By Andrew W. Lyngdoh
“Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.”
Today’s political landscape has become highly competitive and intricate, leaving no room for poor communication skills. Poor communicators in the realm of politics and governance can bring an entire government to its knees, even if it appears to be standing firmly on its feet. On the other hand, a good communicator can do just the opposite – snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Many people have always been amazed by the speechwriters of successive American Presidents. The White House has been fortunate to have many great speechwriters, although some Presidents have relied on their own communication skills. One of the greatest and most often quoted speeches is John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961, in which he said: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” There are many other notable examples, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself” (March 4, 1933); Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall!” (June 12, 1987); and Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” (January 8, 2008).
In India, its first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was an orator par excellence. His “Tryst With Destiny” speech is memorable. On August 15, 1947, Nehru began by saying: “Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny,…and now the time has come for us to fulfil our pledge and realise the dreams of our freedom struggle.” Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also a great orator, especially in Hindi. His poetic expressions could move mountains. The current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is known for his powerful and crowd-pulling speeches. Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has drastically perked up his communication skills with the people, the media, and inside Parliament.
As the phrase goes—the gift of the gab—communication is a talent that should be painstakingly nurtured. For political leaders who unfortunately do not have this gift, it is essential to cultivate it. It is pointless to be a leader if you cannot communicate effectively. A political leader may be doing hundreds of deeds, but when their communication is poor, no one really cares. Why would anyone care if they do not know what their leader is doing? In his 1992 campaign speech, Bill Clinton, who went on to serve as America’s President for two terms, said, “In politics, you have to toot your own horn. I know it’s not always easy to do. It’s not always the most pleasant thing to do, but it is a necessary part of the process.” While tooting their own horn, some politicians go overboard, while others remain unseen and unheard. There are those who understand the “process” so well, like Modi, and then there are those who fail to comprehend either the alpha or the omega of the “process.”
In Meghalaya, the communication skills of successive governments have often been called into question. The government may communicate today, but it might remain silent tomorrow. Of course, the government and its leaders need not react to everything, but they cannot pretend that nothing requires their attention and response. We remember the Boyzone lyrics, “It’s only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away…” Beyond the romanticism, the lyrics emphasise the importance of effective communication. For this writer, the political leader from the state who truly had the gift of the gab was the late Hispreachering Son Shylla, fondly known as Bahdeng Shylla. His words could captivate even the most indifferent audience. His debating skills were mesmerising, and his oratory was truly inspiring. He had the ability to invoke hope, desperation, fear, joy, and laughter—all in a single impactful speech. We await the magical moment when another great orator will take centre stage in Meghalaya’s political landscape.
On the other hand, we also remember Ronan Keating’s lyrics, “…You say it best when you say nothing at all.” Apart from the romantic context, there are political leaders who would do well to learn the value of silence, as their words often lead to disaster. For such leaders, many would be hoping they talk less. Aside from embarrassing themselves, which is their own concern, they also undermine the dignity of the positions they hold, which should be avoided.
The current dispensation under Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has made efforts to improve communication, but there is still room for improvement. Recently, Sangma took the “CM-Connect” programme to another level by visiting block headquarters to interact with citizens. Indeed, to be heard, Sangma must also listen. A note from the government’s Information and Public Relations Department highlighted concerns raised by citizens, which the Chief Minister addressed. For instance, the note mentioned that a resident of Bhoirymbong Block, Rangshanbor Kharbihkhiew, informed the Chief Minister about a water supply issue that had lasted for two days. In response, Sangma called an official from the PHE Department and instructed that the matter be resolved within the next 24 hours after hearing the official’s explanation.
Another resident, Baïahun Lyngdoh, inquired about the delay in releasing free textbooks for Lower Primary schools. The Chief Minister responded by directing education officials to purchase books in advance to ensure that students receive them on time. There were also queries regarding Anganwadis and food items under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). Sangma asked officials from the Food and Civil Supplies Department to address these concerns, stating that the matter would be promptly resolved through the Early Childhood Development Mission.
This two-way communication is a positive step for democracy. Democracy does not end on voting day; it requires ongoing engagement and accountability. Through this medium of “resolution through communication,” the Chief Minister can learn about gaps in governance, identify requirements to bridge those gaps, ensure effective public service delivery, and address bureaucratic lethargy. Not all problems in governance are caused by the political executive or elected representatives. Many issues are also attributable to the bureaucracy. However, in moments of hysteria, we often focus solely on the politician and forget about the bureaucrat who may evade accountability for their actions.
The Chief Minister must ensure regular follow-ups and hold officials accountable for their performance. The next time Sangma meets Rangshanbor, Baïahun, and others, officials should be expected to address previous complaints. If any official is found to be lax in their duties, the Chief Minister should not hesitate to take disciplinary action. People expect not only words but also visible results. Improving public service delivery requires the Chief Minister to act against errant officials. If just ten such actions are taken, it would send a strong message to all: perform or face consequences.
Communication is indeed a pillar of good governance, as demonstrated by the Chief Minister’s initiative to engage with the public. Other ministers and legislators should follow suit. There are problems that only the government and its agencies can solve, even though some of these issues may have been created by the government itself. However, there is no room for complacency. Sangma must ensure that the government improves its communication skills, especially in countering fake news, false narratives, concocted accounts, and misleading stories. In this day and age, a government may even collapse under the weight of fake narratives circulated on social media. Social media has become overwhelmingly powerful, and a government that ignores this does so at its own peril.
(The writer is a Shillong-based journalist)