Indians and India deserve a better set of leaders

As I was going through my Twitter feed, I came across Derek O'Brien tweeting a link to a public debate on Times Now.The issue up for discussion was that of Leadership. Now knowing that Arnab Goswami was chairing the debate, I decided to sit and view the debate in its entirety - I surely wanted to see what the nation wanted to know today! And then the plot also had Avishek Manu Singhvi (Congress), Gaurav Bhatia (SP), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) and Derek O'Brien (TMC) - going by the number of words spoken every minute by each of the names - this should be fun, I thought.

But what I saw and more importantly heard left me quite sad. What became clear was that this wasn't going to be like a debate that we know in the literal sense. Throughout the debate, participants kept shouting at each other, and the host kept shouting at the participants - this surely wasn't the way to hold a national debate. The spokesperson from the top two parties just had one agenda it seems - out shout the other. But each one of the panelist did a wonderful job on walking the plank for their parties respectively, however absurd or impractical the logic may be. And even better job of not listening to what the other had to say. I would not recommend that you see the video in full, the first 10 minutes should be fair test of your patience!

But the deeper question never got answered - what should be the qualities a leader should have? More importantly what should be a leader of the country like India be like? Well since the 4 people on the panel hardly answered that, I looked around to form a hypothetical figure of what that person may look like. I must admit looking at the present bunch of heads in the political horizon, there are very few who would fit the bill. And to that, the ones who do, possibly wont have the numbers to back them up. But should we just settle for less- No!I think this country deserves better. I would hope we get a leader who is accountable, responsible, and takes ownership for everything happening under his/her watch. I don't want my leader to tell me he/she is above board but they cant take responsibility for any of their team. Well I don't think they have ever heard about the leader being as good or bad as his team. I want my leader to lead by example. I want my leader to be able to appreciate good work that someone else might have done from another party. I want my leader to be able to take ownership for shortcomings - learn from them for the future.

I would want that the leader we have, is informed and not afraid to talk and make his points heard. I hope the leader is one who has a track record of project ideation and execution at scale - be it in any field - corporate or otherwise. I don't want only symbolical gestures from my leader - wearing a skull cap or otherwise means very little. I want a leader who isn't afraid to communicate to the masses, who believes in transparency. I want a leader who is well versed in political stagecraft - because you need to drive consensus across party lines on matters of national importance. I also want a leader who also is the undisputed leader for his political party - we have seen an experiment over the past ten years and have a fair understanding of the challenges of that not being the case. I want a leader who isn't afraid to drive electoral reforms and judicial reforms. I want a leader who is committed to provide a fiscal budget that doesn't run into the negative. Somewhere the idea being conveyed to the country has always been that fiscal deficit is something that cant be avoided in a country like ours - I differ. With prudent accounting, plugging of leakages in the system, I am sure we can look at a self sustaining budget. I want a leader who can drive India's interest in global halls. I want an leader who can understand the possibility of using technology & money to improve 3 basic sectors - Agriculture, Education, and Heathcare.

And these are just some of the things that I would have on the wishlist - there can be hundred more. But then it also dawns on me that this indeed is quite a lot to ask from a person. But if you are the leader for a country of 1.2 billion, you need to be special. I hope society through its checks and balances help foster such leaders. I would not even go to the extent of measuring the two people mostly being touted as the next possible PM - both measure far less on that scale. We deserve a better set of leaders.

Admit it. We all are racist. Yes. And only we can change ourselves.

Are we racist by nature? Are we inherently racist? Each one of us.

This question has been in my mind ever since the news of Nido Taniam's death broke out on national television. Richard Loitam, Reigamphy, Bony Jajo - some more names - youngsters who should have been between us, pursuing their profession/education. Yet they are no more. Would I go to the extent of calling each of these as "racial crimes"? May be, may not be - there is a judicial process underway and I hope that answers this question than us jumping up and down on social media. Civil society rightly has joined the discussion. Politicians have as well - yesterday it was Narendra Modi, today it was Rahul Gandhi, and tomorrow it will be Arvind. If they are genuinely concerned, I would be happy, but this being a election year, I look at them with suspicion. Well I look at them with suspicion at the best of times.

But what I am sure is we (all of us - whether from north, south, east, west or north east ) are inherently racist in our outlook. Racism what does the word mean? A quick search brought up  - " the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races." And trust me Racism will mean the same in any language of the world.

Let me ask you this. How many time while looking for a place to rent a place, have you been asked if you are vegetarian or non vegetarian. How many times have you been asked your marital status? How many times have you been mocked at if you look/dress a bit different than the environment you are in. In North India, I have been told everyone from South is called "Madrasi" which I think is a bit over rated. But what is closer to the truth is that everyone thinks Dosa and Idly are the only food that people eat, and that every thing is cooked in coconut oil. Similarly if you know Hindi, you are North Indian down south. Ever seen how auto drivers change their body language in Chennai/Bangalore the moment they realize that you don't speak the native language of the land. When MNS threatens migrant workers, it also a form of racism. When people from north east are called "chinki" or "nepali"- its just an extension of this. The list could go on but I think you get the drift. There is inherent racism in this country. So lets stop acting as things are perfect.

Somewhere in between all this the concept "one country" vaporizes. Being an Indian, I should be allowed to travel the length and breadth of this country, live anywhere I feel like, work any where I want, dress as I want to. I am part of the idea of one country that India is, and so no one should ask me to change even if I don't fit into the social environment of that place. We all - anyone holding an Indian passport - are Indians first. We need to open our minds - expand our horizons - education can be contributing factor but only to an extent. Beyond that we need to be more accepting, just how we accept the different weathers in the year. But the idea of India has to be paramount. This is as much Irshad's country, as it is Samir's, as it John's, as it is Manjunath's. India is as much a country of the Meitei, as it is of the Kashmiri pandits, as it is of the Buddhists and as it is of anyone - any religion, caste or creed. Racism is prevalent and we all have seen its ugly head come up - in different shape, or size. 

But how do we lead this change? It requires a cultural change and maybe a systemic one as well. We need to learn more about each other - understand each other's history, understand cultural differences, food habits and appreciate it as well. NCERT text books have little history covered for the North Eastern states I am told. There has been a sustained campaign to have it added. It needs development - when people from the rest of the country can travel to the north east states to study/work. When Loktak lake should be as easily identified as would a Dal Lake be. When having Obattu for me would be same as having Bamboo shoot dish for my friend Vinay. But that is just a starting point. We need to do a lot more. We need to be aware of the subtle racist undertones that have become a part of the social fabric of civil society. The entire social fabric has to be repaired. But by whom? By our politicians? No. By the government? No. By you and me. We have to step up and say no. Every time. For any form of racism that we see. If you see your friends at it as well, correct them. To correct this malice needs courage of the highest order - the courage to stop the wrong when we see it. Saying no to racism in a candle light vigil isn't enough - we need to do more. All of us, because this has to stop. Because if not, this will keep coming back and crashing into the idea we all cherish, the idea of one country, one India. 

This needs a change in our mentality - for some it would easier, for some it would be really hard. But we need to try. Because another Lido, Richard, Reigamphy, Bony should never happen - at any cost.

The word of 2014 - " Women empowerment, system, yada, yada"

The leader who isn't ready yet

So if "Selfie" was the word of 2013, hardly a month into 2014, we may have already found the word for the year, or should i say words for the year. And in no particular order of importance, they are "Women empowerment", "System" and a few more.

 Rahul Gandhi's interview with Arnab Goswami was always going to be in the headlines - for it was the first formal interview that RG gave in his 10 years as a member of parliament (press conferences not withstanding). And then Arnab being Arnab, needs no introduction. There were rumors that RG had been provided the questions in advance, which did a figment of imagination going by how prepared (or unprepared) RG came across as. Another interesting rumor was that RG had been prepped for the interview by two well known PR firms - if this is the quality of their work, the less said the better. Congress has so far miscalculated the play on a few occasions - and this in hindsight wasn't too different. Here was a chance for the heir apparent to come out and stamp his mark in the mind of the countrymen - but, unfortunately what came across was someone who just didnt seem ready to take the lead for his party, forget the country. He came across as someone still caught in the maze - confused may be a closer word. He actually ended up making Arnab look good!  Harsha Bhogle, the famous cricket commentator summed this performance in his tweet.

there are questions on this rahul gandhi interview and there are answers but i am searching for a connection.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 27, 2014

Though RG needs to be commended for somethings as well - he atleast sat through the questions,though may have repeated his go to phrase in places where it made absolutely no sense, but he sat through. Also he has made some significant changes in the NSUI constitution, making it more of an elected body than nominated. Also maybe his intention are good (i will believe so, if Narendra Modi can talk about secularism), but he has an uphill climb when it comes to becoming a visionary leader or even a leader that i would expect to bring in change. He often has waited far too long to take a stand - something i would expect from someone who is confidant in his beliefs. He speaks in general terms the moment the question is directed at his partymen on corruption - so even if your claim to stake is providing the RTI - you cannot run away from the CWG, 2G,Coal scam etc. Talking about changing the system, bringing equality is great - but did he forget that in the past 60 odd years, Congress has ruled the country for more than 80% time and if things are where they are - a big portion of that blame must lie on his party itself. And the comparison between the 1984 and 2002 riots - he did seem to have put himself in a tight corner. Just as how everyone believes Narendra Modi could have done a lot more to prevent the barbaric killings in Gujrat, so could Congress have done to stop the racial killings of 1984 after Indra Gandhi's murder.

A leader needs to see the bigger picture, needs to be brave enough to admit mistakes, and strong enough to learn from the mistake and move on. A leader shouldn't need a script writer to tell when what his response should be to matters of national importance. A leader should know when to believe in words and when to look beyond it. Manishankar Aiyar on Vikram Chanda's Big Fight show felt that when he saw RG speak at the AICC meet, being an atheist, he still thought he was seeing a reincarnation of Rajiv Gandhi - flattery of the biggest kind or the stupidest thing you have ever heard? RG unfortunately is surrounded by group of such people - and they will do more harm to him than any favors. RG needs to come out on his own - use the support base that he definitely enjoys within his party partly because of his name, and partly because there is a leadership paralysis in the Congress. I think RG's time will come, but not in 2014. He has to walk the talk - he cant say he is against corruption and then go ahead and form a poll alliance with RJD and Laloo Prasad Yadav and say that the alliance is with the party and not the individual. People will see through such statement. So learn to take it on the chin, you will be better off with the experience.

Why Aam Aadmi Party needs to be careful. Especially now.

So Aam Aadmi Party did something which stumped a lot of seasoned political analysts. Suddenly they were the toast of not only Delhi but the entire country. People especially youngsters saw them as a refreshing change - bold enough to dream, crazy to actually make the dream a reality. For the first time, one could be part of a political revolution. There were minimum barriers of entry - something which is a major constraint for large national parties like Congress, BJP etc. For some, AAP brought back the romanticism into politics - suddenly being in politics wasn't sneered upon. A lot of things AAP did was a change, and a welcome one at that - it had detailed manifestos for each ward - detailing the issues at the ground level. For once each rupee being managed had a source - if you wanted to donate to them you needed to furnish your personal details. It gave chance to people much like you and I to contest elections and help be a change agent. It promised to look into two long standing grievances of the people on the streets - water, and electricity. It promised clean and effective governance, it promised quick solutions. it promised people that their representatives will be available to them everyday and not just after 5 years at the time of seeking re election. It promised an end to the babu raj - no more having to give way to a cavalcade of cars because some VVIP was travelling. 

The results of the Delhi polls put AAP among the high sea and the deep canyon. If they didn't form the government, they would be hounded by other parties for not taking the lead. If they tried forming the party with the outside support of either Congress/BJP, the parties in the opposition would bay for their blood. And they did. Even the SMS and the muhallah sabah campaign that AAP took before deciding to form the government was ridiculed - questions were asked if they would solve every problem by a show of hands. But they decided to take the bold step and form the government. As a outsider, I wished that even if Congress was only going to provide support on a case to case basis, AAP and Arvind would be able to show everyone that they can also execute their plans. And hopefully should the people of Delhi have to vote again, they will do so based on that show.

But AAP and Team Arvind have to be careful. Public trust is something that is with them - but its also something that can go away as quickly as it gets built. Already they seem to be too keen to err on the side of rhetoric. AAP stood for austerity - and what does the new CM do - goes and take two 5 room bunglows. When asked about this sudden opulence, the CM replied that his is a humble abode compared to Sheila Dixit's official residence. The next day Arvind did a perfect turn around - and put it as something the govt had allocated to him. Doesn't realize that he is the government himself now.

AAP also needs to move beyond the symbolism and the rhetoric. Its time to tome down the rhetoric and get down to work. One of my personal favorite is how Arvind keeps saying - "Main kaun hoon?" Somebody remind him that he is now the CM of Delhi and has a job and a half at hand. Everyone seems to be keen to give a byte to the news person - and that is a big risk. Someone as experienced as Prashant Bhushan just created a situation that could have been avoided - I only shudder at more inexperienced people like the Rakhi Birla's of the world.  

Also AAP needs to understand that not all decisions have to be done at the rate of running a 100 mt race. Some can be a longer version as well. We have a sound legislative process and that shouldn't be overlooked. Muhalla Sabahs are great to understand the sentiments of the people but the problems need to be discussed in the assembly and the best possible solution be acted upon. 

In between all of this, AAP suddenly decided to contest on 300 seats. This to me could have been avoided. In my humble opinion, they should have shown what they are capable of in Delhi and then looked at spreading their wings. They could have taken their time to set up the ground machinery across the country. AAP also has to be careful in this national endeavor - they at this point in time don't have a leader beyond Arvind and to an extent Yogendra Yadav. 

AAP has done a lot of things right, but suddenly seems to be taking some steps which could quickly alienate them from everyone. So hope AAP is careful - hope they think over their actions and their words. Especially now more than ever.