Mr. Sam Rajappa is one of India’s outstanding senior journalists. He recently wrote an article in The Statesman entitled “Leaderless Congress”.

He started off by recalling the sad confession at the end of his career by the late opposition stalwart Madhu Limaye that there was no alternative emerging to the Congress which was why it needed to be strengthened. With his usual brilliance Mr. Rajappa analyzed the decline of the Congress through the years. Near the end of his article however he fell into the trap that bedevils India’s thinking class. He wrote:

“If the Congress could purge the dysfunctional satraps through internal elections and bring in a new crop of cadres dedicated to democratic principles as opposed to dynastic succession, it could still win a majority.”

In other words Mr. Rajappa hopes for a solution to emerge from the creators of a horrendous problem. This is much like Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Medha Patkar and other social activists who highlight problems and seek redress from those responsible for creating them. Do they expect a sudden change of heart in those who are the source of the rot as being the only solution? Alas! If Auntie had a moustache she would be Uncle! But that will never be.  

My grouse with social activists as with Mr. Rajappa is that at the heart of their thinking lies not realism but defeatism. Just because Madhu Limaye became a defeatist at the end of his career is no reason to follow him. Just because India’s opposition parties have also deteriorated in the shadow of the Congress is no reason to become defeatist. When a society is in the thrall of a crisis as severe as the one engulfing India, there is no alternative except to stage a cultural revolution.

As I have repeatedly pointed out, revolution can only come through outlining a simple and relevant agenda for reform, followed by a nationwide movement to propagate it, the creation of a new party comprising its followers, contesting the general election, winning power, and introducing the desired change through effective governance. Many of the existing participants stagnating in the current political paralysis could redeem themselves by joining and strengthening the process. But to do that they must first realize that this is the only way. There are no shortcuts to reform India.

Doubtless intellectuals, activists and politicians would consider this solution impractical. I would request them to appraise the current reality to appreciate what they are dealing with. Forget the dismal record of the last few years. Consider the day’s news.

Yesterday, Thursday June 7, 2012, a fire broke out at two rooms of the Finance Ministry's North Block office at 3.45 am. Six fire brigades and electricians were rushed to the spot at 5.45 am,(exact time gap = 2 hours) following which the flames were put out. However by the time fire brigades reached, room number 14 and 15 had been gutted. Many, many crucial files could not be saved from destruction.

The reason for the fire of course is still not known. This should be considered in light of the background. The Finance Minister’s offices had been bugged earlier. After discovering the bugging, private investigators were hired to probe it.  Official police agencies under the Home Minister were bypassed. There was a trust deficit within the cabinet. The results of that private investigation were never made public. In the same manner the full list of the files allegedly destroyed and the subjects they dealt with will never be revealed. 

This is just one piece of the day’s news. There is another item. A TV channel has just  tracked down the main lynchpin of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda who was involved in the Rs 4000 crore mining scam. Koda’s key aide was found to be in a remote Indonesian town. He is Anil Bastawade. The CBI claimed it could not track him. Another aide of Bastawade, one Ashish Tuli, has revealed that Bastawade had been doing business with top Indian firms. The Enforcement Directorate has swung into action to probe the affair. The Ministry of External Affairs likewise is pursuing the matter in Indonesia. The Home Ministry remains red faced and tongue tied. Without taking away any credit from resourceful media, it may be safely assumed that the leak of this stunning exposure came from elements within the establishment.

One asks: Are we dealing with a cabinet or with rival gangs locked in fierce infighting? Can one place the slightest hope on this body of politicians to suddenly reform their conduct and the institution which they serve? All thinking politicians, intellectuals, social activists and citizens should reflect and decide whether there is any alternative to undertaking the long hard task of creating a genuine new alternative.