Monday, May 4, 2009

Dynasties... Nasty for Indian Politics??

The recent election campaign was a major cacophony against dynasty rule. Political parties wanted to leverage on the fact that one major party has a dynasty which makes the decision for the country. I am no great supporter of Gandhi family apart from admiration of the charm. But when I started thinking I saw a different angle.
Why Rahul Gandhi announced his entry to politics was puzzling to me. He was one guy who was away from the hustle bustle of Indian politcs happily spending his days with a Slovakian girl friend. In politics the Gandhi family always had a curse (reminds of Hound of Baskerville??). Indira Gandhi has been under threat from Sikhs long before she was assassinated. Same is the case with Rajiv Gandhi. Even after three murder attempts he never gave up politics until dead. Till this day there is a constant threat from Sikhs and LTTEs to the Gandhi family, then why should Rahul Gandhi enter Indian Politics? He needs no money, his ancestors gave him much. He needs no name, his family name is enough. He needs no power, he already excercises even from a foreign country. I just feel he is attending a call of duty for the Gandhi family. People respect this tradition specially the rural vote bank. But the urban vote bank (read as the neo-mindsets) scorn at this idea brushing off the idea as a rustic, illogical and outlandish. Let me take up a counter argument against each of this:
World wide, India is not the only country which votes for a dynasty. There are more than 35 countries in this world which have set dynastic rule. In fact even developed nations like UK, Australia, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Canada have head of the state as a hereditary position. In fact a referendum in Canada, Australia has shown the popular opinion in favour of dynastic head. Even in US, Kennedy's kith and kin are still governors of states only because of JFK's charm. So this is no rustic idea but an idea which even modern economies practice to date.
In one poll-opinion gathering, people of Rajasthan were asked why they always voted the Scindia Scions (remember Vasundhara Raje is from BJP which strongly opposed the dynasty rule!! ) into power. The rustic vote bank has given a deep cut argument. They said that they have enough money to live for generations. There is no chance that they can be corrupt unlike a new, small time, politician. Now this is what is logic!!
Even this day, where corporates thrive on the principle of professional management, we still have Tata, Ambanis, Birlas ruling corporate kingdoms as dynasty's. Even on global front we have Mittals, Trumps, Hiltons. Why only businesses even movie world is dominated by this. (Hollywood, Bollywood, Kollywood and Tollywood). So do you still think this idea is outlandish?

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