Now, the desperate responses begin. When the so called 'leadership' of our country should be coming together to protect that which makes this nation unique, we see them turn and bite each other and everyone around them like rabid dogs.
First let us take the item that is in the news now - the Kerala CM, VS Achuthanandan, peeved at the pain of a father whose son gave up his life for the country, coming out with
excreable comments on the family. And, the 'protector of the masses' refusing to withdraw his comments or to apologise.
The next is the utterance of MA Naqvi, the 'Muslim face' of the BJP, blowing hot and cold at '
some women wearing lipstick and powder' reviling the politicians. That shows both the attitude of the politician trying to wiggle his way out of the situation and the basic male chauvinism of the party.
Then there are Praful Patel, Vilasrao Deshmukh, RR Patil, Shivraj Patil... So many of these 'leaders' trying to keep their cushy chairs intact.
Like I said in a
previous post, we lack true leadership, and we are in no mind to find real leaders. We need to understand
our own nationality and to see if we can go beyond the pettiness of regionalism and language and religion, to find it. Of course, from
comments I see in my latest post, I do not have hope for the last.
So, let us see, hypothetically, what we need in a leader in these difficult times.
He/she has to be:
1) Independent of any regional or group affiliations
2) Below the age 60, such that they are not living lives of our grandfathers, but have the vision and aspirations of Indians who live in a post-colonial India
3) Able to see the common good, irrespective of any other consideration, especially 'vote-banks'
4) Able to inspire confidence, both in the country and also abroad, as being a dependable, trustworthy representative of India
Of course, these are but speculations of a tired mind. We will never get such a one. And we ourselves are to blame for that.
We let the groups of vested personal interests, who call themselves 'political parties' to be taken over by insufferable megalomaniacs. We refused to leave our coccoons of individual concerns to try and lead at least our own communities. We smirked as we saw corruption and bribes take over our societies - so much so that we take it as part of normal life in India.
What is the solution? I do not know. But, I will say this, we need to turn to these 'party animals' (in all senses of the phrase) and say to their face, "J'accuse"...