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.