Road ahead for Rahul Gandhi. What should he do?
This is one question right now that everyone in India has an answer to.
It is another matter that everyone has two assumptions pat down, thanks to the relentless propaganda against the man; first that Rahul is clueless and, second, that the coterie around him is too powerful to let him listen to some good advice (being advice they have for him).
Let’s have a go at these assumptions first.
1) Clueless
If Rahul is inexperienced even after being an elected MP for four terms now, how many more terms do you think it takes? Don’t forget, this is Modiji’s second term and Amit Shah’s first.
Do you seriously think that anyone can be clueless even when he grew up in a household which discussed domestic and world affairs as our families discuss our relatives/ food prices/ music/books/ film stars/social media issues (your pick)? Hope you get the drift. Is your assumption still in place?
Yes? Sure thing! This man is also the most travelled person in the country. And no, I am not tallying airline miles here – we already know the winner for that one. I am talking about being with the people across the length and breadth of the country. Listening to them and not selling them fancy stories. Having a heart to hear their agony and the spirit to make their troubles his own.
We respect social workers because they have care and concern for the people. Here is this guy doing the same stuff and doesn’t even want any publicity for it. We get the news years later that he had helped Nirbhaya’s family. He was at the forefront of Wayanad flood relief operations. He was the first one to raise voice for Nagas, Kashmir, environment, women’s rights and education for all in recent times.
Still stuck and need more things to consider? How about a verifiable MPhil degree from Cambridge? A pilot’s license? Aikido black belt? Yeah, all of that is mundane too. Everyone we know has these qualifications. Of course!
All of us have videos of his stupid gaffes, right? Ever thought, why? Who benefits by convincing you so? The guy seems immune to all this, but did you ever consider how you might have responded in his place? Yes, think again. That’s all he asks you to do: think. Who gets hurt when you start thinking?
Also, have you ever seen him push people, being angry, being vindictive, being a clothes horse or being a camera addict? Is there any charge against him for hurting anyone? Yes, he has a fault. He goes for Vipassana meditation because any person in his shoes needs help preserving their sanity and equanimity.
So, the bloke is stupid enough to continue speaking up for the people despite the massive malicious propaganda against him. Correct? Can you think of another such example? Do you know any person who despite knowing that he might be killed like his Dadi & father; won’t complain when the SPG cover is withdrawn?
But do you know what is his biggest strength. He isn’t afraid of accepting his failure. Unless one is capable of saying sorry, one can’t improve. Only God has all the right answers, and even that is doubted by many. Anyhow, unfortunately, we are only allowed human beings to lead us – the fallible and vulnerable mere mortals. Hence we look for honesty and integrity in our leaders. Rahul fits the bill there. Plus he is a team worker.
2) Coterie
While you chew on the above, tell me somthing – don’t you have a group of trusted friends and colleagues? Would you not need them from time to time, especially when you are ceaselessly attacked? Also, aren’t you again assuming that he doesn’t read news and social media? In today’s world when everyone you know is constantly connected, he must be an anomaly to have all his information filtered by someone.
Ladies and gentleman, always remember that this time will also change. When that change will come, you will need a Rahul Gandhi to restore our institutions. No government has any incentive to build broken systems. Who wouldn’t like access to unbridled power? The new powerful will have enough reasons to pay back for today’s unjust repression. Do you want another round of retributions? Then another?
If not, then you need this anomaly, this bloke called Rahul Gandhi, who had the heart to forgive his father’s murderers. He is the only one in India who has never wavered from our constitution even under the direst circumstances. He is the one who can make this country whole again.
Enough of hatred. Let’s get some of our bonhomie back. Our composite culture is our biggest asset. Our young people need a good future, not a discord on account of religion, caste or another country.
So what should a man do who refuses to dilute his ideology and has a clinical aversion to violence?
Exactly what he has done so far! He doesn’t need to change, you do. Rahul is our own Jacienda Arden, Trudeau, Macron rolled into one, only probably better.
The right question to ask is what are you going to do? We are the nation who produced both Gandhi and his murderer. We have enough of both sides. Forget Gandhi, he has anyway been more maligned in public imagination than he deserved to be. We will hopefully rediscover him in saner times. Today you and I need to talk about things that matter to us in this lifetime- food, security, education, jobs, freedom to be the best that you can be and not the worst that you are being made into.
Leave aside Rahul Gandhi for a moment. What is the road ahead for you?
By PS