Today, politics in India is marked by fire
spewing politicians who are more often than not found decrying words of their
rivals of other political parties. That’s the league of leaders India has
stooped to after all these years of Independence.
Even
15th August (this year)wasn’t spared! The platform was duly used as an
opportunity to belittle rather than induce thoughts of remembrance for those
who had helped India achieve the glory. Being the BJP Prime Ministerial
candidate Mr Narendra Modi continues to be under scanner and so does his words
trailing his ideology. A point of his, on 15th August which caught
attention was his strong (as usual) denunciation of Manmohan Singh for praising
the Gandhi-Nehru family and forgetting the numerous others who had equally
devoted themselves for India’s freedom.To an extent it’s
true (and thus unjust) that we often attribute Independence to just Gandhi and Nehru
and in process (inadvertently) slightly side line numerous others. This might
just be because of Congress which eventually saw many more powerful Gandhis who
haven’t let the surname (and thus the hierarchy, if not the dynasty) go
oblivious. Or it simply might be because of one’s lack of knowledge about great
men which Indiahas witnessed. Whatever be the reason, extracting petty political
mileage out of such things, seriously undoes what those great men dreamt about
modern India. Even politics and personal ambitions were part of their era, but
history is evident of their putting the country first over any other thing.
That was undoubtedly the reason why leaders of that time were more coherent and
revered by all religions and communities across the country.
Modi presented his desire for building an
iron statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Statue of Unity (the proposed name), 182
metre high would be the tallest statue in the world (also beating the Statue of
Liberty).Although the nomenclatureclashes heads on with its New York competitor
(rivals at least in height), the name is apt for someone who did the herculean
task of forging India from about 500 princely states. But definitely, just
building a mammoth statue doesn’t mark imbibition of principles the great man
stood for. It’s very similarto a lonely, forgotten picture of Mahatma Gandhi
hanging on one of the walls of a police station. The only difference being 182
metres of iron and splurged public money which repays them hardly with a mere
colossal structure.
The next thing that tingles is the thought
that could have Modi ever (even in his dreams) have proposed a similar statue of
Mahatma Gandhi or (to be more harsh) a one of JawaharLal Nehru.? The answer is
an easy no and in stricter terms never. Admiration is something which is upon
ones discretion but the same in politics is forcefully governed or better to
say dictated by politics itself. Sardar Patel is the best fit for Modi as
Vallabhbhai Patel’s differences with Nehru then can be coercively aligned with
that of Modi or the BJP against Nehru’s descendants (Sonia and Rahul Gandhi) that
is the current Congress.Be it him being the better choice than Nehru (for post
of PM) or be it his differences with Nehru (on issues of Kashmir and China), Sardar
Patel, very calculatedly is used by party like BJP under Modi to oppose Nehru
family’s (Congress’s) continuance in Indian politics. One might argue that it’s
a very harsh thing to question one’s choice for admiration, but surely it’s the
underlined politics which attracts such cynicism.
Modi at the same time shouldn’t forget Patel’s
abhorrence of RSS and other Hindutva organizations. Patel clearly blamed them
for stoking violence during India’s freedom and also for assassination of
Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Patel undoubtedly is the beacon of united India.
Commemorating Patel and also satisfying RSS’s agenda is shamelessly contrasting.
History is evident of Patel’s sacrifices
for the nation. Allowing Nehru to be PM can be projected by many as a
compromise but it was no big deal for Patel to comply with his ideal – Mahatma
Gandhi. Despite the differences the mutual support Nehru and Patel showcased
for each other cannot be overlooked. For them it was the country which preceded
most of their desires.
Without holding any bias against or for any
party, the wish of most Indians today is to look up to leaders similar to those
who are much talked about of being followed and idealized.
