Stop laughing at Mayawati or Ramdev
Let's not laugh at Mayawati's money garland or Ramdev's political
steps — they are far more serious than many of our other illustrious
leaders' exploits. The joke, as I see it, is on the Indian
thought-aping intelligentsia, the Indian digital-haves Twitterati, and
the Indian power incumbents.
I too see Mayawati's garland of Rs 1,000 notes a symbolism of crudity
that in this day and age has no place. But so does the ostentatious
consumption of the rich and famous — the $60 million (Rs 270 crore)
wedding of a billionaire that I find repugnant; the multi-crore car
statements that are as permanent as invisible ink to my sensibilities;
or even the fleet of 100 and counting cars that cart such statements
to my politician school friend's wedding. What makes it worse is that
she's playing with public money.
Sitting from the air-conditioned comfort of easy access, it is easy
for us to dismiss Mayawati's garlands as notes from a planet that
imploded a few decades ago. But for a large part of India, Mayawati's
and BSP's brand of politics is a symbol of daring the status quo,
carrying centuries of subjugation, a manipulation of history to suit
the incumbents of that age. It is, inversely, about dignity, equality.
Mayawati, by the way, doesn't care two notes for what we think. So, as
the media, the commentators, the other political parties engage in a
vitriol of condemnation, she goes on — brash, loud, unrelenting. She
is powered by those who vote for her, not us. Her identity politics
will mellow down once her constituents get what they think is a fair
share of power and wealth. Until then, it's going to be what Pratap
Bhanu Mehta, in one of the most brilliant analysis of the Women's Bill
I've read, terms Quotocracy.
I disagree with her. I won't vote for her. But I will definitely not
follow the herd to condemn her, just yet. I am not going to judge her
by what she demonstrates. That is mere positioning, an evocative,
rebellious political stance. My analysis of Mayawati will be based on
her work — and that's something I'm watching closely.
Over to Ramdev.
The intelligentsia laughed at him for the sincerity with which he has
brought health — in its most basic form, free of treadmills and other
gadgets or air-conditioned gymnasiums — to the forefront of Indians,
in the Indian way. Using the medium of TV to communicate with the
people at large and spreading the message of good health (no colas,
for instance, something that both Coke and Pepsi are pledging not to
sell in schools), Ramdev has earned a following that the media, the
academics or the power elite cannot even begin to fathom. Singed by
his sincerity, even Brinda Karat had to step back.
In modest drawing rooms of the middle class, Ramdev and his formulae
of health are the subjects of discussion over dinner. Look anywhere —
in schools, in railway stations, and now even in airports; in
hospitals, offices, parks; cities or villages — and everyone knows
Ramdev. He is debated, respected, followed. Even loved.
That's more than enough to begin nation building the way he sees it.
Many of the ideas he is pushing for through his party Bharat Swabhian
Andolan — corruption-free India, welfare of farmers, bringing back the
black money slashed in Swiss Banks, prosperity to the 840 million poor
of India — is something I identify and agree with. You would too. Any
sane person, any patriot would.
There remains the question of execution. But like Sonia Gandhi, he
does not seek power for himself, but is on the lookout for 543 leaders
who will fight elections and deliver his vision. "We need 543 good
individuals in Parliament," he told Vandita Mishra of The Indian
Express. "But I already have 10,000 office bearers in my organisation
who have no question mark against their character."
His ideas of governing India are mixed and I agree with some, disagree
with others (reduction of junk food, for instance) — not unlike my
views on goals of other parties. Depending upon his final manifesto
and the team he chooses, I might actually vote for him.
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