| It has been some time now since the column "It doesn't matter" was introduced. Prior to this were various other headings: e.g. Looking for Logic, Calling the Bluff, Beyond Logic, etc. The titles were meant to capture the uniqueness of Indian thinking. For some thirty years, I have resisted the temptation to state that India is unique, and have always objected when others have described it as such. My reason "" after all, there are more than six billion people in the world and to the best of any Indian's knowledge, the same red blood flows through all of them. How can we be different? We are not. Except in one important respect. Ideas and opinions in India have little respect; we get away with much loose thinking both in an absolute sense, and especially in a relative sense "" though our brothers and sisters across our borders are ever willing to give us company. It could be our feudal background, something that is consistent with the arrogance of our intellectual elite. Hence the start of a new series of columns "" it is to call the bluff of those whose arguments are not logically based! |
| It is not just in logic that we stretch the limit "" in practice also. Just recently, a major public announcement was made by a leading member of the Communist party. As introduction to the news story, it was mentioned that the Politburo member's speech was made at the 90th anniversary of the October Revolution, which was really in November. (Again, the uniqueness of India "" where else do people have Politburos or have show-off pictures of Stalin on their desk?) Even geriatrics don't celebrate their 90th birthday; they wait for their 100th, at least, and even then are not willing to be reminded that they are so old-fashioned. But 90th? |
| The Communist parties of India have done everything in their considerable overweight power to derail the nuclear deal between India and America. If the deal does not go through, then the only countries which benefit are the two countries which India has had wars with "" China and Pakistan. Does it make sense then to applaud the Communists for their free thinking views? Only in unique India. |
| But the Communist parties are not alone. I was in Gujarat just before the elections and attended what has got to be the most bizarre political rally, ever. (At least in my view, and I have attended several of them.) The Congress party, already on its back foot because of its several self-goals, had sent Ms's Margaret Alva and Renuka Chowdhury to speak in Gujarat at a rally before Ms Sonia Gandhi's arrival. Everybody, including Chief Minister Modi's most ardent opponents, has grudgingly acknowledged that in terms of delivering social and economic services to the people (electricity, water, schooling, roads) the Gujarat government has truly delivered, something no other state government has done (including BJP governments since 1990). And that this delivery has been far, far better than the best of the "politically correct in the name of the poor" non-delivery of the Communist and/or Congress-ruled governments. In this environment, the Congress leader Ms Alva stated in her Gujarat speech: "Oh, Mr Modi is claiming that he has brought you electricity and water. But you, the people, know better "" for you know that the foundation for all of these good services was actually made by the Congress thirty years ago. And therefore I am confident you will vote for the Congress". |
| Along the same arrogantly irrational line has been the claim made by the Congress party henchmen (the Maut ka Saudagar advisers?) that Ms Sonia Gandhi is the major asset for the party, and but for whom, the Congress will lose the vote. She has now been the leader of the party for the decade; and she has yet to receive more seats for the party than either Mr Rao achieved in 1996 (140 out of 545 or 26% of the seats) or Mr Kesri/Ms Gandhi achieved in 1998 (140), or Ms Gandhi achieved in 2004 (143 seats). Yes, that is correct "" the Congress has been brazen enough to claim people voted for "them" on the basis of a 25% vote and seat share. |
| In 1999, the Congress party, under Ms Gandhi's leadership, achieved the lowest ever seats, 116. And since their mandate in 2004, with Ms Gandhi and young Rahul Gandhi at the helm, the Congress has lost election in every state except tiny Goa. Our brethren across the border are the same "" at least in their thinking. With a 19-year-old as leader, the Pakistan people's Party must truly think that the people of Pakistan are worse than mules "" they would vote for anything with a Bhutto name. And these very same feudal monarchs want to be elected in the name and cause of democracy. Maybe, for once, Pakistan will take the lead in rejecting these beyond arrogant dynasties. One can only hope against the sub-continent's unique genes. But for the moment one cannot bet. |
| The author is Chairman and Managing partner, Oxus Investments, a New Delhi based asset management company. |
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