Sonam Angmo
From the title itself, the identity clearly emerges. Rahul Gandhi is an interesting study in the field of politics. What has so far been fed to the masses is a concocted potion that lies at the essence of politics.
Gandhi is privy to a rich and powerful legacy. His great grandfather being the country’s first prime minister, his great great grandfather, one of the pioneers of the nation’s oldest party. His grandmother, the first ever female prime minister who came to be regarded by supporters and critics alike for her fierce bravery. His father, another prime minister who became noted for his unconventional political temper. Gandhi, though, is presently most related in public memory to his mother who still commands the age old party spirit. There is no doubt, therefore, that Rahul Gandhi has immense pressure on his shoulders, to be able to live up to his family’s distinguished political image. To recount a few more, Feroze Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s husband , and a congress leader of his time, Rahul Gandhi’s own uncle who was known for his strict measures and who sowed the seeds of youth congress politics, his aunt who minces no words and is one of the few who embodies excellent erudition. To emphasize it again, Rahul Gandhi has a lot to live up to.
To examine his first foray into politics seems like the perfect success story in the making, the young scion becoming the torchbearer of India’s first family’s legacy. The first four years, media and the masses alike fell in love with this fellow, some admiring his sacrifice of a private sanctuary to embracing the much glamourised and murky waters of Indian politics. Some held him to be the protégé in the making to become India’s next prime minister in the years to come. The banner “Rahul ji youth icon of the country” continued for some time, till Congress geared up for the next general elections and won by a smaller margin than the previous general elections. The disclosure of rampant corruption of goliath proportions across the length and breadth of the country swung the earlier public adoration of the congress and Rahul Gandhi to public indignation and fury. The chanting of the rise of a young, well meaning, ambitious political protégé metamorphosed gradually into a whole new parody game that holds ground even today, the ultimate blow being delivered during the last general election. Rahul Gandhi today, is mostly considered as a fellow not suited to be in politics and invites ridiculing statements irrespective of class, age or gender.
Since ages the mob has been getting joy and pleasure at seeing a person specially if he/she belongs to a higher station to be mocked and ridiculed, whatever it takes. The public at the gladiatorial fights do not care who is fighting whom but expects good entertainment at all costs. The senate, meanwhile, shares a snigger and the public claps, laughter echoing across the arena. To be a gladiator takes great courage and strength, the public enjoys the spectator’s veiled security but the gladiator has no choice but to fight and fight till the very end. Each job comes with its own share of operatives, politics is no different. A fair deal remains an ideal. Gandhi has a lot to do. First and foremost, he needs to address the immense corruption breeding within almost all avenues of India’s work chain. He needs to do more than just tokenistic press meets to attend towards this menace that is turning India into a hollow vessel. In an exclusive television interview, Rahul Gandhi talked about the need to change the system and to usher in an ideology and environment of equality and accountability. Gandhi should stand true to this vision. He underlines that his philosophy is “to live and let live”. He often has spoken about the need to have a tolerant and diverse dialogue between the policy makers and the citizens of the country. To mark his trajectory during the past one year, he has tried to fulfil his duties as a leader of the opposition party. He has given strong views on the GST bill, the land bill and off late the OROP issue. The success of the self help group (NGO) for women started by him in his own constituency, Amethi in UP, is note worthy. Known as Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana (RGMVP), this organisation over the years, has provided financial, social and political and personal empowerment and independence to the rural women in the country. It has grown up to become the largest group of its kind in India providing assistance to 1.5 million women across India. This grassroots achievement is one of his few successes.
Rahul Gandhi differs from other politicians. His sensitivity sets him apart. His role in the success of RGMVP self help group organisation can manifest in other aspects as well where he seems to have failed completely. His broad agenda, he says, is to change the political system and to focus on inclusive growth and progress. His view of changing the system involves the incorporation of a broad technique. In this regard, he asserts that India is a complex and multifarious nation, hence each region’s problems is unique which requires deep understanding of its complex issues and offer sustained and unbiased solutions.
