Editor,
70 years ago our country India broke free from a dynastic rule and severed ties with the British crown. But over the decades, another form of dynastic rule emerged in the country, that of elected political dynasties. The Nehru-Gandhi family, which dominated the Prime Ministership and the leadership of the Congress party after Independence is a prime example. However this trend is now followed by even remote states in the country like Meghalaya. In the upcoming election in our state three dynasties will fight for power – the Mukul Sangma dynasty, the Purno Sangma dynasty and the Dhar dynasty. And each dynasty will try to unlock the keys to power and take away all the riches that come with it. Should the ongoing Assembly elections in Meghalaya throw up results dethroning these families, it would be a blessing for our state. After all, all political dynasties have made a business of politics, and even if they do not contest an election, they run the politics. Dynastic politicians usually treat their state or the country as a family fiefdom and are more likely to use public office to enrich themselves rather than promote the public or the state. More subtly, the stranglehold of a few dynastic families on politics might deter capable people from entering politics, since they figure they don’t stand a chance of winning. For those who do make it , it’s highly unlikely they’ll rise as fast as their dynastic peers. The youth no matter how capable and educated they are, do not have space in any party. They cannot join any traditional party, be it the Congress, BJP, NPP, UDP etc . All political parties have become private family properties. Dynastic politics is amongst many political evils in Indian democratic setup where most parties are being run like family enterprises. While all this is going on the public has no option but to choose between the lesser of two evils. When will Dynastic politics end in India?. Not any time soon. Until there is uniform quality education the poor public will always be exploited by the rich powerful and influential families. However one political scientist observed that dynastic politics in every nation comes with an expiry date and he has taken Congress and the Nehru-Gandhis of India as a good example. I personally feel that we should not wait for the expiry date but dethrone the “Dynasty before they become Nasty”.
Yours etc
Manuel Carey Lymba
Shillong – 8