Editor,
It’s interesting to go through a mind-blowing article titled, “Drop the Rajiv Gandhi tag from IIM Shillong” by Ms Patricia Mukhim published in a web-based news portal. I recommend that everyone read it at least once. The article analytically portrays the funniest part of the Indian political jamboree where a certain political party demonstrates its quirky habit of naming the top institutions, roads, stadiums and so forth only after the Nehru– Gandhi family.
Yes, idolizing and commemorating the great works of eminent personalities through some events or by naming key schemes, plans and institutions after them is a sign of gratitude and also inspirational. It boosts one’s inner strength, widens the vision that works as a guiding light. But such idolizing is undesirable, if it is imposed on a citizenry. Frankly speaking, blind sycophancy and meek adoration should not be promoted by any ruling party or clique. Again, how people choose who to idolise is a very dicey affair in this make-believe world. However, the yardstick should be pat tributes only to those with a time-tested reputation for their flawless character, outstanding works and great sacrifices and not those political figures who are doggedly committed to achieving their personal goals.
It is idiosyncratic that political leaders of the Congress party can find no other great personalities to be worthy of adulation and emulation, apart from their own bosses. Sycophancy and blind admiration for one family is apparently the hallmark of the Party. What is awkward is that we have hundreds of schemes, plans, roads, academic institutions named only after the Nehru-Gandhi family. Of course, the public would not have complained if they were within fair limits — in view of the Gandhi family’s sacrifices.
Today people are no longer naïve. Social media reveals all and calls a spade a spade. Many jokes have done the rounds on this clichéd naming of schemes after political idols. Needless to say, being a leader in the Congress Party is very stifling. Here leaders can’t speak their minds. They can’t even hold out worthy ideas and suggestions for the well-being of the Party. Indeed it is difficult to fathom why among hundreds of seasoned veterans in this oldest party, special applause and crowns are reserved for only one family. Is not something amiss? Why are other good leaders within the party so mercilessly marginalized here? Hon’ble Pranab Mukherjee was cut to size. Our beloved PA Sangma was sidelined. The vocal Shashi Tharoor is gently muted. Is this not against the spirit of democracy? Many political pundits have stated that too much of one-family-adoration by ignoring other worthies is only inviting nemesis.
Incidentally, in our home state, many are grudging now why IIM Shillong has been prefixed with Rajiv Gandhi. The whining is getting louder with the BJP making its presence felt. By the way, would it not be more fitting if we rather choose to prefix this prestigious management institution of Shillong with Adam Smith or Alfred Marshall, pioneering economists of modern times? It would be a great tribute to them who really added precious content to the idea of Economy. Along similar lines, it would have been appropriate to named our Power plant as ‘Voltage Power Plant’, Chemical industry as ‘Dalton Pharmaceutical’, Voltaire Stadium, Aryabhatta Academy instead of prefixing them only with Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi! Let’s honour the deserving philosophers, scientists, artists whose life-long labour and creative imagination have given us what we call the modem age of convenience and opulence.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali
Shillong-2
Reigning in prejudices!
Editor,
The setting up of a behavioural unit by the Government of India is welcome. However, we need to be on guard that it does not become a weapon for any ruling party. The need of the hour is to monitor and censor all regressive advertisements and programmes in the powerful electronic media (TV and Internet) that are doing great harm to our socio-economic conditions. Government should come out with a comprehensive plan “to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform,” as has been enshrined in Article 51A (h) of the Constitution of India with the help of electronic nudge for behavioural change. At the same time, government is also supposed to check its own behaviour whether to see if it is ruled by any prejudice like supporting vegetarian midday meal menu.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata