“A Poor Picture”
By
J.L.Gupta
My father’s friend was a good painter. Long back, he had painted a life
size portrait of Sardar Patel. The childhood memories of the painting are still
vivid. The Sardar seemed serious, stern, straight and strong. He betrayed
confidence. He looked a leader. He was
truly a patriot.
I was still in school when the ‘iron-man’ of India had become a part of
our history. However, his picture is even now preserved in the mind’s eye.
Today, when the largest democracy in the world is getting ready for the
election, the eyes search for someone who may look like the Sardar. What do we
see?
Mostly, no leaders. Mere liabilities. No statesmen. Only power hungry
politicians. Small men, surrounded by sycophants. They hire hoodlums to make a
show of popularity. Need ‘black cats’ to protect them from the very people they
proudly claim to represent.
Today’s politician is very promising. Promises all the time. More
particularly, at the time of elections. Coins high sounding slogans. Vote catching
clichés. But the poor and gullible have vainly waited. For decades. Hoped for
just two square meals a day. They have been promised – “Roti, Kapda aur Makaan
(Bread, Clothes and House). Actually, even potable water is not available to a
majority of the people.
The politician talks of principles. But acts only on interest. Talks of
secularism. But at the time of election, selects candidates only on the basis
of caste and creed. Region and religion are always at the back of his mind.
Talks of democracy. Delineates the benefits of collective wisdom. But thrives
on individual’s ignorance. Proclaims to stand for peoples’ power. But acts like a monarch.
Travels around the country and across the continents. In style. Under
tight security. With hangers-on. All at the tax payer’s cost. Is fully
conscious of his status. But not even fractionally conscientious in his conduct.
Powerful in dealing with the poor employee, but otherwise he is simply
spineless. The backbone has no bone. Can effortlessly stoop to the lowest.
Never to conquer. Always to concur.
Claims to be wedded to truth. But like the modern married couples, the
two stay apart. Integrity? When bought,
he tries to stay bought. Can be often seen standing sheepishly in courts.
Facing serious charges without any compunction. Accepts corruption as a
qualification. Yet boldly blames the opposition for all the evil that confronts
the country.
Long back, when I was a school going kid, Dr. Shyamaprasad Mookherjee,
leader of the Opposition when confronted with Congress cries to ‘Face the
truth!’ had retorted ‘I can’t, I am facing the treasury benches!’ Even after
decades, the opposition faces the same situation. Things have not improved.
Only deteriorated. Scams and scandals are the order of the day. Be it coal,
telecom or anything else.
Today’s politician is pliable. Commits crimes that call for no courage.
Depends on “memory for his jests and imagination for the facts.” The Parliament
is becoming model of a good home for the erring and the old.
Alas! All this presents a poor picture. We need to do something. Will
there be a change? I hope and pray, there is.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEven the attempt of "Outsourcing the PM" has failed miserably, as is evident from the history of the last decade. So its up to the common man now to stand up and improve the lot of politicians. As Mark twain said "Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason." It is just so, that in our situation, we have to create a much better brand!
ReplyDeleteWe desperately need leaders, but all we get is rulers. I wonder when this will change. But then we ourselves are to blame for electing these rulers and voting for such crooks.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/opinion/we-are-all-silvio.html
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think that our leaders are a reflection of us all.
It is true that instead of giving a politician the keys to your city, it might be better to change the locks. The promises made to the people are forgotten the minute they were uttered. The people need to snatch the power back and regain their democracy. Eternal vigilance is the price that we pay for liberty.
ReplyDeleteShruti, fantastic comment. Rapidex?
DeleteThe past always seems rosier than the present … my youth was better than my life now … my childhood was better than my youth then… Indira Gandhi was better than Sonia , Rahul etc etc .. Nehru was better than Indira Gandhi and so we believe … Its good to point out the bad points of the present system ..becuase that is the only way we shall improve .. India and the world of today is a much better place than it was in 1950s and 1960s .. Each time period has its pros and cons and it must have .. We need to constantly improve and better ourselves .. and we are .. That is the law of nature and thats how we evolve…
ReplyDeleteNobel Laureate Amartya Sen discerned in his book "Argumentative Indian" about the favourite past- time of mainstream Indians, whether at home, work or sipping coffee in India Coffee House which, was to argue and criticize their government, the political parties and its leaders, and the officials. This peculiar interaction perhaps keeps the Indians and the nation united.
ReplyDeleteVery few do something on a personal level to make a change. The majority either vote for and elect the same old or alike bas***ds they had been criticizing or abstain from exercising their hard won right to vote and boot the corrupt and ineffective leaders out. Well, as Monica Bhatia rightly said in her comment above that "our leaders are a reflection of us all." Electorates get what they deserve. So why bitch after the fact.
Gupta uncle ji is a learned person, a law practitioner for half a century who held eminent high legal ranks in his life. He understands the nature of ugly business and malpractices in our country better than many of us. What amused me though how he finished his blog: “Alas! All this presents a poor picture. We need to do something. Will there be a change? I hope and pray, there is."
From my experience I know that very few things change in a real World by just “hoping and praying”. Only actions beget reactions and changes. I expected uncle ji, as an elder and a person of wisdom and logic, to advise us what kinds of actions were essential to bring about positive changes. Otherwise the blogs are just composing words.
There are many overlooked Sardar Patel jis around us. All one has to do is to recognise and elect them all as leaders. The only downside I see is that the life thereafter might become boring without arguing and criticising the government and the ruling party - the most favourite Indian trait.
Salam and Jai Hind