Call of Duty

Meera Sanyal, the country head of ABN Amro has announced that she is going to stand for the coming election. I don’t know if she will win or what she will do if she wins. But I salute this initiative and I believe more of us should follow.

When we were under the colonial rule a large number of brilliant, highly educated people joined politics and played very active roles. May be what prompted them was the yearning to see our country independent. Once we got our independence, many of us decided that we have done our duty and now we are left to reap the fruits of our labor.

We realized that there are many opportunities for the educated people in our country without the travails of a political career. The civil service gave power and status. IITs degrees gave us the visas to the land of opportunity and IIMs opened doors to lucrative careers in industry. No need to cover street by street kissing little babies and asking how the family is doing. No uncertainty of elections.

When we abdicated our social responsibility there were many who were too happy jump to the fray. Because it gave them power and it gave them opportunity to enrich themselves. We have a saying in our tongue which translates as “if you don’t sit where you are supposed to sit the dog will come and sit there”. This is what happened to Indian politics the dogs took over the vacuum that was left.

We have no right to complain; because we allowed many goons to sit there. Now that they have taken over, naturally they try to protect their turf. That gave us more excuses to run for cover and curse politics. I don’t mean to say that all our politicians are goons. But many are. There are many who are gems and give their best for the country and that is why we are not a banana republic.

In the recent past we see more educated people willing to join politics. But they were mostly the ones with political lineage. It is at least a new trend.

I agree the degrees don’t ensure maturity or make good and honest leaders. If it was so, the bureaucracy should have been outstanding examples of social responsibility.

I hope more people with capability and principles will be willing to join the fray. With an intention to make a difference and not to make a killing. If this trickle turns to a tide, we will definitely be able to repeat the history of ousting the evil with no bloodshed.

Keep praying and keep hoping.