The pervasive idealism of the era of the freedom struggle disappeared with the passage of the great stalwarts from the national scene. The many positives of Nehruvian legacy (secularism, socialism, and modernisation) were conceptual. His equally large negatives (taking Kashmir issue to the United Nations, trusting China till he was stabbed in the back), were concrete. The country is still paying for them. In the hands of his dynastic successors, the twin ideals of secularism and socialism degenerated into vote bank politics, and licence and permit raj respectively. Indira Gandhi used the twin slogans of garibhi hatao (abolish poverty) and bank nationalisation for personal aggrandisement. Power by hook or crook was her goal, and in the process she destroyed all norms and values in public life. The Emergency was indeed the most shameful chapter in our history.
Ushering in of pragmatic policies
Coming quickly to the present, people got fed up with the avalanche of huge scandals and the debilitating policy paralysis of the Sonia-Singh non-functioning diarchy. The coalition adharma of the UPA Government was the proverbial straw on the camel’s back. The anointed legatee of the dynasty, Rahul Gandhi failed miserably. His contribution to the decline of the dynasty and the near decimation of the Congress party cannot be exaggerated! As the 2014 elections drew near, despair and disillusionment with the Singh-Sonia rule was comprehensive and widespread. No wonder an overwhelming majority of Indians voted in favour of the development and security agenda placed before them so effectively by Narendra Modi. The focus hereafter will be on economic development, employment generation, and training and skill enhancement. Empty rhetoric is to be replaced by zeroing in on “little things” like cleanliness, toilets in schools, drinking water, and preventive health care etc., which are life and death issues for an overwhelming majority of the people.
Unless these long neglected important “little things” are taken care of, a business friendly environment is restored and the entrepreneurial spirit of the people is unleashed, the country cannot get back on the track of high and sustained economic growth. The Modi alternative is the only viable choice before the nation at this juncture. The mandate he received and the promise of a stable and functioning government for the next five years to begin with should be seen in that spirit. He should be held accountable for transforming promises into performance, i.e. “delivering goods” as they say.
Historic correction underway
The nation needs correction against the long era of monopoly of wisdom, leadership, sacrifice, and national honour bestowed on and extracted by one family since Independence. Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya were the three acknowledged national leaders at the beginning of the new nation. Sitaramayya was sidelined quickly and his name is not mentioned even in passing. It took a while to downsize Patel. But, it was accomplished by the family in two ways: Ignoring Patel at the official level consistently, and building up the chosen members of the Nehru-Gandhi family systematically. Sanjay, Maneka, and Varun belong to the wrong branch of the dynasty. Almost all government-funded projects and programmes at the national, state, and local levels are named after Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi. It is high time that the monumental contribution of Sardar Patel to the unity, integrity, and governance of the country is recalled and celebrated all over again. The “Iron Man” deserves no less. The ruling family always schemed to put down the outsiders, whatever may be their achievements. For example, former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, the Apara Chanakya of Indian politics, who led the minority government of Congress for the full term of five years, never received the honour due to him. He was the architect of the economic reforms of the 1990s, and the “Look East” policy, the two most important turning points in the country. Let us not forget that powers that be in Delhi denied even a burial place for him in the nation’s capital! The indecent hurry with which his body was bundled out of Delhi is a testament to the pettiness in high places! The then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Rajashekhar Reddy was a willing accomplice to the shameless charade.
Correction of the excesses of the past and consolidation during the present is the way history moves forward. India will have to go through this painful process. Let us hope that the Congress party will have the courage and wisdom to choose a young and brave leader from outside the family. Sonia and Rahul can help the process by stepping aside at this critical juncture. End of the dynasty can give a new lease of life to the party. Fortunately, there is plenty of choice within the party. Our system of government needs a strong and viable opposition, a party of all- India nature. Congress alone can fill the bill. Emergence of the so called “Third Parties” is, and will continue to be a mirage for the foreseeable future.