Analysis

Voices of Individuals...

The BJP is proudly portraying Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister of the country. But isn't this a classical example of putting the cart before the horse? Fair enough, you can project him as the hero of the country with his winning streaks and an unflappable temperament, even as the likes of a Teesta Setwalwad are indefatigibly waging a relentless battle against his misdeeds. But who cares, single handed warriors are always some sort of an anathema in India, to the polity more often dubbed as pseudo secularists, whatever that might mean.

Politics in India has now reached the level of choosing between the lesser evils. And who this will be, can only be seen in the Parliamentary elections of 2014.

However the point of debate is whether the BJP will win the next elections. Secondly leaders like L.K. Advani seem to be cleverly ousted. It is this one manship that the party may pay for. Have they forgotten the contributions of people like A.B. Vajpayee, L.K. Advani or even a Murli Manohar Joshi? Now when the chief whip of the party lauds Narendra Modi and only Narendra Modi, is he forgetting the historical past of the party?

It is such historical nuances, especially in the country's contexts that the party has always forgotten, especially in its efforts to rewrite the history of the country! And now it is applying blinkers to its own past! Moreover it cannot bask in the complacency of winning the next elections, and taking this as a granted assumption. The Indian electorate is not only intelligent, but it can also take many adaptive measures. It is not only secular and tolerant, but it is realistic, and does not forget historical processes, it is not benighted regarding certain facts.

In the BJP conclave recently held, it seemed it was more of an occasion to highlight and lionize Narendra Modi. This is a dangerous trend for a party, for no party can rest on the laurels of a particular individual. Even when Jyoti Basu was at the height of his power in West Bengal, however insuperable he was, did they forget say a person like Pramode Dasgputa?

In this way the party leadership may chagrin not only the leadership within, but also the vast population of the country who are secular minded, and want a free and fair leadership. There is no need to put irritants in the way of people, who may not consider Modi the paragon of political virtue - and there maybe quite a lot of them!

Politics in India has now reached the level of choosing between the lesser evils. And who this will be, can only be seen in the Parliamentary elections of 2014. And it is then when the voices of lone individuals, even lonely ones like a Teesta Setalwad, a Mallika Sarabhai, an Arundhati Roy, or even a Binayak Sen will be felt palpably! The glory of the country is in such voices of intrepid individuals which have shaped its polity and society!

03-Mar-2013

More by :  Ananya S Guha

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