Should the code of politics always be written in the language of money, with the seats into the Parliament almost always paid for? Parliament tickets are not movie tickets that can be paid for after all. Should an aspiring politician always be coerced into checking his/her pockets before aiming to serve this great country and her people?
A politician is essentially a social worker with relevant competencies who pledges to serve the people and country. Why is one expected to have sacks of money as a qualification criterion to serve people? Isn’t the effort, competency, tenacity, and sincere intent for public welfare good enough? We have legitimized the creation of sub-par leaders who go-on to create a sub-par country, year after year. We then don’t fall short of blaming every policy from monetary to taxes to education to pretty much every-thing else. What else were we expecting when we ‘sincerely’ conform to this norm and effectively play the victim card?
A Start after a closure-less End?
Tamil Nadu has always produced not just powerful personalities but charismatic ones. Though everything from intent to policy is questionable the results of TN politics and govt. can never be overlooked. The Late J Jayalalitha for instance, was an intellectual, a scholar as much as a stalwart politician, she was inarguably a potential Prime Ministerial candidate had she chosen to go in that direction. Tamil Nadu for India has set many examples, right from the political narratives, the development-oriented policies, the literacy rate, the empowered women, science, research, innovation from medicine to space, infrastructure in roads, bridges or ports, the people, cultural value, literature, pride of the age-old language, splendid temple architecture to the best part- the food.
Is Tamil Nadu setting yet another example with a personality who is challenging the status-quo of the country’s very character of politics and ambition.
Tamil-Nadu’s BJP President Annamalai has in the recent past, time and again been in the news for his supposed “aggressive politics” and his position on ‘self-identity’. He refuses to mirror the freebie pattern of politics set by the DMK or AIADMK, parties that have ruled Tamil Nadu for decades. He seems to aim for a straight sixer in the first ball. While in a way this is new to the political climate of representative democracy such as India where you as an aspiring politician are expected to be a “yes boss” person to the Party you belong to whether you like it or not, whether it is in your core principle to adapt to that character or not. In this political ecosystem run by puppets whose strings are pulled by big guns, is Annamalai, a former IPS officer, popularly referred to as ‘Singham’ doing the right thing? As the famous saying goes, “A man of Truth must also be a man of care”. Whether Annamalai fits in the bill of ‘Truth’ we are yet to see if and when he comes to power. But if he really is a ‘Man of Truth’ and missed out on the ‘Care’ part then it is indeed going to be sad and disappointing to watch not just for Annamalai but thousands of ‘us’- the new generation of the sorted and gutsy who aspire to be a part of ‘clean and honest’ politics. Well, to even use the words clean, honest and politics together feels amusing. Such is the state of politics not just of this country but of the world. Especially the world today that is underperforming with all kinds of sub-standard policies concerning economy, climate, or society, all of which tie themselves up with self-centered politics.
Are Annamalai’s statements rightly timed at a politically volatile time leading to Lok Sabha elections 2024? Or will his rhetoric lead to a drastic optics mismatch backfiring right at his face?
TN political landscape is like a land owned by you with your sole proprietorship over the land. This proprietorship over Tamil Nadu has been ‘generously’ shared by the ‘Dravidian siblings’ DMK and AIADMK who keep quarreling but never have let a third-party between them, until Annamalai. He seems to have sufficient arrows in his quiver, such as his career and history, the work of his Party, and more so his gutsy oratory skills that has the content, enough to reach the entire spectrum of people from intellectuals to the general masses. This gives him an edge over his contemporaries such as Seeman, seemingly another mass political leader. Having served as an honest IPS officer (going by the records), he came into politics in 2020. Ever since he has displayed a fairly original style of communicating with the public, with his peers or his superiors. Dravidian political scene which seemed like cult politics so far poses to be dented with Annamalai’s approach. The depth and direction of this dent would be intriguing to watch and internalize.
Is this Scope for a New India?
Is Annamalai mirroring a scope of a new India? Should this be a time for a reality check, a litmus test of how India is functioning as a republic, as a democracy, as the fastest growing economy, as a brimming young country and as a country watched by the entire globe? Is it time that we empathize with a personality like Annamalai? Or do we give up with the usual sentiment that Annamalai is yet another person who will lose to the powerful tide because, “Honesty in Politics is like fire in water”.
Being branded as an aggressive politician in the negative light makes us think. Should a firebrand like Annamalai not be used for the better for the society, isn’t aggression for the right things the need of this hour? Since when did we start seeing aggression in this bad a light?
‘Necessity is the mother of invention’, aggression is pretty much what got us where we are today, as we claim ourselves an advanced civilization due to aggression in science, in technology, independence movements and social activism. From aggression for the society to our families- as mothers even the supposedly “uneducated” ones against all odds, abusive husbands and regressive ideologies fight fiercely to protect the futures of their children single-handedly. From Kannagi of the Silapadigaram, to Rana Pratap Singh who could never defeat Akbar, to Bose who fought for India’s independence to Savithri who got her husband back from Yama- the God of Death to activists and leaders who fought against racism, slavery, women’s oppression, suffrage across the globe. These were all acts of aggression, fierce battles for justice, equity, rights, and equality. What justice are we doing for our civilizational history and its leaders if we are not able to collectively change the status-quo of today or at the least be supportive of the change that we have wanted all this time for India’s socio-political landscape. The right kind of Leadership for India is the need of the hour especially at a time when we are set to perform on the world stage, when the entire globe is watching India either with pride or with envy.
Politics is dirty. Politics is for the sinners or criminals. Politics is for people who can change colors like chameleons. Politics is for the uneducated and atrocious. This has been the narrative that has defined politics so far, this is what Indian parents teach their children. Unless there is a conscious effort to change this narrative which will not change with gyaan but with practicality and experience speaking for itself in the way we conduct politics on the ground. We need fresh faces coupled with seasoned leaders of-course who have the tenacity to ride in the ‘clean and honest’ bandwagon. It is high time for merit, conscious decisions, rational procedures, justice, and equality to take the forefront which will in itself act as metrics to India’s growth and India’s brand value on the world stage. Time to teach our children the value of hard work, of struggle, of faith, of honesty, of justice, and of identity. What is the point of a human life when one has to constantly decide between morality and success, between individuality and victory? If every step of the way we compromise on the very principles that we should live by then isn’t it time that we give ourselves a hard reality check?
“Miles to go before I sleep”- Robert Frost
We have a long way to go as a country of half-baked and unfulfilled ambitions still living for the validation of neighbor Sharmji and his beta. How painful or painless we want to make this road is completely up to us. The natural state of human birth is to seek the Truth and strive for Liberation. From the knowledge we acquire to our thoughts and actions should be towards that ideally and practically. Going by these standards, our fundamentals remain un-anchored with misplaced priorities because of which we remain fundamentally unhappy (at least according to the world indicators) even as a nation. We need to go beyond roti, kapda, makaan and livelihoods as a country to even be able to achieve our material goals and goals beyond the material ones. And to go beyond that we need competent leaders to drive the country. If we are consistently kept on the needle end for every-day human needs, we will never be able to cross the road as individuals and as a country.
“The most Powerful Leadership is Self-less”
The world has seen great political and social leaders and so has Bharat, like Dr.APJ Kalam, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kamaraj, Subash Chandra Bose, Lal Bahadur Shastri and many more who never made it to the limelight, who made pivotal changes to the status-quo. But today’s leadership seems more jaded, with even some admirable leaders who shy away from calling ‘a spade a spade’. At a juncture such as this, can Annamalai end up being the manifestation of the fire in a lot of us who wish for different India, and many of us in the battle of changing the status-quo?
More than spending on Ram Mandir, preaching and fighting over Ram’s greatness the real and relevant point here is to understand and if possible, imbibe His qualities as he led an exemplary life alongside equally great Devi Sita. Adaptation of their sacrificial and self-less leadership and qualities according to the present-day context is probably what they would like as torchbearers to Dharma if they lived in flesh and blood today. This is the whole essence of Ramayana for mankind, to learn and adapt to real leadership such as Lord Rama’s and Devi Sita’s. Why not think of the Modern Day Ram Rajya, what would it look like? Compassion? Self-less leadership? Respect for fellow humans, even animals? Empowered people in every form and function? We can go on defining modern day Ram-Rajya, but living up-to it takes guts, individual and collective guts.
How about some day we being able to not just tell our daughters but believe in the fact that they can one day be the Prime-Minister of India and at the same time lead with their values and principles intact. This is the true success of India and her Democracy.
Shakespeare said,” Ambition is made of Sterner Stuff”. Should we consciously support a ‘pivot’ that can decide this country’s future through torchbearers like Annamalai? Can one Annamalai redefine “Ambition”, our country’s, and ours.
Every idea seems madness until someone volunteers to implement it. It’s time for some confident and conscious leadership. A start can go a long way.
No part of this article directly or indirectly attributes the supposed great-ness of one character called Annamalai in the political ecosystem. But every part of this article is a humble nudge to give “the benefit of the doubt” to someone who could possibly pave the way for a much-needed change.
P.S The author of this article is not a supporter or any party, particularly any person or leader. She is not part of any Party though she was earlier a part of the Congress Party, in District Leadership.