I do not watch debates on politics on our Tv channels! Debates on Tv are not about getting answers to issues which concern us. It is more about winning an argument at any cost! I cringed when I saw the way Rahul Gandhi spoke in the parliament recently. Navika of the Times Now channel, a seasoned moderator looked distraught, as she asked us the viewers, whether it is so important for Rahul to win, even at the cost of dismantling the very pillars which held the nation together?
I was nine years old when India became independent of the British. I saw the parliament in session, thanks to N. Keshava Iyengar MP. It was a great and an inspiring experience to watch the stalwarts speaking in the parliament, I was about 20 years old!
Most of us are socialists in our twenties. While I was impressed with my Delhi visit, I wondered why we needed such a huge 'Rashtrapathi Bhavan' for the president. We all knew India was a poor country! I was told the countries number one citizen should have a dignified accommodation! Anyway it was already there! My friends thought it was dumb question. Then I found many netas had occupied the homes vacated by our conquerors when they departed! A smooth transition! They could have added these buildings to the impressive list of ruins which exist in Delhi. But they didn't!
Rahul is not to be entirely blamed. As a kid he was traumatized. However, he grew up in a princely style. I guess he was taught to believe his role was to rule our country and PM Manmohan Singh , a thorough gentleman, was ready to step aside when the time came for Rahul Gandhi to take over. Living in Thailand, I had seen the special status given to their constitutional monarch. So Indians creating a new royalty of their own is understandable! Too bad the Janata Janardhan had a different take on his perceived rights!
I remember vaguely watching his interview with a media person. I was a bit surprised when I heard him say he had just joined, needed time to understand what needs to be done! People were impressed with his honest admission that he was not fully prepared for his role as a leader. In reality he was a prince and was surrounded by zealous courtiers. It was not easy to get a meeting with him. I had heard that the coterie prevented his meeting capable young men who had dreams of a better future for India. Perhaps our Karma. I was not living in India those days, but this is what I heard.
Fast forward, he still keeps fighting, with a belief it is his destiny and his right. Many more think so, but one need to be worried about their motives or agenda. Attempts to make our Parliament, housed in a newly built and impressive building, almost irrelevant, perhaps like the UN? Hopefully the food in the canteen at least is good.
Since Rahul inherited INC in a typical Indian way, it is either he or Modi who now matter in India! Rahul is claimed to be better by some! It is argued that Modi is a tea-boy and uneducated. When we say Modi speaks well. The claim is he is lost without prompter! All his ideas come from better educated people! Why not! I am not a bhakta of Modi but am impressed how an uneducated tea boy has managed to evolve as a leader of the largest democracy in the world.
Those who hate Modi say, it is because they want to save India. Just give Rahul a chance, they say! It is as if they believe Rahul has a magic wand! He has to just say, "Change those who are exploiting India," and their surrender is guaranteed!
Our Karma! There are many ways to look at India and its special place in the world. It is an ancient civilization similar to Egypt and others. We take pride that there is a continuity. Perhaps it was our good karma that this subcontinent enjoyed good weather and huge rivers. We did not need to work hard for a living. Threw some seeds, we had food in plenty.
I guess that was our undoing! It became attractive to others who were not so lucky. Others lived in deserts, or regions which were cold and unlivable. Only God knows why he put humans in such terrible places. No wonder these deprived beings came looking for better places to live. Due to their hardship, they became tougher and stronger. They worked hard. In bad times, they thought nothing of taking away things from us. Stealing and killing were justified in their 'eco-system'. (I like the word!)
And we with our goodness and tolerance, let them come and take things away from us!
Happy Valentines day! Let us not hate each other!
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I saw the Parliament again a few years later. In this visit the discussions took a serious turn and I was astonished to see an MP, bodily lifted and taken out of the parliament hall. I think it was the MP Ram Manohar Lohia. I googled to check whether this happened and learnt a lot about Lohia!
Ram Manohar Lohia! Sadly he died at a very young age of 57 years!
Lohia repeatedly criticized Nehru's work. He also advocated against the extensive use of English language, leading an extensive campaign for the same. Lohia also publicly questioned the dominance of Upper Castes and advocated for affirmative action that was caste-based.
In 1963, Lohia proposed the idea of Saptakranti (transl. Seven Revolutions). He stated that mankind is revolting for:[26]
- Equality between man and woman;
- The abolition of inequalities based on colour;
- Elimination of inequalities of birth and caste;
- National freedom or ending of foreign influence;
- Economic equality through increase in production;
- Protecting the privacy of individual life from all collective encroachments; and
- Limitations on armaments
Also in 1963, he spoke about the unity of Hindus and Muslims, requesting them to rethink the last 800 years of India's history.
Lohia believed that for the country to progress, caste inequality must be abolished. To implement this, he proposed the idea of "roti and beti", stating that people must first be willing to break caste barriers and eat the same roti, and then let their daughters (beti) marry people from other castes.
Caste, Social Justice, and the Politics of Inclusion in the 2024 Indian General Election
Gilles Verniers
You will understand why caste barriers will never go away!
