Bring on The Empty Horses

Farzana ji . . . no doubt you go slowly come back quickly when you take on Indian politics. But the fact remains that at least we have a choice, even though the moon is a ballon.

The real dhandaa continues in the background, and as far as I am concerned, I am grateful that regardless of the system in India, it is my system, and not one imposed on me by Colonel Bogey.

The author writes:

[......because in times of the rising GDP, the masses do not count. The great middle class space has been enlarged to include the solitaire society.....]

How so? During the elections, it is precisely the masses who count. How big is the middle class and how much bigger are the poor? And exactly how small are the rich and the super-rich? In terms of sheer numbers, it is the poor who determine the elections in India. If your thesis is true, we will not be holding elections in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand or Orissa.

If the poor don`t matter, we won`t have Leftists like the Congress, the Communists and the Socialists in various garbs running for and winning elections.

You may be frustrated that we have majority rule in India. Sorry, but that IS the definition of democracy: the majority rules. In India, that means the poor, not the middle class, not the rich. (It might also mean the dumb and not the intelligent, which probably frustrates you even more!) In fact, it is easier to get the poor to vote rather than the middle class because political parties offer the poor transportation to and from the polling booths and a whole lot of other incentives; as a perceptive person once put it to me, their Diwali rolls around once in five years.

If despite the uneven development and widespread poverty in India, the poor do not vote for the Leftists, maybe it is not because the filmstars work for one party or another. The poor do see through all the advertisements, all the feel-good factors, the `gharibi hatao` slogans and realize that the only thing that matters to the politicians is ``India is ....``. While politicians are probably better in the acting department, the filmstars at least bring glamor to the electoral platform: they are not constrained to wear white khadi clothes or the Nehru cap all the time!

The indian system of democracy,flawed though it may be is still the best system we have.It can be fine tuned and tweaked as the population desires but representation is a right of every citizen.You see the reason we`re known as the world`s largest democracy is self evident.Be ye clown or rocket scientist,rich or poor,educated or uneducated a citizen of India has a say in who will form the next government either at the center or the state.And the mightiest of politicians have to respect the verdict and step down from office if defeated.Yes there are guns and goondas, but only up to a point.That`s what makes us a free nation answerable to none,but ourselves.Considering the diversity of nations that make up the commonwealth of India we should be proud of the fact that we`re not only achieving a sense of unity in diversity but that we`re also thriving economically, culturally and scientifically.eg. bollywood, IT,manufacturing, pharmaceuticals ,education and educated manpower.

I like your riffing.regarding who stands who wins-at least there is a platform for people to stand and contest.as it is said,democracy is not perfect but it is the best of the existing options.every year the roots get a little deeper a little stronger.I am sorry to have seen 2 generations wasted in india when i compare india to s korea ,but some of the alternative paths we may have chosen would have left us worse than the erstwhile yugoslavia.

``Bring on the Empty Horses`` what does the expression mean. Someone please educate me.

When you are

1. standing in 40 degree C heat in the middle of rural/small town India, getting there at considerable expense to your creditors,

2. and the local party organisation is missing or apathic because you didnot do much for them in five years

3. or local party organisation is defunct because they shifted to the other party

4. and there is noone in sight that you can ask to vote you back into power, because in five years you didnot do much for them either

5. your job, your position in the party and privileges as a politician are in danger of sinking in bottomless pit of the ballot box..

At such a time, having a famous film star by your side is priceless.

#5 by Urstruly

Exactly my question too. What is an ``empty`` horse .... or a ``full`` horse???

it seems that veeresh in his response, as cryptic as it appeared knew exactly what farzana was referring to. to demystify the title. .`bring on the empty horses` is written by david niven (one of my favorite actors), and ferz and veeresh correct me if i`m wrong is part of a series of autobiographical accounts, and has insights about celebrities and life in hollywood.

and this might help put things in context some more:

``A story came to mind that seemed to illustrate vividly the essence of our position: Hollywood director Mike Curtiz, best-known for his film ``Charge of the Light Brigade``, spent an entire morning setting up a shot that would consume less than 30 seconds of screen time. The scene involved a herd of 100 riderless wild horses galloping across a plain toward the camera.

It took him half a day to prepare the shot because these were wild horses-riderless-each having its own notion of what to do. Some wanted to stroll over to the river for a drink, some wanted to trot around and see who else was in the herd, and sane wanted to run free and fast, albeit in several completely different directions. When Curtiz completed the camera set-up and got the horses settled down as best he could, he paused for a moment and then -instead of issuing the standard ``action`` command-shouted ``Bring on the Empty Horses!``

The ground shook for miles with the thundering hooves of those powerful animals, all moving together towards a shared destination. Well, we don`t have such a director; we don`t have anyone who can force us to run at the saw- speed at the same tin-e and in the same direction toward the same destination. . .``

remarks made by nancy elkington. .in connection with library preservation attempts. source:http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/abbey/an/an15/an15-3/an15-309.html

i meant the context of the title. .not of farzana`s article itself. . lest that be misunderstood.

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Dear Farzana:
I think that your prognosis is a little premature. We still do not know what effect these glamour toys will have on the results. As of now, it seems that the ruling combination was doing better before it enlisted these stars and starlets than it is now. People might go to see these celebs. but may not necessarily vote for them.
Re. Govinda, I can`t say much about him based on his half-a-film that I have seen. But based on his quotes in your articles, he comes across not as a buffoon but a pretty smart guy. And do you really not like Bachan or are just being an iconoclast?
And I wont be surprised if the BJP discovers, as Narsimha Rao did a decade ago, that those who benefited from their policies are less keen to exercise their franchise than those who have not.
BTW I think that Sonia Gandhi handled the campaign better than most people thought that she would. She may not win but I dont think that she will be humiliated.

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Could someone please explain this article to me in about 5 lines or less ? Not
being flippant here - I truly do not get it.

plats8:

i think what it means is that the masses are asses! no. . .that is not what it means. it means that what need have the candidates to buy/convince the voters to vote for them when bollywood shining stars will do the convincing for them.
not quite five lines but i don`t think i`ve done it justice : )

Farzana ji

Interesting article....You have dissected the personalities of Govinda and Amitabh very well. Esp Govinda. Although I won`t like to argue what these elections are or are not. Overall, I feel we Indians are lucky to have democracy in our country. Don`t you think so?

Achcha...please answer one question for me. It`s a request.

If you could move to another country(we don`t want to lose you but..nevermind)....If you had a chance/choice to spend the rest of your life elsewhere...where would you like to live, Farzana???? And why??
Europe, Iran, Spain, Pakistan, Iraq, China, USA, India, Australia....where?? Pls tell....I am waiting for your reply

Me

#14 by plats8 on May 10, 2004 6:06pm PT
”Could someone please explain this article to me in about 5 lines or less? Not
being flippant here - I truly do not get it.”


I don’t know much about Indian tracks. I love to play ponies. Riding ‘em is what I do best. Ahhhh!

“I had the stamina to sustain this impractical routine.” -Govida Quoted above.

He is a horse! A real McCoy!!! Wish I knew that stimulating routine.

Under five lines!

plats8 # 14 - let me try, with apologies to Farzana ji . . .

line 1:) Indian elections are the biggest festival going, free of charge, for a multi-cultural people sadly often berefit of much joy.

line 2:) They occur every five years or so, sometimes oftener, and are accompanied by great merriment as well as distribution of joy.

line 3:) There is a segment of society in India called ``intellectuals`` who have usually got no sense of humour but they have large egos and plenty of time to write.

line 4:) Many people in India like to appear on television, you can spot them in the frame behind the anchor or others, jostling, and elections give those who do not make it on a television a chance to do something like that in other media, but in any case nobody believes political discussion of any sort anymore anyway. (Sorry, lonnnnnnngish line)

line 5:) Janet Jackson`s wardrobe failure has not occured as yet, but we are getting there. (compensatory shot line)

+++

As my friend would say, OK?

The election results from Andhra should please Farzana. Her favorite demons in the BJP and their allies in Telugu Desam Party have been defeated in the state`s Legislative Assembly elections. The ``secularist`` Congress has come back to power promising free electricity to the farmers. How about promising free cooking gas -- after all, that is a requirement to keep body and soul together. How long will the state treasury last if elections are won by promising freebies?

Tell us Farzana, do you think the masses have won in Andhra? Do you think the Dumb have outvoted the Intelligent? Or do you think the film stars gave Congress its victory?

harimou:
...and how had the TD come to power in AP, if not by promising cheap rice and electricity? What goes around comes around?

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#19 by harimau on May 11, 2004 6:32am PT

`` Tell us Farzana, do you think the masses have won in Andhra? Do you think the Dumb have outvoted the Intelligent? Or do you think the film stars gave Congress its victory? ``

An old saying comes to my mind when I think of election results in Andhra.

`` VINAASHA KAALE VIPAREETHA BUDHI ``

People behave in an extreme manner during the time of their destruction. The people of Andhra decided that it is time for them to self-destruct. Thus they elect in to power a party that has NOT BROUGHT ANYTHING OF ANY VALUE in it`s previous gazillion years of power.

If I had the authority I would put gazillion nukes on Andhra and thus grant their wish. The people who do not have a wish to progress do not deserve to live.

When one is born with a mole, one lives with it, and if it is at the right place and is considered a standard of beauty and charm, then one basks in its glory...but I doubt if one needs to be grateful for it. Especially, if there is the constant fear of it transforming into a painful wart. This is how I see democracy. I am most certainly glad my country is a democracy, but I am not blind to the flaws in the system. (Besides, I absolutely refuse to see it in terms of how other societies are faring -- other societies are not my yardstick for what is my front and backyard.)

I am surprised at the naiveté of some people. Are you denying that celebrities have become a part of the fray in a more concentrated manner? That the middle-class swings the vote? When Nafisa Ali was campaigning in the outskirts of Kolkata, none of the poor recognised her...they thought she was Sonia Gandhi; she would be instantly recognised by the middle and upper classes.

The reason I compared Govinda and Bachchan is to show that there is a glaring disparity even in the levels of fame, and how we use only peripheral vision to see it.

- - -
#3 by harimau:

[During the elections, it is precisely the masses who count. How big is the middle class and how much bigger are the poor? And exactly how small are the rich and the super-rich? In terms of sheer numbers, it is the poor who determine the elections in India. If your thesis is true, we will not be holding elections in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand or Orissa.]

And you think the masses have a choice? I wasn`t talking about numbers, but about the new face of Indian politics, where a few matter...they always did, but now they are the sole determinants.

[If the poor don`t matter, we won`t have Leftists like the Congress, the Communists and the Socialists in various garbs running for and winning elections.]

You forgot the saree stampede caused by the BJP to appease the poor!

[You may be frustrated that we have majority rule in India. Sorry, but that IS the definition of democracy: the majority rules. In India, that means the poor, not the middle class, not the rich. (It might also mean the dumb and not the intelligent, which probably frustrates you even more!) In fact, it is easier to get the poor to vote rather than the middle class because political parties offer the poor transportation to and from the polling booths and a whole lot of other incentives; as a perceptive person once put it to me, their Diwali rolls around once in five years.]

Huh? The poor rule? And then you say the dumb...so the poor are dumb? They are helpless, not dumb. The other day your Sushma Swaraj was screaming at a public rally, asking the people, and she appeals to the middle class, about how they could think of voting for a woman (S.Gandhi) who does not know about Karva chauth (such a cheap dig, alluding that Rajiv died because his wife did not fast for his long life), who has not read Kabir`s dohas, not attended haasya kavi sammelans (this beats me...why not serious kavi sammelans?) and not laughed with them...how could they vote for such a woman? You think this is for the poor, the masses?

The poor may be taken in trucks...many of the starlets have been paid.

[While politicians are probably better in the acting department, the filmstars at least bring glamor to the electoral platform: they are not constrained to wear white khadi clothes or the Nehru cap all the time!]

Have you watched the society pages where they throw daiquiri-democracy parties, where the dress code is Swadeshi and tricolour? Have you not seen how khadi has been taken over and glamourised into designer wear? Remember the time when even Khadi Bhandar had roped in Jaya Bachchan and a social butterfly to make Khadi sexy? What happened after all that hype? The jholawallas had to take resort to cheaper synthetics and the socialites went chee-chee about it, wearing their crushed khaddars in Indo-West fusion styles.

dost-mittarji (#11):

I agree that we still do not know how the glamour factor will affect voting patterns on a larger scale, but they have seeped into our consciousness as the `voice of the people` which they never did earlier.

And I seriously do not like Mr. Bachchan. I have written several times about him. A small story, if it might be of any interest. I was once discussing him, post Bofors, with an editor. He got excited and asked me to do a story on my views; I researched it and gave my own take. It was published. Mr. B sent his PR guy to the office and tried to find out about me. The Ed said he did not know, except that I was a columnist and had written this for them as a one-off and he was not aware how it got in! Worse, the next issue had a laudatory cover story on the Bachchan. The same man who had banned the Press and when he needed them, he clicked a finger and they all ran...but this is by the way, FYI. I see such celebrity as having the potential to be misused (something he now claims) or doing damage.

Sonia Gandhi is, I believe, toying with the idea of projecting Manmohan Singh as the PM...it should have been done at the outset.

Regards,
F

#16 by m_souza:

[Achcha...please answer one question for me. It`s a request.

If you could move to another country(we don`t want to lose you but..nevermind)....If you had a chance/choice to spend the rest of your life elsewhere...where would you like to live, Farzana???? And why??
Europe, Iran, Spain, Pakistan, Iraq, China, USA, India, Australia....where?? Pls tell....I am waiting for your reply]

My normal reaction would have been `thwack`, but since you have requested and are visiting here after a while, I will tell you: India. I have given up on opportunities a few times, and a couple of them very recently, to relocate. I cannot imagine it. I love to travel and there are times I want to stay someplace...a country cottage, a Swiss chalet, even an igloo, or a house on stilts in Malaysia...I get comfortable, but then it is back to pining for home. I have lost out on a lot because of my `parochialism`, my `window in Bandra`, but this is how I feel.

If you are a religious person, then pray that I do not have to leave this country, even if the Dalai Lama offers me some time with Richard Gere :)

#21 by arjun_m:

[She`s attending some 5-star parties and going to some 5-star discotheques to find out...She`ll write about it over her 80Re cup of coffee in the sea lounge..nothing like a taj restaurant to write about the impact of everything on the masses..]

So next time you mention Michael Jackson and his deeds, am I to assume you have spent quality time at the Neverland ranch? I read about it. I am not out of touch, you are...because you know precious little about who I am, and yet sit in judgment. I wonder if it has not struck you as a bit silly to keep mentioning the Sea Lounge and the coffee -- it sounds churlish. And as I have asked several times before: is the person in the street below my tinted window necessarily more socially-aware than I am?

Had I never mentioned the Sea Lounge, would you think I am a true socialist? I am responding here because it is getting tiresome. If you have nothing to say, then don`t. You know, just an emoticon would be enough for me to get your darshan...

Ref FarzanaVersey #23

{[You may be frustrated that we have majority rule in India. Sorry, but that IS the definition of democracy: the majority rules. In India, that means the poor, not the middle class, not the rich. (It might also mean the dumb and not the intelligent, which probably frustrates you even more!) In fact, it is easier to get the poor to vote rather than the middle class because political parties offer the poor transportation to and from the polling booths and a whole lot of other incentives; as a perceptive person once put it to me, their Diwali rolls around once in five years.]

Huh? The poor rule? And then you say the dumb...so the poor are dumb? They are helpless, not dumb.}

As I re-read my post before I hit the `Post` button, I decided not to re-word it. There is no reason to assume that the poor I referred to and the dumb I referred to are one and the same. They might overlap but they are NOT the same. I meant simply that from one perspective, it is the poor who will dominate and determine the election. And from the elitist`s viewpoint (I have no hesitation in including myself in this category), it is the dumb who will determine the election! We must all accept the results of the election, no matter how much we dislike the outcome.

By the way, Roja the Telugu actress lost in Andhra running on the BJP ticket.

FV # 23

******************
The other day your Sushma Swaraj was screaming at a public rally, asking the people, and
she appeals to the middle class, about how they could think of voting for a woman (S.Gandhi) who does not know about Karva chauth (such a cheap dig, alluding that Rajiv died because his wife did not fast for his long life), who has not read Kabir`s dohas, not attended haasya kavi sammelans (this beats me...why not serious kavi sammelans?) and not laughed with them...how could they vote for such a woman? You think this is for the poor?

******************

1. what makes you conclude that the dig was made to allude to Rajiv Gandhi`s death? Is it just your presumption?

2. who had come to hear in the public rally? as far as i know, the elite dont bother to go to the rallies, it is mostly the poor.

3. Yes I think this was for the poor. Shushma Swaraj was trying to tell people that Sonia does not know anything about the life and culture of India. And this resonates mostly with the poor and also with the middle class.

Ankit #26,

``Shushma Swaraj was trying to tell people that Sonia does not know anything
about the life and culture of India``

I happen to know a lot of Indian women (born, bred and living there) who know
nothing about Karva Chauth, have not read Kabi`r dohas and definitely are not
into attending kavi sammelans. Should I assume that they are all less Indian
than Ms. Swaraj ?

“........ a while, I will tell you: India. I have given up on opportunities a few times, and a couple of them very recently, to relocate. I cannot imagine it. I love to travel and there are times I want to stay someplace...a country cottage, a Swiss chalet, even an igloo, or a house on stilts in Malaysia...I get comfortable, but then it is back to pining for home. I have lost out on a lot because of my `parochialism`, my `window in Bandra`, but this is how I feel.

If you are a religious person, then pray that I do not have to leave this country, even if the Dalai Lama offers me some time with Richard Gere :)”



Farzana....aapne hume khush kar dia. What ‘you feel’ is what all those Indians should feel who stand in the long ques waiting to settle down in any phoren country. If people go abroad for some time to earn money it’s one thing ....but some of these go to an extent of saying ‘Yahan (India) pe kya rakha hai’..

I will read your ‘parochialism’ as ‘patriotism’.....mind it?

Yes Farzana...we may like or dislike some aspects of our country but if we cling to it and forever want to be a part of good and bad of it....it is your love for your land

I will pray for you.... :)

Me

AWW!! It hurts!! I am yet to give Govinda a chance to prove and would not dismiss him offhand- he still can prove to be a hero no 1. I feel that AB has been long exposed- and it was for the fear of all the dirt getting inot the media that made him run away from the politics. His complicity as the brother of the money launderer for the Rajiv Gandhi and his Company is known to the investigative agencies and we know him now as the sidekick of Subrato Roy`s money laundering racket for the loots of Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh. Govinda cannot match AB in that type of operation- he is too much of a village simpleton for the cunning ways of AB.
I am sure Govinda would not hide behind the veil of sophistication that AB puts on before the public in order to conceal tha schemings going on at the back of his mind. And the fact is that AB has been treated very kindly despite all his misdeeds by the public and the government. His ABCL was about to be sold off to recover the Bank dues- and he got the reprieve through his connections. I am sure Govinda would not even know what money laundering means- it could be just another ``do-numberi dhanda`` which he would seriously avoid.......
And you can feel those cold vibes in that Simi Gerewal interview- with Jaya Bachhan looking at him accusingly throughout the interview-as if almost she was to going to shout to the audiences some grave truths about him. The cold silences and the dirty glances that were being exchnaged between the four members of the family was for all to see. And she kept quiet most of time- just muttering a few Ahs and Ahems....................

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gujjubania
Is SM Krishna in the Congress or not? Has Karnataka `destroyed` itself under him? If anything he took his cues from CBN. So it need not be as bad as you think.

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re: 30 by Gujjubania
You must remember that for most of the poor and middle class (and i exclude the tech-savvy from this list), high tech means nothing if it does not improve their daily lives. If Naidu, by his high tech, had improved the lives of farmers, he would have been relected. I heard the heart rending stories of many Andhra farmers committing suicide.
My brother bought my dad a computer when he went to India last year (my brother also lives in the US). My dad`s frequent complaint now-a-days is not related to computers but to the fact that water has become scarce in Madras and he is facing a lot of hardship in his old age. Imagine! Water is something we take for granted in USA but is being sold in open market in Madras. Do u think common man would vote for a party that brings in high tech to madras or to a party that can solve the water problem?
Naidu was in a different world. Hopefully, he has been brought down to ground zero. He is still young and should learn from his defeat.
Sridhar

Ferzana I actually did not know you were Indian. I have not read very many of your articles but will now do.

I don`t understand what the fuss is all about. If a movie star is enlisted to campaign for a party, what is wrong with it? After all, aren`t film personalities human beings with minds of their own? And even if they do it for the money, what`s wrong? It surely is not illegal, is it? After all, even the poor man who attends rallies at farawy places demands transport and food. This is a democracy, and people are free to express their choice, and what`s so wrong with a star campaigning for a candidate? People have the choice to either accept or reject a candidate, and no amount of charisma and star appeal can hold people in thrall for long. The ultimate test for any politician is to deliver, and if he/she doesn`t, the masses are smart enough to take care of that.

Coming to film stars in politics, tell me how many have made it big in politics? Except for a few like NTR in Andhra Pradesh and MGR and Jayalalitha in Tamil Nadu, hardly any. And even these leaders could survive only because they quickly adapted to their new profession, not because they oozed charisma.

I think mocking the system in India is easy, especially when you haven`t seen the retrogressive conditions that exist in some of our neighboring countries. One must remember that the democracy that we have in India, however flawed, is a gift that must be cherished forever.

Ref harish_hyd #35

[Coming to film stars in politics, tell me how many have made it big in politics? Except for a few like NTR in Andhra Pradesh and MGR and Jayalalitha in Tamil Nadu, hardly any. And even these leaders could survive only because they quickly adapted to their new profession, not because they oozed charisma.]

While decrying the influence of film stars on Indian politics, nobody in India has anything to say about Ronald Reagan or Arnold Schwarzenegger. And the Far Right in the US keeps cribbing about Jane (``Hanoi Jane``) Fonda, Barbra Streisand, and the general support Democrats receive from Hollywood.

Look at it this way: Bollywood is merely imitating Hollywood. We continue to make 1930s musicals though that genre has gone out of fashion in Hollywood. We now elect film stars to political office a la Hollywood.

Bollywood seems to follow my philosophy: if it is worth doing, it is worth doing to excess!

Ref rsridhar #32

[Water is something we take for granted in USA but is being sold in open market in Madras. Do u think common man would vote for a party that brings in high tech to madras or to a party that can solve the water problem?]

No party will solve the water problem in Chennai for the simple reason it is not in their interests. The guys who run the tankers bringing water from the outlying areas are making a killing and cutting in the politicians on the profits. When that lout Jeppiar (this is the Christian ``gentleman`` I referred to in another one of my posts who runs several engineering colleges around Chennai) was made chairman of Metrowater, he encouraged the tanker trucks and cashed in. With several thousand tankers bringing in water today, we are talking about literally crores of rupees a day. Why would anyone want to stop this low-tech economic activity that employs so many people and provides a useful service while also giving a cut to the politicians? What use would a piped water system that delivers free water to the public be? It only sucks up capital investments and delivers no cash outflows. (By the way, the courts have ruled that a homeowner must pay both the water and the sewage tax to the municipal corporation even if one could prove that no water was delivered to the house... which is rather easy to prove. The street we live on has been cut off from the municipal water system for a couple of years now.)

The only reason they are laying that 200-mile pipeline to Veeranam lake is so that Jayalalitha can prove that at least she made an effort while Doctor Artist Leader the Fund of Compassion used the same project 20 years ago to collect bribes and never completed the project. Should by any chance Chennai gets more water because of the Veeranam pipeline, then she hopes to defeat DMK in its core constituency of Chennai Metro.

So it is a political calculation. It has nothing to do with doing anything for the benefit of the people.

plats8

if you are going word by word, it wont help. maybe shushma was saying those particular things because people of that region identify with karva chauth and kabir ke dohe.

in guntur she might have talked about ganesh chaturthy and sambhar, or maybe in burdawan about illis machh, lucchi and rabindra sangeet.

Ref ankit #36

[....maybe shushma was saying those particular things because people of that region identify with karva chauth and kabir ke dohe.

in guntur she might have talked about ganesh chaturthy and sambhar, or maybe in burdawan about illis machh, lucchi and rabindra sangeet.]

Well, talk about Ganesh Chaturthy may not have worked in Guntur either.

After all, the Chief Minister-elect of Andhra Pradesh is -- Pakistanis, please sit down and have your blood pressure medication handy -- of the Christian persuasion. Will someone google and let us know exactly what minuscule proportion of Andhra`s population is Christian? I have this weird feeling that it is less than Andhra`s Muslim population.

http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/07ysr.htm

The more I look at things, the more I tend agree that Jinnah was right: Muslims and Hindus could never live in one nation.

For the simple reason that there is a difference between whiners and winners.

A democracy gives its citizens the right to question and discuss itself.That is one of the reasons why it is a democracy.There is no need to be touchy about that.Now, to the point of celebrities endorsing politics.This seems to happen in USA too. Schwaggerneger is governor and both the Bush and Kerry campaigns are nothing short of theatrical. Many of the Hollywood actors have some sort of political allegiance and work for fund raising,or contribute.
About 6-7 years ago, when I was in college,some of my friends were student leaders, who went on to play some kind of role in local politics.I remember, one of them said to me-``If a leader comes to your constituency and he does not see crowds, you are never going to get the party ticket``. So, democracy, atleast from the outside, is certainly populistic.Britney Spears is always going to be more important than Bob Dylan.
In India, since the previous few elections ,celebrities have had a better than average record in politics,at least for the first time.
I wonder what the normal career graph of a politician is.Among the following?
1-unruly student-student union leader-``chamcha`` of a neta-municipal election-mla-mp
2-criminal-``thekedar``-criminal-mla-criminal-mp-criminal
3-ideologist-joined politics influenced by jp/lohia/marx/lenin/rss/nehru-average age over 60 years
4-religious fanatic-has some sort of religious currency
There may be others...
For some, politics is a way of getting up the social ladder, for others it is a means to advance their businesses.For others, it is just the ``family business``.
Probably the masses have got tired from these career graphs.They want to give others a chance. Besides actors,we have also seen many bureaucrats coming into politics.Many industrialists,cricketers too. All other factors remaining the same(Of course, the reality is,that we Indians still,more often than not,vote on the basis of caste,but that is another article,and another debate), these new entrants have,almost without exception fared better than the seasoned politicians, or given them a tough fight.
I wonder what are the qualities that make a good politician?
Street smartness? Eloquence? Desire to serve?
There can be a number of reasons which may have turned people off from ordinary politicians, and towards these people.
``They can`t be in it for money``
``They are probably not in it for fame``
``Lets just try out something new.``
Whatever the reason may be, the question is,are we moving towards a more mature democracy? That is debatable.On the plus side, people from more walks of life coming into politics, that is a good sign. But here, it is not easy for all the people to come in, only for those who are in popular professions.Only those who can pull crowds.But I guess we can`t pass a blanket sentence to all of them.We will have to wait and watch.Some may turn out to be good,some may not.We will have to believe in the power of the masses.We will have to believe in ourselves.

Ferzana

I am surprised that you did not like big-bindi-bahu sushma`s tactics. You have in past used the bright-colored brush deftly to make a point, so enjoy what sushma does as a fellow artist. And can you report on how the local tiger balasab is doing these days? Is he still roaring? Please go to one of his rallies on Shivaji Park and report. I hear that his speeches are out of this world and sushma will have to convert her pallu into a long ghoonghat in front of that master orator.

Also, one request is that articles you write have some street-level reportage (off course with your editorial comments) so that arjun may not think that these are written purely in sea-lounge (or highway lounge or something at the grand maratha). For example, a train ride with govinda etc.

thanks

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gujjubania#41
I think that it is naive to think that the IT sector in AP will not be affected by Naidu`s defeat. Unlike in other states, IT development in AP was closely linked to his personality and is bound to be affected by the loss of the incrdible personal energy he put into it.

Farzana - I put up a question for you and others on Off the Wall, and would love it if you`d take it up. This seems not to be the appropriate place for it.

In other news, kudos on the article. I don`t follow Indian politics too keenly, but I`ve been an closet admirer of Govinda a long time.

Ankit #36,

You miss the point. Sushma Swaraj has the gall to imply that an Indian from
a non-Hindu persuasion is less suited to become a head of state, just because
she ``fails`` some arbitrary tests which Ms. Swaraj have decided upon. I`d like to
see what her election speech sounds like in the Northeastern states - exactly
which version of Karva Chauth she`d like to peddle there.

#41 by gujjubania

`` Reasons for TDP`s massive loss: ``

Oh stop the PC bullcr@p of people being intelligent..... TDP lost because people are idiots. Plain and simple. Now they have elected the same evil socialist, borderline commie party THAT GAVE NOTHING OF ANY VALUE TO INDIA in the first 50 years of it`s rule ( Oops.. sorry... i meant mis-rule ). 50 years of sheer waste. That`s the legacy of congress party. What a total loss of time. One would think the awful party might have changed for better... but no. You hear the same stupid policies of free power, free subsidies, socialist policies cr@p from the awful congress party. How about establishing a sound infrastructure ( electric power, roads, efficient distribution, eliminating the middle man, efficient determination of prices based on supply/demand ) that would give an excellent price for goods produced by farmers. Hell no.... the same stupid socialist policies that reward laziness and did not produce any results in the last 50 years. What a mess.

Also expect Communal clashes to start occuring again in Hyderabad ( the ritual during congress rule in the state ).

plats

we dont know what she was `implying`. as far as i know, it is BJP`s official position that people of foreign origin should not become PM. so i have no reason to believe that the attack was based on religion as such.

secondly, in all probability this speech was made somewhere in UP. why? because the current issue of India Today carries an article about campaigning of Sushma Swaraj. the excerpt of speech that is outlined there goes on similar lines. This is what is from India Today article:

````We will never accept someone who calls tulsi basil, Ganga Ganges and gobar cowdung,`` she says. The men applaud. ``Gaon aur garib ka dard kehne ke liye gaon ki kacchi galiyon mein chalna padta hai. Kya Sonia Gandhi ne kabhi panghat pe paniharan dekhi hai? Kya phool bechti maliharan dekhi hai? Kya ghas katti ghasiyaran dekhi hai? Kya kapde dhoti dhoban dekhi hai? (Does Sonia Gandhi know anything about India`s villages? Anything at all)?``

i dont see anything about religion here.

Sri #45,

Going back to Sadna`a point - which party does S.M.Krishna belong to ? And what
sort of a time-warp is Karnataka in ?

While we`re vaguely on the subject of IT, this link might be interesting.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/668333.cms?headline=Kolkata~

#46 by plats8 on May 12, 2004 1:57pm PT

`` You miss the point. Sushma Swaraj has the gall to imply that an Indian from
a non-Hindu persuasion is less suited to become a head of state, just because
she ``fails`` some arbitrary tests which Ms. Swaraj have decided upon. I`d like to
see what her election speech sounds like in the Northeastern states - exactly
which version of Karva Chauth she`d like to peddle there. ``


I beg to differ. I think she was asking if Sonia gandhi is really one of us... does she have anything common with us ? how much does she know about us ? The questions have a much deeper philosophical meaning than some ``arbitrary tests``. I don`t understand why anybody should get so riled up with such valid questions.

Sri #48/Ankit #47,

As I alluded to in my previous post, let us put Sushma`s questions to someone
from Nagaland. Because his/her cultural milieu (primarily Christian) is vastly
different than someone from UP, would it make that person less capable in any
way ?

``We will never accept someone who calls tulsi basil, Ganga Ganges and gobar
cowdung`` - and you don`t see any religion here ? Would it be okay if I quizzed
Sushma about Islamic/Catholic rituals and value systems ? Her comment on
the ``gaon/garibi`` bit is fine.

About Sushma`s questions being philosophically loaded, exactly what`s the
philosophy behind it ? She`s defining an Indianness purely on the basis of one`s
familiarity with essentially Hindu rituals, and I resent that. Sonia Gandhi may very
well be totally incompetent, but that`s not where the BJP fights the battle. Whenever
in the slightest doubt, they go back to crass identity politics.

Ref plats8 #46

[You miss the point. Sushma Swaraj has the gall to imply that an Indian from
a non-Hindu persuasion is less suited to become a head of state, just because
she ``fails`` some arbitrary tests which Ms. Swaraj have decided upon. I`d like to
see what her election speech sounds like in the Northeastern states - exactly
which version of Karva Chauth she`d like to peddle there.]

I think you are the one missing the point here. If Congress had projected AK Anthony of Kerala or some Gonsalves from Goa as its prime ministerial candidate, Sushma Swaraj would not be raising the questions she raised. After all, how many hasya kavi sammelans did PV Narasimha Rao attend?

The objection is not based on the fact that Sonia is Roman Catholic -- just Roman.

#48 by sri on May 12, 2004 3:15pm PT

``I beg to differ. I think she was asking if Sonia gandhi is really one of us... does she have anything common with us ? how much does she know about us ? The questions have a much deeper philosophical meaning than some ``arbitrary tests``. I don`t understand why anybody should get so riled up with such valid questions.``


I agree with you. It is not just religion. It is a matter of beign `one of us`. George Fernandes is one of us. Our resepcted President is one of us. Who cares for the religion....

We don`t dislike Sonia but deep in our hearts we know she is just a `bahu` of India and not the `beti` not our own blood. She has to be really admired for adapting so well into Indian culture, and in many of her ways she is more Indian than the actual/native Indian women (of all religions).
Sonia would be accepted as a Minister, a Governer or a CM or something. peopel like her. But PM???? Well.....

Also...... Indians have already been ruled for such a long time by English rulers...now they just hesitate and are wary of anyone who is remotely foreigner, white, reminder of English rule. If they let Sonia take over, it will hurt their egos too (and the insecurities that maybe the rest of the world will think that we can`t rule ourselves...like the angrez log said too)

Bobby Jindal lost in USA and he could not even be a Governer. No Indian can even dream of being the Prime Minister of UK or be a President of USA, not even those who are born and brought up there, not even those who have lived there for decades and decades

Indians have by far been the most lenient ones....by letting all invaders foreigners and conquereres rule us, enslave us.
Once burnt twice shy...we have now become too wary and cautious.....


And BTW..imagine Jamima Khan as the PM of Pakistan

This is quite amazing. BJP seems to have lost.

I thought BJP was supposed to win big. How does a party, which itself calls an election early, lose in that same election? This must be considered a large political blunder. Not that I am a BJP fan. I have never liked them, other than Vajpayee`s peace offerings to Pakistan.

What does this mean for India? Apparently social cohesion has been given more importance than economic growth rates. If Congress is able to maintain the growth rates, then one would assume India has found the correct combination. Will it be able to do so, if its voters have kicked out the BJP specifically because they felt it was looking after the rich too much? Is that why they have been kicked out?

And what about Chandrabubu Naidu? How the hell did he get swept away? I thought he was India`s Bill Gates. Everyone from Ayaz Amir to Bill Gates, himself, were full of praise for him.

And what does this do to the peace process with Pakistan? Vajpayee was quite popular in Pakistan, since Pakistanis thought that he was going to change some Indian policies. Will Sonia Gandhi continue that?

And what about Vajapayee as a leader of the BJP, itself? Is he out the door now? There were some suggestions in Indian newspapers, that BJP followers considered him too moderate. Will he be replaced by Advani? What will that do to the BJP. Did the BJP lose, because it was not moderate enough. Or did it lose, because it was too moderate, and lost its core base.

If Sonia Gandhi becomes the PM of India, then one would have to say that Congress is a true secular party (even if it has gone down the line of communalism, somewhat). Any party that can take a religious minority (who happens to be an immigrant, also) and make her its head, and then get her elected PM is quite secular.........I cannot see that ever happening in Pakistan.......Not that I am pro or anti-secular.....just making a point.......

Bongdongs,

With your facility in Bengali, could you write us a new National Anthem?

I like ``Sonar Bangla`` of Bangladesh.

I think you should call the new anthem ``Soniar Bharat``!

Ha, ha, ha!

Ref FarzanaVersey #23

{#3 by harimau:

[During the elections, it is precisely the masses who count. How big is the middle class and how much bigger are the poor? And exactly how small are the rich and the super-rich? In terms of sheer numbers, it is the poor who determine the elections in India. If your thesis is true, we will not be holding elections in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand or Orissa.]

And you think the masses have a choice? I wasn`t talking about numbers, but about the new face of Indian politics, where a few matter...they always did, but now they are the sole determinants.}

Do the masses have a choice with the Congress? Was there a clamor from anybody except Congress netas that Rahul Gandhi should run for election? Come on, here is a guy, practically a retard, who couldn`t capitalize on his wealth and connections to make something of himself in any area and has now wrapped himself in his great-grandfather`s mantle to get elected.

It is not just film stars who use their fame to run for office. It is also the political dynasties.

PS. Have you wondered how come the wealth generated by Motilal Nehru has lasted so long? We were even told how the Nehru family has sacrificed everything for the country and how this sacrifice included donating ``Anand Bhavan``, the family residence in Allahabad, to the nation. Four generations later, there is still money from Motilal Nehru`s earnings supporting Rahul Gandhi`s lavish lifestyle. Or do you think that is from Rajiv Gandhi`s pension from Indian Airlines?

Ref plats8 #52

Actually, till about 3 years ago, I had no clue what Karva Chauth was. I found out because a niece married a very nice guy from Lucknow, and when I was visiting her, she was observing fast for Karva Chauth.

So one can be a Hindu and not know what Karva Chauth is. According to you, I would fail Sushma Swaraj`s test. But I don`t think that Syshma would hold it against me.

One could continue to view any of BJP`s pronouncements in a nationalistic light or in a communal light. It is all a question of how you skin the cat.

Question for the new Congress government: will they bring in a Common Civil Code or will Muslims be the only Indians allowed polygamy? Are we going to be secular in that all religions are treated alike or are we going to be secular in that only religions claiming minority status will have special status?

``....Its more a `lets give Congress a chance- Naidu has been ruling for long enough`, kind of atitude. The fact that Congress made promises such as `free power for rural areas` ` several new irrigation projects`, `employment schemes`, givt employee benefits etc. helped to firm up the decision. ...``


I agree to this part of the observation- the election results do not appear to be a complete rejection of NDA but it is more of an acceptance of Sonia`s claim to deliver the goods in a more equitable and effective manner than the pro-North BJP which was insensitive to the needs of the rural india as well as its neglected communities.
So we can see the Advanis and Joshis hiding their faces in the opposition benches for quite some time to come- till the Congress blunders in fulfilling the promises they have made in their manifesto.
I am also sure that in case Sonia falters this time- BJP would return with an overwhelming majority.

Well, according to Rediff, Govinda has won! Obviously, he is not an empty horse!

BJP loses because of TNT-

Read my earlier prognosis regarding TNT beuing the real cause of BJP`s downfall:

````#23 My Pakistan Diary: Lahore Aaya Main Othay Dil Chhod Aaya! on April 29, 2004
#208 by vertex on April 28, 2004 9:20pm PT

..............Any way, read this editorial form TOI in order to understand why ABV would be retiring soon...............and why Advani and Murli Joshis would be losing the elections due to their stupid understanding of IMs and their adherence to the TNT....... ````

V. unexpected results. And Govinda got elected.

Firstly, exit pollsters need to quit their day jobs.

Secondly, the self-absorbed middle class and its leaders need to stop thinking that they alone, represent India.

Thirdly, the economic reforms and liberalisation of the NDA should not be rolled back. Hopefully Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram will see to that, though AP is likely to regress.

Fourthly, I wonder since along with the NDA rout, even Shiv Sena got defeated in Mumbai, what will Ms Farzana talk about. When she next makes ominous references to `them` who will that be?:).

#60 by sadna on May 13, 2004 8:16am PT

`` Secondly, the self-absorbed middle class and its leaders need to stop thinking that they alone, represent India.

Thirdly, the economic reforms and liberalisation of the NDA should not be rolled back. Hopefully Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram will see to that, though AP is likely to regress.

Fourthly, I wonder since along with the NDA rout, even Shiv Sena got defeated in Mumbai, what will Ms Farzana talk about. When she next makes ominous references to `them` who will that be?:). ``


India is screwed.

I may be incredibly tempted to give a big lecture on Economic theory, monetary policy, how economy develops, etc, etc but given that most Indians have proved themselves to be idiots/borderline commies, i feel, what the heck, let the TURD WORLDERS f themselves up.

#53 by Romair

`` This is quite amazing. BJP seems to have lost.

I thought BJP was supposed to win big. How does a party, which itself calls an election early, lose in that same election? This must be considered a large political blunder. Not that I am a BJP fan. I have never liked them, other than Vajpayee`s peace offerings to Pakistan. ``

Like most of the Pakistanis, I you still have hostile feelings towards India, I say congrats to you man. Your enemy seems to be pretty stupid. India is now back towards it`s familiar dynasty rule and 50 years of ``Hindu growth rate``.

I kinda feel that, during last 2 or 3 years, Pakistanis have understood that they lost edge to India mainly because it`s economy. Losing superiority in economy means losing it in security also. As a result, pakistanis have gone through a lot of introspection. The rash of self introspecting articles on chowk is a case in point. I like that. You guys now understand that you need to gain superiority in economy. Well, Indians now seem to be handing that to you guys on a platter. Now, eventually as you gain superiority in economy in South Asia ( aided in large part by the familiar ``Hindu growth rate`` ), you guys will also get a more sympathetic hearing on your arguments regarding kashmir. If India doesn`t give Kashmir to Pakistan voluntarily, international community will make it give.

All in all, congrats to Pakistan.

Strangely i don`t feel bad about this whole debacle. I got very simple philosophies.

1. People deserve what they choose.
2. Stupid people deserve to be exterminated.

I felt that Pakistanis have been stupid in the last 15 years with their stupid obsessions and thought Indians are intelligent for recognizing what`s important in life. But hey, what do you know. The tables have turned.

It is amazing indeed.

sri #61
I remember Manmohan Singh explaining long ago how economic reforms gave Indian government `space for manoeuvre` or breathing room for domestic development expenditure. That was understood by the NDA too. Even purely from a politician pov, the better the economy does, the better his cut - this may be the new trend of the last few years.

Will it continue with this govt? Let me repeat what someone knowledgeable pointed out some years ago.

One problem with Manmohan Singh was that he was interested in liberalisation for the benefit of foreign enterprise. He was not as interested in liberalisaton of the DOMESTIC economy for the benefit of domestic enterprise(which is what is desperately needed).

A second problem is that leftists will be in govt/ruling coalition, so whatever any economic geniuses in the Congress want in this respect will face fierce resistance. Labor reforms may be killed too.

A third problem is that under Vajpayee, the states were forced to begin rationalising their finances, which are in a big mess. The Congress, traditionally, didnot bother to take up that fight.

Fourthly due to the old style politics, which Arun Shourie and the late Kumaramangalam encountered even within their own party, we might be back to state enterprises bleeding the state economies dry.

All these policies were pro-poor, but for the long term. IMO, the NDA under Vajpayee was TRYING to break new ground in all these respects. Manmohan Singh or others might not even try and Congress might just go back to its socialist ways.

So the thing to see is the Congress going to adapt to needs of 2004 or are we back to the 70s and 80s?

coalition govt with congress at the helm is unlikely to survive. coalition partners will only take so much humiliation before pulling the rug. nda will be a strong opposition with close to 200 seats and vajpayee as their leader.

mid-term elections in a couple of years is a distinct possibility alongwith the return of nda+-

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#55
``I think you should call the new anthem ``Soniar Bharat``! ``

Actually my Marathi is better than my Bengali (I grew up in Mumbai/Pune)

How about ``Amchi tai, Sonia-bai``

(our elder sister, Sonia madam)

#64 by gandubhujjia

heh, heh. did you flunk your jee exams?

I say a big kudos to the recently done elections. India indeed is shining. A billiion + people giving a lesson in peacful governance and change of power to the region, if not the world. Hats off to all the election officers, voters and candidates who braved 45 c heat, and bigger hats off to the losers who seem to be biting the dust gracefully. The election results indicate a new confidence from the electorate who said ``india shining? well ok, but we would try something a little different``. It was not a case of large rejetion of BJP. It shows a confidence of the electorate to not worry about bogeys of pardesi bahu. It shows that indians absolutely love fair women over wheatish men. Laloo will be the new union minister for fodder and cowdung. Ministry for cow-urine however is now defunct. Gujjus seemed to have hedged their bets being craftly bussinessmen that they are. Manohar Joshi will be selling Vada Pav from a hand cart. Govinda will get TVs installed in local trains with non-stop bollywood dance numbers, and erase Ram Naiks name from all the public toilets from Borivli to Virar and replace them with his smiling face. DMK will get some federeal cases registered against Jayalalitha. Naidu will become a programmer for Romairs IT company. Pramod Mahajan with his fancy suit can easily get a job as a desk-clerk with the Mumbai Airport Grand Maratha Hotel. Vajpayee will join the film industry and write songs, whereby Javed Akhtar will think of going to Lollywood fearing hindu domination. It wil be great to hear and watch Navjot Siddu on ``Parliament Today`` instead of sports channel.

So, in summary, India is indeed shining, time to distribute some tri-color laddus.

sri
It is only a Pakistani delusion that India without BJP in power is a pushover. BJP was good for that much, in that it made it difficult to hold on to such delusions.

But the fact remains, Indians were never pushovers, not even when India was much poorer, not even under a Pakistani stereotype of pushover Indians - `daal-eating dhoti-wearing short and puny` Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Vajpayee`s class act:
Although I did not support Vajpayee`s election I admire the grace with which he accepted his defeat. Excerpt:
``We have given up office, but not our responsibility to serve the nation. We have lost an election, but not our determination,`` he said in an address to the nation.``

#67 jang
I agree with you.It really is time to celebrate.Gone are the days of landslide victories, on issues such as Mandir or sympathy wave,on whiich Rajiv won. People will not go for useless election planks any more.And the ruling party would never feel complacent. They have to get everything right,there is no place for propaganda. IT champion Naidu went because he ignored some portions of AP, the IT spoils were not apportioned appropriately. If you have no electricity, I have a good feeling you would not give a damn about IT.And however socialist it may seem, a poor man`s vote is equal to a rich man`s vote.Naidu went, and along with him he took NDA. If the Congress play around, they will go too in the next election.Just one thing, I would rather have seen someone like Manmohan Singh as the prime minister.Though Sonia`s origin is a non issue.

sadna#66:
You are being unduly pessimistic!

``One problem with Manmohan Singh was that he was interested in liberalisation for the benefit of foreign enterprise. He was not as interested in liberalisaton of the DOMESTIC economy for the benefit of domestic enterprise(which is what is desperately needed).``

Manmohan Singh started out with those liberalisation policies which caused least pain to entrenched vested interests, such as cutting import duties and easing imports. This was the natural thing to do. He did not have time to undertake the next phase of liberalisation.

``A second problem is that leftists will be in govt/ruling coalition, so whatever any economic geniuses in the Congress want in this respect will face fierce resistance. Labor reforms may be killed too. ``

The leftists have also learnt their lessons. The West Bengal govt. under Budhdev is among the most progressive and regularly got raving commendations from none other than Arun Shourie. Indeed, Kolkota is fast emerging as a rival to the southern silicon valley. Wipro has just announced its biggest expansion outside Bangalore in Kolkota. Labour reforms have always moved at snail`s pace and will continue to do so. OTOH the presence of the communists might bring greater labour peace.

``A third problem is that under Vajpayee, the states were forced to begin rationalising their finances, which are in a big mess. The Congress, traditionally, didnot bother to take up that fight.``
It wasn`t so much Vajpayee but the fact that most of the state govts. are broke and the central bank has reached the limits to which it could bale them out.

``Fourthly due to the old style politics, which Arun Shourie and the late Kumaramangalam encountered even within their own party, we might be back to state enterprises bleeding the state economies dry.``
Even the WB chief minister had been talking about partnerships and blah blah wrt such industries. Manmohan Singh has said that he is in favour of faster privatisation of loss-making units but not in favour of profit-making units being privatised.

The reform agenda has since the time of Manmohan Singh been driven by the policy wonks at Finance, no matter which govt. was in power. There is no reason to believe that it will be different this time.

dost-mittar #71
Well I can elaborate on what is the basis for my `pessimism` (I prefer to call it realism).

Firstly, the person whose opinions I was paraphrasing personally recalled Manmohan Singh from his days as Finance Minister as having scarcely-concealed personal contempt for Indian endeavours, whether in technology or in industry. If the assessment was right, I wonder whether if it came from his days in World Bank/IMF?/general babudom. You might think his contempt is justified(I emphatically do not), but the fact remains - self-contempt at policy level is NOT the right attitude to lead India to better progress and brighter future.

Secondly, the augmented Left strength comes from Kerala. Ironically, the Kerala Left won those seats OPPOSING AK Anthony`s Congress/UDF whose reformist agenda they have been consistently opposing in Kerala. Instances of the Left`s utter lack of principle wrt economic matters in Kerala has been there for Keralites to personally see for themselves in the last few years.

Thirdly being a chochilist party, Congress has its own affiliated labor unions to keep happy so would prefer not to stir the pot of sick state enterprises. I am not sure BJP ever had to worry on that count at least.

``It wasn`t so much Vajpayee but the fact that most of the state govts. are broke and the central bank has reached the limits to which it could bale them out. ``

Again I will cite Kerala. In the old days, whenever the Kerala govt. went into a cash crisis, Karunakaran would airdash to N. Delhi, get interim relief from the obliging Congress Prime Minister. And I am yet to hear of what he did to increase revenue generation in the state itself, which is a requirement for releasing of certain Central funds which politicians found ways to sidestep. Under Vajpayee who appeared to have good rapport with nonBJP Chief Ministers as well, it was not so easy for CMs. They have had to work harder than before to grow their state economy.

Basically it is new NDA-era politics of `increase the pie and take a larger share` vs old Congress politics of `grab the same old pie for yourself and parcel out portions to your cronies`.

Sadna #66,

As Dost said, do not despair so easily. I posted a link from the Times of India
someplace else (and there was an identical article in the Far Eastern Economic
Review) about the changing attitudes of the leftists in West Bengal. Of course
there are going to be hiccups, but I don`t think that the overall trend is going to
buckle much - at least, the indicators do not quite point that way.

The good thing about this election is how close the BJP and Congress really are in
terms of seats - hopefully a healthy opposition will emerge. Among the higher profile
portfolios, it`ll be interesting to see who gets Finance, External Affairs and Home
ministry (well, the PM for that matter - will Sonia really be it ?).

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sadna #74

{{Thirdly being a chochilist party, Congress has its own affiliated labor unions to keep happy so would prefer not to stir the pot of sick state enterprises. I am not sure BJP ever had to worry on that count at least.}}

Actually the BJP has its own affiliated trade union Bharathiya Mazdoor Sabha - founded by Dattopant Thengadi, one of Vajpayee`s oldest (in every sense) foes within the RSS and the parivar. BMS and Swadeshi Jagaran Manch used to make noises periodically during the NDA`s innings about its `anti-national` and `anti-people` economic policies. I don`t know how serious a threat they were; just setting the record straight.

I do wonder whether the new government will be able to carry out anything like Vajpayee`s balancing act to make some tangible economic progress while keeping assorted special interests placated.

plats8 #73
I would be very happy to have my apprehensions proved wrong.

AK Anthony has been having a tough time of it in Kerala, courtesy Karunakaran and the Left. Hopefully now they will all keep themselves busy in N. Delhi and leave him and Kerala alone.

``The good thing about this election is how close the BJP and Congress really are in
terms of seats - hopefully a healthy opposition will emerge.``

Yes, that is v. heartening.

Harimau #56,

I concede your point about A. K. Anthony/George F./P. A. Sangma and how this
litmus test of Indian-ness doesn`t apply to them. In Sonia`s case, though, I believe
her non-Hindu`ness is used frequently by the BJP. I remember watching videos of
Narendra Modi`s Gaurav Yatra prior to Gujarat elections and this was repeatedly
done (``woh aurat Raam-ki nahi, to hamare kaam ki nahi`` or some such thing).
Everytime he Modi mentioned the Election Commissioner, he would make sure to
call him ``James Michael Lyngdoh`` - the insinuations were very clear.

Again, this doesn`t relate to Sushma`s immediate speech; but the BJP`s campaign
patterns do follow predictable routes. My personal estimates of Sonia`s imcompetence
has nothing to do with bindiya-bahu`s characterisations.

p.s: I first came to know of Karva Chauth from Zee tv programs in the US. So, there...

``bai in marathi means woman....but it`s mostly used for Kaamwali bai i.e. maid servant...``

-bai is actually a suffix with denotes respect. But you are right non-marathi speaking people use it only when they refer to the ``Kaamwali``.

Hi Farzana:

The question, I have whether the new government will put Narendra Modi to trial?

Anil

Anil 79 . . . the legal system in India is independent of the political one . . . incidentally, Narendra Modi is already facing trial in a variety of cases . . .

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=59100
Moment Of Truth

Opportunity for Left to move to Centre



``...Yet, a combination of the rhetoric of the Left and trade union power may exert negative pressure on the Sonia Gandhi government and it is here that the Left must think long-term.

The Left Front has been presented with a second “historic” opportunity to shape policy at the national level and enter the mainstream. To do so, however, it must reject many of the slogans it holds dear and get over its knee-jerk opposition to the policies of the Centre.

It had succumbed to the temptation of lambasting the Centre’s policies that the Left Front government in West Bengal was itself implementing.

Selling off sick PSUs and rolling out the red carpet for foreign capital are cases in point. It must shed its communist skin and assume more of a social democratic avatar if it is to assume the role of a responsible member of the ruling coalition.

Admittedly, this is not easy as it’s more comfortable shouting slogans and opposing everything from the outside.

But to guide its approach to the new Congress-led formation, it doesn’t need to look further than its successful experiment in West Bengal.

In other words, its policies must be Buddhadeb Plus and Nayanar Minus....``

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AlephNull #75
Thanks for the correction. If I am not mistaken G Fernandes`s Samata Party was also leftist wrt disinvestment.

Gujjubania # 8. . apt, very apt. Poor Rajiv Gandhi `s soul probably wondering if this is what he came to Sriperumbudur for? He was heard whispering ``Et tu Sonia ?