glorious nation it is destined to be, they just need to find a platform to make their dreams about India a reality. If a free market capitalist were to look at this situation, he (or she) would think of a political party as a service provider, the interest that an engaged citizenry has in joining it as market share and the election results as customer feedback. I am interested in making the Indian National Congress a service provider to the nation with the highest market share and the best customer feedback. For that I need to re-build the Congress in all the states across India.
If I can indeed do that, it would be a contribution to India far greater than what I could make right now as a Cabinet Minister. Moreover, opening the flood gates of fresh leadership talent will remove the dynastic monopoly our opposition so eagerly alleges at every opportunity.
Now I would also like to share my thoughts on how the media has been handling this issue...
Please don't keep asking Dr. Singh about my credentials to be a Cabinet Minister - or worse, of being Prime Minister. If you know me even a little bit, you should know it embarrasses me. If you know Dr. Singh even a little bit, you should know it is embarrassing for him too. He has always been kind with his words for me, but let's leave the brilliant Dr. Singh to build his Cabinet as he sees fit.
I also feel there is no point in continuing to ask the Congress Party's spokesperson this question. And I also think they could have done a better job in answering this question. There is no point in saying, "Well, Dr. Singh has publicly asked him to join the Cabinet. It is up to him to decide." Such statements reflect very poorly on the organizational structure and our decision making process. The world can think whatever they wish to, we as Congress Party Workers should be clear on our protocols and agenda. The correct answer to the question is as follows...
"We've looked at the situation, passed on our views to the senior leadership and it has been collectively decided that at this time it is in our collective best interest to have Rahul work to strengthen the party. If he does his job right, we will have no dearth of people that are equally (or better) capable to lead our great country."
I am not keen on a cabinet berth at this time. I clearly see my job as building the Congress at the grass root level. You can call it Youth Congress, Democratization of Congress, Congress Party 2.0 or whatever, but it is about regaining the lost glory of the Congress - or dare I say taking our glory to never-before-seen heights. You can call me naive, ignorant/innocent or even a dreamer - but I'm not the only one. (Sorry about that Mr. Lenon).
The youth is with me on this. The youth have all sorts of wonderful ideas, and many of them really do-able. The young minds of India know what is needed to make India the glorious nation it is destined to be, they just need to find a platform to make their dreams about India a reality. If a free market capitalist were to look at this situation, he (or she) would think of a political party as a service provider, the interest that an engaged citizenry has in joining it as market share and the election results as customer feedback. I am interested in making the Indian National Congress a service provider to the nation with the highest market share and the best customer feedback. For that I need to re-build the Congress in all the states across India.
If I can indeed do that, it would be a contribution to India far greater than what I could make right now as a Cabinet Minister. Moreover, opening the flood gates of fresh leadership talent will remove the dynastic monopoly our opposition so eagerly alleges at every opportunity.
Now I would also like to share my thoughts on how the media has been handling this issue...
Please don't keep asking Dr. Singh about my credentials to be a Cabinet Minister - or worse, of being Prime Minister. If you know me even a little bit, you should know it embarrasses me. If you know Dr. Singh even a little bit, you should know it is embarrassing for him too. He has always been kind with his words for me, but let's leave the brilliant Dr. Singh to build his Cabinet as he sees fit.
I also feel there is no point in continuing to ask the Congress Party's spokesperson this question. And I also think they could have done a better job in answering this question. There is no point in saying, "Well, Dr. Singh has publicly asked him to join the Cabinet. It is up to him to decide." Such statements reflect very poorly on the organizational structure and our decision making process. The world can think whatever they wish to, we as Congress Party Workers should be clear on our protocols and agenda. The correct answer to the question is as follows...
"We've looked at the situation, passed on our views to the senior leadership and it has been collectively decided that at this time it is in our collective best interest to have Rahul work to strengthen the party. If he does his job right, we will have no dearth of people that are equally (or better) capable to lead our great country."
Hello World
We've done very well in the elections. Our hard work seems to have paid off, but I know there is so much more we still need to do. There are millions of 'Kalavatis" out there that we still haven't gotten to. There is so much that needs to be undone. The past several years (and that even includes the Congress years) have slowed India down. In some cases even taken us back. If it takes a long time for a good decision to be taken, it takes even longer for a bad decision to be undone. And we're all victims of that. We all have to get out of that.
I am starting this blog as an avenue to let out my thoughts on what's happening. What needs to happen. What is not happening. And last, but not the least, what should not happen.
Wish me luck.
I am starting this blog as an avenue to let out my thoughts on what's happening. What needs to happen. What is not happening. And last, but not the least, what should not happen.
Wish me luck.
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