Rahul has something to prove

After dismal failures on many a front, Rahul is still lucky in a way. The current ruling dispensation is somehow capable of giving rise to trepidation among various sections of people. He can rally like-minded parties. But, the question is whether he has any will, let alone ability, to rise to occasion

King James Bible: Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

This not so young scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Rahul Gandhi, is bracing himself to become what he is born to be and for the cause he came into the world – to become the President of the Congress Party.

Rahul is inheriting a colossus of a party which has grassroots level presence throughout the country. He, soon, will be leading a party that is slightly directionless and rudderless despite his mother leading it all these years.

It still remains the same old party as far as minority appeasement is concerned and in fact worse. Its leaders like Digvijay Singh have a great potential in pitting the party against the people with their wise observations.

He should also know that not all seniors would be willing to lend a helping hand during a crisis as Rahul is not in the habit of listening to saner voices. He himself is not known to possess any great skill or acumen and never comes out, in his public appearances, as a well-read man.

The impression gained so far by the political observers is that he is neither a good learner nor a good listener. He is also not known for his organisational skills like his mother. He is still not trusted either by the Opposition or a section of Congress leadership.

The defeat in the hands of Narendra Modi-led BJP and allies was a natural corollary as the Congress-led UPA was in power for two terms and had accumulated enough filthy reputation as it could and hence, it had to go.

Reviving a dumped party is easier if the ruling party does its bit in the effort. Here is where Rahul is lucky in a way. The current ruling dispensation is somehow capable of giving rise to trepidation among various sections of people. If one section is fraught with apprehension, yet another dreads what is in store for them. If there is anxiety in some, some others are nervous.

There is by and large a palpable tension in the society. Whenever we hear the "Mann ki Baat' there is a calming effect, no doubt. But, in no time, it gives way to perturbation and discomfort. The renewed efforts at bringing in uniformity in the society are severely testing people's patience.

The cultural practices, the eating habits and the living norms are being questioned by the powers-that-be often. The chivalry of the ruling party gives scope for misinterpretation of its moves. Liberal thought is under attack and freedom of expression too.

If the Hindu society has accepted and integrated within it other cultures and religions so effortlessly and has allowed these to flourish in the country over centuries, it is because of the strong roots of Hinduism and its evolved spiritualism. It never felt threatened over the influence of other religions on it and celebrated its way of life.

But, now a section of the ruling dispensation is now so worried that it wants to set matters right according to its vision. And this process is bound to fan anti-BJP feelings across the country. No one is saying that people in general are fed up with the ruling party. But, yes, some sections are.

Some of these have voted for the BJP too and also welcomed Modi's efforts to make India strong. Modi is wooing all and sundry around the borders and is said to be doing a great job. If the BJP or Modi believes that India could be a strong country, then it is an imperative that the slogan ' Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas' has to be implemented in letter and spirit.

It would be wrong to remain supremely confident that the Opposition would never make it. A trickle would one day become a flood. Bureaucracy is like your rib cage. When you crack a rib sometime, you feel the pain every time you breathe deeply. Every time you turn your body you will be reminded that a tiny portion of your body is involved in the process, namely your damned rib which is broken.

The present crop of bureaucrats are like this busted rib. Everywhere you turn they are there to inflict pain and remind you that life can be indeed painful. However well-meaning the orders of the government may be or its intentions, a loyal bureaucrat could make life hell for the people in his over enthusiasm to please his masters. These are giving a plenty of opportunities now-a-days for the Opposition to regroup in most of the BJP-ruled States.

This is where Rahul Gandhi has an opportunity to prove himself and his leadership if he sincerely attempts to. To begin with he should also know whether he needs to go it alone or with other parties in everything he does.

A very senior JD (U) functionary here summed up Rahul the other day thus: "Soniaji is different. We respect her a lot and she knows how to handle us. This guy, Rahul, is too brash. Secondly, he does not seem to have the tendency to stand alone to anything. He needs company.

That suits us fine. After all, he is trying to play along with us. That keeps our backyard safe. Under his leadership, the Congress will not have the tendency to grow on its own and will be too dependent on regional parties. It only means playing a second fiddle."

Even if it is only half the truth, the Congress should sit up and take serious note of it. But what is the Congress? With Sonia Gandhi, one could never say Sonia is Congress and Congress is Sonia even though the party remained a family entity.

The advent of Rahul will change this. It is going to be "Rahul is Congress and Congress is Rahul" as he has little patience for others' views. The party should know better whether it needs to revive first all by itself to become the only alternative or be a part of the crowd. A 'Maha Gath Bandhan" also invariably knits all anti-gath bandhan forces.

Secondly, Rahul is not in the habit of pursuing issues to the logical end after having embarked on championing those causes. It is always a bits and pieces act and he never has a complete script. He seems to be good at hopping on to a bike and rushing to a troubled spot defying prohibitory orders – mostly pillion riding here too – only to move over to a new opportunity elsewhere.

This lack of seriousness in him should be real bother for the party. He himself never airs his party's stand or view. That is for the party spokespersons to do. And that is because he is not well-versed with any subject. Have we ever heard him speak on the farm crisis?

Has he read Swaminathan Committee recommendations, say for example? No one knows. Even a commoner discusses beef, Kashmir and cricket with ease. What does Rahul discuss and with whom?

Information about oneself is very nearly the hardest to get and many require the sufferings of Oedipus and a lifetime to achieve because the maps that we draw about ourselves are not so easy to follow as those we have made up of the public highways!

Anyway it is Rahul's headache.