OPEN FORUM

New Delhi, 23 August 2007

 Petty Political Games

WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE?

By TD Jagadesan

Liberty and equality are universally acknowledged as the two major boons of democracy, which are to be shared by every human being.  Tragically, democracy has so far not achieved this goal fully.  Notwithstanding that several democracies are moving in the right direction in this regard. In countries where the basic attributes of democratic functioning have either been misunderstood or been deliberately misinterpreted and exploited for personal benefits by the leaders, catastrophic consequence have followed.

Clearly, it is the quality of leadership that makes all the difference. India had the benefit of a great leadership in the pre-Independence period whose impact was felt for almost two decades post-Independence. The level of adoration, respect and trust that the national leaders enjoyed till the passing away of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was not to be seen post 1970. The deterioration in the quality of political leadership, and its devaluation in public esteem are now clearly visible.

The increasing tension between consumerism and the eternal spiritual quest was never so pronounced in human history. The concern is global and, not surprisingly, the world today looks towards the India of Mahatma Gandhi to find a way out of the impasse. But the present Indian leadership is totally engrossed in petty political games.

In the age of universal access to education and information, and amid global efforts to create a knowledge society, the national leadership has to occupy a much higher platform. Education is supposed to help people grow continuously. Should this not apply much more effectively to the leadership in every field? It is not uncommon to come across write-ups on “where have all the leaders gone.”

The concern is widespread and cuts across national boundaries. Mahatma Gandhi could inspire millions to join the freedom struggle. He could prepare an array of devoted and committed men and women. Newly Independent India had stalwarts like Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajagopalachari, Jaiprakash Narayan, Maulana Azad, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Jagjivan Ram and several others. Chief Ministers like: Govind Ballabh Pant, Sri Krishna Sinha, Morarji Desai and Bidhan Chandra Roy. Not a single name now can match any of the names mentioned.

How did the quality of political leadership deteriorate so sharply in just half a century? Defying normal expectations that the reverse would hold true. That an independent country busy reshaping its future would provide greater opportunities to individuals to flourish and excel.

One could cite several discourses on the shaping of leaders and the role the older generation plays in reshaping the leadership for the next generation. It would not be incorrect to infer that the best example to follow is the way a leader lives his or her life. “My life is my message,” said Gandhiji which comprehensively reveals the nodal principle of his leadership. The Mahatma could inspire even those leading luxurious lives to opt for prolonged incarceration in British jails.

Did Jawaharlal Nehru have any inkling that spending over nine years in prison would fetch him the Prime Ministership? Even his staunchest critics would concede that he sacrificed his life of luxury and opted for the harsh uncertainties of the freedom struggle thus proving his courage of conviction.

Millions of others, unknown in history, did likewise. When he was Prime Minister, journalists once spotted a hole in Nehru’s shoe which had obviously seen better days. How many of our leaders with all their known and unknown assets would want to recall this incident?

The legacy of a value-based leadership deserves to be recalled. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, after relinquishing the post of President of India, retired to the Sadaquat Ashram in Patna, as he had no place of his own. Lal Bahadur Shastri had still to repay the loan for a Fiat car he had bought when he suddenly passed away. Likewise, former Prime Minister Gulzari Lal Nanda spent his last days in his daughter’s two-room flat in Ahmedabad.

One can give several such instances of individuals following the Gandhian principles even after assuming positions of power. However, all such examples are lost when the media highlights the assets that our present political leaders have amassed, based on their declarations to the Election Commission. Sadly, terms like “disproportionate assets” have lost all relevance.

The scholar-President Dr. Zakir Hussain realized the need to make India “demonstrate a moral entity.”  A great educationist, he was sure that this could not be achieved “unless we succeed, again through education, institutional or otherwise, to create in the minds of our people and specially in the minds of its intellectuals and political elite the unquenchable desire to see not only that the moral basis is maintained but that it grows and expands and gets more firm and more refined; and through all this we succeed in generating among the people a living sense of responsibility.”

As things stand today, the manner in which our education system functions, bound by political and ideological compulsions, it certainly cannot help the development of the eternal human values. Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “In life it does not matter where you come from, all that matters is where you go.” This had one meaning in pre-Independence India. The goal of “where to go” was set by Gandhi and his colleagues: Improving the lives of others.

However, post-Independence, the goals are set by those for whom life is all about improving their own lot. They seem to be blissfully unaware of Greek philosopher Aristotle’s wise words, “liberty and equality will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”

Our present day polity needs to remember that democracy takes root when the spirit of accommodation defines the relationship between those holding the reins of power and the people they are supposed to serve. Unfortunately, after six decades, Indian democracy has reached a sorry pass where politicians are shy of attempting a consensus, or interacting with each other and taking note of public opinion. ---- INFA

(Copyright India News and Feature Alliance)