this is a fairly long piece .......
............following up Nizhal Yoddha’s link to Kanchan Gupta’s blog. The article by Anil Chawla is readable –as is this rather long, but interesting piece by Rajinder Puri
the problem is much deeper though. I think these guys are suffering from the lack of a true intellectual tradition about three things
1- the nature of state and society in india
2- statecraft – defined as means vs. ends i.e. how to use what you have to get what you want
3- power – what to do with it and how to keep it (like the kkkangress does or the Marxists in Bengal)
If you look closely at the NDA government, you will realise that the best ministers are the ones to come from outside the Sangh-Parivar traditions (Arun Shourie, Jaswant Singh, B C Khanduri in that order; yes I have omitted George Fernandes from the list). These are folks who followed their own intellectual or moral pathways – instead of being parivar automatons
The parivar folks have a simple shakha-drill mindset. They do not focus enough on developing and transmitting ideas and ideology (even though they profess to). Advani exemplifies this ideological timidity. His only goal in life has been to simply be accepted into the charmed circle of the ‘secularists’. He has looked at them for approval – for stamping and certifying his every move. S Kulkarni’s unwarranted promotion is the result of this mindset.
What is needed? they have to start being the ideation engine in India to guide their technocrats - but given that the great unwashed do not vote for ideas anyways – you need a popular leader to get the votes – and then hand it over to the technocrats to get the job done. This is what the astute Narasimha Rao appeared to do – it is really what Vajpayee did. the most hand-off-to-technocrats approach in his ministry was external affairs (read Talbot’s book on how Jaswant started with a track-2 channel and took over the ministry) and disinvestment (remember the Maruti offer?). The most parivar minded-ministries were home (Advani) and HRD (MM Joshi) - and look where that got you. No police reform, no strong arming of terrorists (only tall talk), no crushing of Naxal violence, no liberalisation of higher education. The last by the way, is the prize that Kapil Sibal will likely claim. But it’s not like our team did not get a chance.
Lest I am misunderstood – I am a committed and political Hindu. I am just not convinced that the Parivar-wallahs are the best bet to take on the challenge. they are at best a good army to fight during elections
So there is a need for collating ideas. The BJP would do well to network with the mushrooming think tanks. There is also a need to nurture truly popular vote catchers that the masses adore. There is only one of those in the BJP right now
6 comments:
Let me add Jagmohan, Yashwant Sinha to your list.
As politicians, the Sangh folks are stuck. MM Joshi was such a disappointment.
San once suggested that multiple Hindu parties can do better than one. No harm in trying it now.
Don't Modi, Sushma and Yedurappa have a RSS background?
From what I heard Bangaluru Shakas have internet Kiosks.
Rajinder Puri spoke about the old guard, I did not hear much about new generation. I fear more for the Nation under Congress than under BJP.
Malavika
Ghost Writer I don’t agree with you on this one ma(i)te!!!
BJP’s and India’s only hope Shri Narendra Bhai is a RSS ideologue and currently he is the best administrator in India and we all know how the industry leaders came out supporting his candidacy for PM. So your argument does not hold water.
I give you that Arun Shourie and Khanduri were good ministers but Jaswant Singh? Really? You can’t be serious. Have you forgotten his sojourn to Afghanistan? There may be all kinds of explanations but at the end of the day it was an embarrassment to India in general and BJP in particular. And if you see his interview after Pokhran II oh my god it was so pathetic and dull it will put you to sleep in no time.
Regarding MM Joshi he did try few things like kicking out all the Marxists but at the end of the day it was not enough. But at least he was not as bad as Jaswant.
I agree with you that RSS and BJP has a lot of introspection to do. But sweeping entire RSS as incompetent is not the right way to start the rebuilding process.
My two cents worth of advice.
To BJP – stop being apologetic about being a pro Hindu party. When I watch Ravi Shaker Parsad, Javedkar and other clowns on ELM news channels bending over backwards to prove their secular credentials it pisses me off. They should use every opportunity they get to tell the viewers that what passes off as secularism in India is really euphemism for anti-Hindu and BJP will not follow it. They should repeat it over and over again… may be even billion times if that is what it takes to make ignorant Hindu masses understand the dire situation Hindus are facing in India.
Most importantly make Narendra Bhai as BJP president and announce him as the next PM candidate NOW and line up behind him. At least try once whether an unapologetically pro Hindu leader can steer the party to victory. Anyways what do you have to loose? If he can’t deliver you can go back to your old ways of trying to be CONgress II, right?
To RSS – modernize or perish. Their ideology is noble but in these times how you present yourself has as much effect as what you say. So start with changing your ridiculous uniform.
siva,
I commend your passion - but you will find my analysis is not wrong. Do reflect on the following:
1- I agree Modi is our only hope - the last line of the blog message points to that direction
2- The RSS is a good organisation and well oiled machine. However, I maintain - it has never made the Nehruvian establishment bend on anything. I think the RSS is idealistic and service oriented - but as Dr. Srirang Godbole once wrote; the idealists sometimes find their life's work was fo rnothing, because the ideological and intellectual piece is neglected
3- Jaswant Singh was one of the better mnisters - I know the Kandahar capitulation looked bad. Reality is that onc the plane left Amritsar (which was not Jaswant's fault), we did not have much of a choice. Jaswant S is a bit of an elite ass and mumbles meaningless, nebulous jibberish as times. However, he did negotiate a difficult transition after the nuke explosion well. If nothing else he stood up to Talbot and that execrable Madeline Albright - for which feat alone he deserves a medal.
3- I don't know about Yedyurappa but sushma S does not have a core RSS upbringing. in fact she was once with Haryana Lok Dal and the husband is a Vajpayee hating socialist. she is not core pracharak
I shall write another blog post about this soon
Some comments on the article, and also some of the above postings:
1.Modi is a good man for PM, whether RSS or not is immaterial.
2. You can't blame Jaswant for the Kandahar fiasco. That plane should never have taken off from Amritsar. This failure puts it right into the Home Minister's (LK Advani's) basket.
3. Yes, too many (but not all) RSS types do have a cramped world-view, in a mental strait jacket. A geriatric leadership may be the cause; can't say for certain though.
4. Arun Shourie is intelligent, does his homework well, anticipates the adversary's moves and is fearless. I'd put my last dollar on him for Home Minister. OK, OK, he isn't the vote catching type. So? Mr Smirk Sibal isn't either; and HE is a minister again, supercilious smirk and all.
/** BJP’s and India’s only hope Shri Narendra Bhai is a RSS ideologue and currently he is the best administrator in India and we all know how the industry leaders came out supporting his candidacy for PM. So your argument does not hold water.
**/
Its really disgusting to see such blind defending of RSS..
Narendra modi is an exception to the RSS's inability, incompetence and lack of worldview..
Everyone knew, how the whole sangh parivar like VHP, etc, worked against him in the last gujarat elections..
Now they shamelessly claim, that Modi is their person..
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