Many people in our country forget to add the prefix “Dr.” to
our soon-to-be-ex-prime-minister’s name when they speak of him.
Normally, this kind of omission is either due to a special fondness for a person or a sad symbol of lost respect for a man of letters (or rather, numbers). Many would agree that in Dr. Singh's case, it is the latter.
Rahul Gandhi may explain his absence at a formal farewell
function for Dr. Singh in myriad ways, but the act does smack of a “use and
abuse” behaviour towards a learned man who served the dynasty so well as to attempt
to save its reputation even as he lost his own.
But is Dr. Singh really a pitiable victim suffering at the
hands of conniving and street smart politicians, or would he be considered a
consenting adult?
Or, worse, has he insulated himself so much from worldly
happenings that he simply shrugs (or turns away) and moves on in a “sannu ki” (how
does it matter to me) manner?
The nation now knows (thanks to Sanjay Baru and no thanks to
Arnab Goswami) for a fact, that Dr. Manmohan Singh was indeed a puppet in the
hands of Sonia Gandhi led Congress.
To me, he represents the quintessential ‘aam aadmi’ or
common man (although technically this term is not gender friendly, I use it in
a general sense to signify all men and women in the said position), who allowed themselves to be led by the nose (or noose?), despite possessing extremely high
intellect, a universally accepted measure of the ability to think.
You may well ask how a person like Dr. Manmohan Singh can be
called an “aam aadmi", but academic or material success alone does not make a
person “khaas” or special.
It is how we
behave or act when faced with certain situations and dilemmas that demand us
moving away from our comfort zone, that our “khaasiyat” or special qualities
come to the fore
So then, you have a man who raised himself out of less than ordinary
circumstances (Dr. Manmohan Singh comes from a very humble background) by sheer
determination, and gained world-wide respect and knowledge, a very 'khaas' or special act indeed.
He went on to become a lauded researcher worldwide and poured his intellect and insight to plan growth and
development for a (now) one billion strong nation.
And then he became Prime Minister
Suddenly he was in the spotlight in a different way, far from the comfort of his academic world, and thrown into a no holds barred dynamic political world, where he has to see people beyond all the statistics and numbers, the ultimate beneficiaries and the objects of his lifelong studying.
And therefore he now needed a different set of skills, those of communication, perception, conviction, charisma. leadership and all others that matter to public figures.
But through his entire education and career he never had reason to think he would ever need these, as his intellect always sufficed.
So, is it at all surprising that he could not see what his limitations
were?
“Political naiveté” was an explanation put forward by some
after his initial stumbles and one accepted by the masses at the time.
But difficult to digest as he has spent a large part of his
career amid politicians.
Also, how then do they explain his acceptance of a second term
as Prime Minister?
“Lack of charisma”, say some others
“Lack of empathy and connect
with the masses”
Charges that are ultimately sticking, but could have been overlooked
had Dr. Manmohan Singh taken an emphatic stand on several occasions in his
capacity as Prime Minister.
“Lack of articulateness” is being repeatedly ascribed to the
esteemed man, but that may be more a case of him choosing to keep articulate thoughts
to himself rather than share them with the masses.
In fact, the more he kept his thoughts to himself and
remained silent, the more he perpetuated a stifling environment where freedom
to disagree became compromised.
Aren’t we all too familiar with that one person in a group who
refuses to take a stand, thereby compromising where others stand?
Thus, instead of being a victim, could he have played a lead
role in creating the predicament he found himself in?
Life is indeed about the choices we make, or those that
we don't (also a choice).
All that Dr. Manmohan Singh needed to have done was to say "No" to an extremely tempting offer (of Prime Minister-ship), at least the second time round.
All that Dr. Manmohan Singh needed to have done was to resign when Rahul Gandhi ridiculed him publicly.
All that Dr. Manmohan Singh needed to have done was NOT to say that he would welcome working under Rahul Gandh as Prime Minister.
All that Dr. Manmohan Singh needed to have done was to leave his farewell dinner within a short time after thanking everyone present, to symbolise hurt at the party vice-president's absence.
All that Dr. Manmohan Singh needed to have done was to show the Indian public that he possessed enough self respect.
Had he done even ONE of these actions, he would have gained his reputation back.
Had he done even ONE of these actions, he would have gained his reputation back.
But, alas, not a peep out of the great man, not even at this juncture.
To me, Dr. Manmohan Singh's actions (or lack of them) epitomize all that is missing in
educational institutions today across the world, however esteemed they may be thought
to be, or even a relic of the Raj (both the British Raj and rule by feudal
lords), where one was educated to serve the ruling class.
All the famed international academic institutions that he read in (Cambridge and Oxford) also have to take a portion of the blame for failing to engender in him strong convictions while appreciating his academic brilliance.
All the famed international academic institutions that he read in (Cambridge and Oxford) also have to take a portion of the blame for failing to engender in him strong convictions while appreciating his academic brilliance.
In a person, qualities like insight and integrity, both of which Dr. Singh is said to have in good measure, are augmented by those of self belief, conviction and perception, which help him or her prepare for the unexpected.
We may unwittingly land up in places that we didn’t think we
would be in, but once there, we do have to roll up our sleeves, face the music
and perform.
As a child, my parents often said that academic wealth (as
compared to material wealth) remained with us forever and could never be stolen
To this I would like to add that a reputation built on the
strength of academics alone can indeed be wiped out, if it is also not simultaneously
fed by mentors, caregivers and other key influencers on strength of conviction,
unmindful of the losses or gains in store.
This should be a lesson for all parents who push their
children towards academic excellence, that their wards’ attitude and the way
they think and act when faced with dilemmas matters as much or probably more
than a mere degree or certification.
Many of us adopt ordinariness or “aam’ behaviour by escaping
from the situation altogether.
An educated person uses intellectual pursuit as an
escape much as the front row watcher uses popular movie fare (to which we can
now add TV or internet fare). So it wouldn't be surpising to find Dr. Singh completely immersed in academic pursuits now that he has time on his hands.
But he will have to come up with something life altering for people to forget that he allowed himself to be a willing doormat for the ruling party.
Better to have a person vehemently agree or disagree than to
have one who does neither (akin to a “sannu ki” attitude), and continues to
remain in power, that too for two terms!
