Thursday 12 April 2012

Shashi Tharoor : The Panoptic Visionary of Indian Politics



As part of the inaugural, I want to dedicate our first post to the Reason behind this blog: A person who suffered the penalty of being an honest newbie in a typecast unholy Indian political rut. Despite the rollercoaster ride, this MP has stuck his ground and continues to believe that there is redemption in this political journey. 

Rewind: The 2009 General Elections in India witnessed an unlikely campaign- debutante in former Under Secretary General for the United Nations, Dr. Shashi Tharoor. Scepticism and the media-cavalcade followed him closely.  And, why not? After all, it had been a while since Progressive Politics raised an arm in India. 

Politics in India has been on a wing and a prayer for quite a while now. The Indian masses are trained to be comfortable with the stereotypical sleazy guy who sits in a lackadaisical manner in a plush cabin with an air of authority and makes a Pilgrims Progress every fourth year and eighth month to remind you that he’s your face for change; he’s your last ray in an otherwise hopeless neighbourhood. He is your candidate. And that’s also the last time you see him until the next term. The proposition of a ‘Gentleman in Politics’ is not unwelcome; it’s just funnily beyond our ken. To put it in a nutshell, Politics is considered as the ‘Untouchable’ in a plethora of professions in India. 

Interestingly, this elite outsider (as the media endeared him) adopted reverse psychology and decided that after serving his country on a global front it was time to return to the reason he had made it so far, his Motherland. 

This Member of Parliament sure finds comfort in communicating as a commoner with the masses. In fact, it was this one- on- one connect that became his greatest asset. Hope had arrived; here was finally someone who decided to keep it straight and simple for the crowds that met him. He definitely has a magnetic attraction to the crowds which made the right choice to vote for change. Shashi Tharoor won with a thumping majority of a margin of 1 lakh votes much to the chagrin of the Left wing candidates.

The career graph of this Politician has since witnessed a series of ups and downs. From the MEA to the Parliamentary panel post that he assumes soon the people’s mandate and their hope is vested quite rightfully in this MP from Thiruvananthapuram.

For the Critics who believe in the Ad Absurdum on asset misappropriations and other falsities, some valid questions:

Wasn’t Rajya Sabha an easier option for Shashi Tharoor with a six years fixed term and sharing the dais with the so called ‘elitists’?
If indeed the ‘outsider’ as the media downplayed Shashi Tharoor to be, would the Indian citizens have voted him in with an overwhelming majority against a party that has maintained political mandate for decades now?
Thirdly, for those accusing of embezzlement of assets, wouldn’t it be easier to enjoy a post- UN la dolce vita existence delivering speeches engaging in intellectual discussions while enjoying a quiet life of peace and tranquillity in the comfortable West rather than burning the candle at both ends, shuttling between the constituency and the Parliament, conscientiously manoeuvring through fledgling controversies while yet engaging with people, some of whom propose diametrical view points. All this apart from trying to rationalise the system of Governance for the ‘Aam Admi’

Often accused of being biased, here is a pragmatist view as to why India needs Shashi Tharoor.

Lest we forget, some famous firsts:

Shashi Tharoor was the first Indian Minister to set foot in Haiti after disaster struck the island. 
One of the first MPs to take up the neglected issue of School- Children’s Safety in the Parliament.
First MP who issued a ‘Half-term MP Report’ chronicling his progress with the Central leadership on proposals with the Centre, something unheard of in the recent or distant past. This increased the level of political transparency and has also brought to the fore the aggregate of funds that the MPs are actually allotted for their respective constituencies. 
First Indian Politician to create an alternative virtual platform for political accountability vis-à-vis Twitter which was initially criticised but now finds favour with the highest political executive in India: The PM Office.

Reasons India needs Shashi Tharoor:

On the outset after an extensive and panoramic view of the world through his diplomatic career,  Dr. Tharoor already has considerable international influence that his comrades in the Lower House would probably achieve in a couple of years which is for all that counts a sheer waste of time that could well be devoted to other national causes. India’s otherwise desperate attempt to make peace in a volatile neighbourhood could culminate into a reality if we make the right decisions in terms of Foreign Policy.

Panoptic vision: As a diplomat, his line of thinking is far different from those whose life- blood is Politics. It’s more ecumenical which makes the tight rope stint for other negotiators of Indian interests, a cake-walk for this politico-diplomat. 

Re- defining the Politico- Commoner equation: Not easily ticked off by the wanton rants of the general public, he engages with the common man unreservedly, a quality not yet attributed to the political portal. This is the change that ‘We the People’ are waiting and wanting.

The concept of Soft power which is fast picking up in countries like China has its strongest propagator in this ecumenical Indian thinker. If a comprehensive plan can be chalked out to use this asset in India’s favour Indian economic growth could be enhanced.

Fine mix of Pragmatism and Visionary thought: Not a blue – sky thinker Dr. Shashi Tharoor’s frank views with the determination to execute make it easier for commners to understand the tacit ideas of the decision makers. It also brings to light the practical problems that the MP faces in executing a plan.

The quest to make good of the Political forum for Indian democracy has been a priority for leaders over the years, but very few have achieved substantive success. There lies a marked difference between thought and execution. Here is someone who is capable of both. We hope that India gets some political manna of free thinkers like Dr. Shashi Tharoor. In the meantime, we need more such liberal thinkers for all our constituencies to get into the political realm by 2014.

Katherine. Abraham


@katie_abraham on Twitter

12 comments:

  1. We (indian people) and Congress Leadership should use him effectively. he should be given the post of HRD or Science & Technology cabinet minister protfolio and utilise his valuable knowledge and experience for the betterment of Indians

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! we at Tharoorians For Change completely endorse your thoughts. Thank you for reading and we hope you will also contribute to our guest posts! Regards and Best.

      Delete
  2. Allow me to say, great initiative and the dedication you made to Dr Tharoor proclaims much about the great perspective you hold. After all I never saw a post dedicated to just any random politician or to any of the few nefarious ones we see and suffer about on a daily basis.
    Maybe evolution is the reason people developed some kind of tolerance or adaptiveness to the kind of politicians we are already sick and weary of. Could see them with broad smiles at our doors the election time and then in the blink of the eye they are gone forever but until the next term, yeah the fourth year eighth month. It's hard for me not to acknowledge that they are some kind of PhD in histrionics and con artists are far off than them when I retrospect.

    But good to see that this post is about someone who earned our respects for what he is, someone by virtue qualifies to be the right one to stand for our cause. Dr Tharoor deserves respect and never a rationally thinking, truth appreciating individual would have a different idea about what I said. He got long way to go in Indian politics and in shaping the new India we all been dreaming about and assured that we will see that happening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Blitzkrieg! Thank you for those wonderful comments. We hope you can contribute with a Guest Post for us! Email us at tharooriansforchange@yahoo.com

      Delete
  3. Excited about the initiative. Will post my article in a day or two. :) cheers all tharoorian.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is a great initiative and India wants leaders like Dr. Tharoor to take the country forward. Hope this initiative will make a big difference. Wishing all the success this brilliant endeavour.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ajith! We would be delighted if you could write us a guest post! Email us at tharooriansforchange@yahoo.com.

      Delete
  6. It is indeed heartening to see that all is not yet lost for India. Dr Tharoor is like the sun in the milieu of indian politics which illuminates even the darkest areas and infuses a sense of hope and optimism even on cold winter mornings. It is always easier to see the he long night of despair and despondency through when there is the promise of the Sun coming up like the light at the end of the tunnel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for you r kind comments Keviv! Why don't you join us on Tharoorians For Change? You can email at tharooriansforchange@yahoo.com Good luck with your blog too!

      Delete
  7. http://kevivamrahs.blogspot.de/

    ReplyDelete