The nation cannot accept the BJP because its
inherent communal beliefs can lead to bloodletting. And the nation cannot throw
out the BJP because the nation needs an alternative to the Congress; and there
is no other party that is big enough to fill those shoes. BJP therefore
represents a party which the Indian can neither swallow nor spit out. If,
however, the AAP stands up to its destiny India can release the BJP from its
misery.
The following ten points will bring to fore
the various ideas that are contained in this debate. Let’s see the points first
and the merits of the case will become readily apparent.
1) In
the last days of his life Gandhiji proposed, among other things, that the
Congress split into two formations, one under Nehru and the other under Sardar
Patel and fight elections against each other.
2) The
reason he said this was because:
a. if
in the future (it was 1940’s at that time) the congress failed to live up to the
high ideals of the freedom struggle then the citizens of India needed an
alternative
b. The
alternate ideologies that existed at that time were divisive. They did not have
the vision to take India forward as one nation of united people; all of them
propagated fragmented nationalism.
c.
Gandhiji wanted the
political atmosphere in the country to be free of chauvinism and fragmentation;
or in other words he wanted to avoid the poison of groupism based on cooked-up human
barriers
3) A
look at today’s situation proves that Gandhiji was again right—as he most often
was:
a. As
Gandhiji feared, the Congress has let values slip—a long way—and it has not
stood up credibly to the ideals of the freedom struggle.
b. There
is no alternative basic political ideology that unites Indians. None of them take
India forward as a homogenous unit; none of them treat Indians as one.
c.
The alternative that came
up in 1998 was created out of one of the divisive ideologies that existed in
Gandhiji’s times; besides using the divisive ideology to spread unrest in
society this alternate team too patronized a system that was not free from
corruption.
4) The
episodes of 1984 and 2002 demonstrate how the difference in founding ideology
matters to the nation. In 1984 when goons went on to the street their ideology screamed
at them to “Stop it”; in 3 days the mayhem stopped. Though of course, true to
the fall in values—of the Congress—those responsible have not been made to face
the law. In 2002 however the ideology itself said “continue”… and so the mayhem
went on for months together. This ideology is dangerous for the nation… This particular
ideology is essentially fascist in nature.
5) And
the most amazing thing is that though it claims to stand up for Hinduism it is
truly anti-Hindu. The tussle is between the Hindutwa of Godse and Hinduism of Gandhi. True that the charge on Congress
that it practices pseudo-secularism has some truth in it. But the pseudo-Hinduism of the right wing is
far worse. In the garb of ‘nationalism’ Godse acted like an insane man; this approach
is apparent even in today’s extreme right. The line that separates courage and
foolishness is very narrow; similarly the line that separates nationalism from fragmented
nationalism is also narrow. Godse’s was a fragmented nationalism.
6) Also
do not bother about those who would encourage Arjuna not to fight the Mahabharata
war but instead go to a forest and do penance. In today’s system there are no hereditary
kings… instead there are political parties and elections. The success of today’s
democracy requires that people must take up assignments in the political
hierarchy as part of their ‘duty/dharma’. AAP you must do your duty for the
nation. And when some people tell you that ‘you are in politics just for selfish
interests’, tell them in return that ‘all drivers learn driving only because
they want to put sudden break so that girls will come and fall on them’.
7) The
moment is opportune. The well-meaning voters of India are on the desperate
lookout for an alternative party to give direction to this nation. Those totally
unsatisfied with the Congress are even contemplating giving a divisive ideology
one more chance—this tells you how desperate they are.
8) AAP
you have it going your way since you stand up:
a. Against
corruption
b. Against
all kinds of divisions in society
9) Along
with the above two you must also ensure that you inherit the legacy of the Gandhian
struggle for freedom; for values, for the poor, for peace and prosperity.
10)
Set up systems; set up procedures; pursue the
alternate politics you have come to represent. There is enough grey matter in
India to guide you as you go along. If you can institutionalize your uniqueness
it holds great promise for the nation.
Nixon
Fernando: Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai nixfdo@gmail.com
