The public image of the honorable Dr. Manmohan Singh (hereafter referred to as MMS) has taken a lot of beating in the past year. It particularly reminds me of a beautiful book by Ayn Rand, "We the Living". I use the term beautiful in the literal sense here. You have to read it to appreciate it. (Spoiler Alert)To sum the book without disclosing much of the plot, The person who seems to be the Hero at the start, becomes the Villain in the end and the person who seems to be the Villain at the start, becomes the Hero in the end. This transition is so subtle and brilliant in the book that you wouldn't see the carpet being pulled under your legs. Seriously, if you love a good read, you gotta read "We the Living".
Now coming back to MMS, If you take the case of his public image, you too would draw a parallel with "We the Living". Once hailed as the Prodigal Son, he is now called the lame duck Prime Minister.
Click here to read the entry in Wikipedia about how the public's perception has varied from UPA1 (First Term) and UPA2 (Second Term). Ofcourse, Wikipedia should never be cited as an authoritative source, but being the lazy person i am, i think Wikipedia would do just fine for our purpose. :)
However, you also got to appreciate MMS's intellect. He has held various posts in his time as a bureaucrat and also as a politician. That definitely speaks volumes of his intellect and integrity. Mind you, it is no easy task to hold these various positions and that too not having a surname that opens door (read nepotism). Considering the outcomes of various policies of the government, it would be apparent to even a laymen to ask MMS the following questions.
1. How would a politician appoint a CAG who rocks their own boat?
2. Why wasn't the first Anna Hazare episode handled like how Indra Gandhi would have done in her times? or at least like it was handled the past month? Instead, why was Anna treated like a VIP and all his whims entertained ?
3. How would a politician bring about the RTI Act without knowing about its implications?
and there are many more questions. But to answer these questions i am going to take some poetic license.
We can approach the above questions in many angles. But taking into account his vast experience, i would go with the "MMS is a genius" angle.
I personally feel that though MMS is a politician now, he is a bureaucrat at heart. Hence the usual logic (how to stay in power?) a politician uses to act in his public life would not apply to him. We all know that he doesn't enjoy complete freedom as a Prime Minister. It was and is always subject to the reins of the Nehru-Gandhi family. So in whatever possible sphere he retained power, he did good. It seems as though MMS wanted to do something good in such a way that it shouldn't look like he has betrayed the political class. You know, one shouldn't bite the hand that feeds.
With this in our mind, when we answer the above question it makes sense.
1. He appointed a CAG who would follow the job description in letter and spirit.
2. He gave Anna political space since he respected Anna for his principles against corruption as any decent man would do.
3. RTI was allowed to be passed BECAUSE of its implications.
Seemed as though he pulled the wool over the establishment's eyes before it was too late.
But, before anything further could be done, the political class has woken up to the voter's discontent against politicians at large. Now they are alert and i am sure any further attempt to implicate themselves further would be halted(read lokpal..etc). In the process of doing something, he is being crucified. Well that is understandable, in a group, the weakest are the ones usually sacrificed. And in the political class as a group, he is the least political.
I do not know about his economic policies, whether liberalization is good for India or not. I honestly do not know. But i do know that however saintly the captain of a Pirate ship is, he can do only so much against the scallywag crew.
But then again, my assumption could be wrong. MMS might not be the genius we assumed. Either way only he knows the truth...
Now coming back to MMS, If you take the case of his public image, you too would draw a parallel with "We the Living". Once hailed as the Prodigal Son, he is now called the lame duck Prime Minister.
Click here to read the entry in Wikipedia about how the public's perception has varied from UPA1 (First Term) and UPA2 (Second Term). Ofcourse, Wikipedia should never be cited as an authoritative source, but being the lazy person i am, i think Wikipedia would do just fine for our purpose. :)
However, you also got to appreciate MMS's intellect. He has held various posts in his time as a bureaucrat and also as a politician. That definitely speaks volumes of his intellect and integrity. Mind you, it is no easy task to hold these various positions and that too not having a surname that opens door (read nepotism). Considering the outcomes of various policies of the government, it would be apparent to even a laymen to ask MMS the following questions.
1. How would a politician appoint a CAG who rocks their own boat?
2. Why wasn't the first Anna Hazare episode handled like how Indra Gandhi would have done in her times? or at least like it was handled the past month? Instead, why was Anna treated like a VIP and all his whims entertained ?
3. How would a politician bring about the RTI Act without knowing about its implications?
and there are many more questions. But to answer these questions i am going to take some poetic license.
We can approach the above questions in many angles. But taking into account his vast experience, i would go with the "MMS is a genius" angle.
I personally feel that though MMS is a politician now, he is a bureaucrat at heart. Hence the usual logic (how to stay in power?) a politician uses to act in his public life would not apply to him. We all know that he doesn't enjoy complete freedom as a Prime Minister. It was and is always subject to the reins of the Nehru-Gandhi family. So in whatever possible sphere he retained power, he did good. It seems as though MMS wanted to do something good in such a way that it shouldn't look like he has betrayed the political class. You know, one shouldn't bite the hand that feeds.
With this in our mind, when we answer the above question it makes sense.
1. He appointed a CAG who would follow the job description in letter and spirit.
2. He gave Anna political space since he respected Anna for his principles against corruption as any decent man would do.
3. RTI was allowed to be passed BECAUSE of its implications.
Seemed as though he pulled the wool over the establishment's eyes before it was too late.
But, before anything further could be done, the political class has woken up to the voter's discontent against politicians at large. Now they are alert and i am sure any further attempt to implicate themselves further would be halted(read lokpal..etc). In the process of doing something, he is being crucified. Well that is understandable, in a group, the weakest are the ones usually sacrificed. And in the political class as a group, he is the least political.
I do not know about his economic policies, whether liberalization is good for India or not. I honestly do not know. But i do know that however saintly the captain of a Pirate ship is, he can do only so much against the scallywag crew.
But then again, my assumption could be wrong. MMS might not be the genius we assumed. Either way only he knows the truth...
No comments:
Post a Comment