I am a cynic and my persona does not welcome self-styled “do gooders”. This is what the Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party plans to do, at least says that it plans to do – do good to society, extirpate corruption. Logically speaking, then, I should not be welcoming it.
But I do, logic be damned.
The anti-corruption brigade entering the political playing field under the banner of AAP offers me an opportunity to learn how a supposedly apolitical mass movement can crystallize and, surprise, become a political party! This is a live demonstration.
In my lifetime, I have had only few such opportunities: one, South Africa becoming unapartheidic (I do not believe apartheid has an established and frequently used antonym) and becoming a nation. Two, Vietnam getting decolonized and becoming a nation. One actually witnesses the progress of nationhood in both these instances. I am hoping that AAP will be chance for me to learn how a partyhood establishes itself and progresses.
True, over the past 40 years plus when I have slowly become aware of political movement and politics there have been any number of parties, like SP, BSP, Shiv Sena, MNS, Trinamool Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Indian National Lok Dal, any of the local (sub-regional?) parties that dot the landscape of Tamil Nadu such as AIADMK, PMK, MDMK, coming into existence. But, as far as I understand none of them claims to carry a national mandate, much less a universal one. And, that is the USP of AAP.
As a political party, how will it eschew intra-party politics? Can it develop a corruption-inoculated hierarchical system? Within the corrupt system, how would AAP stand out, sequester itself? It must have a super-robust party constitution, by-laws etc. If such can be arranged and managed, can that be scaled up? If yes, will it argue for revamping Indian constitution along those lines? Even if it were to achieve this task, how will it get through the rest of the political system, with its corrupt parties? Or, will the nation, over a short term, adopt a one party state and AAP being that party? As the sole party, will it resist the temptation of becoming dictatorial?
So many questions and AAP, if successful in the elections, can go towards answering at least a few of them.
Now you understand why I welcome AAP within the folds of our corrupt political system.
Raghuram Ekambaram
P.S By the way, are there political parties that expressly claim that they will let the issue of corruption go unaddressed?
But I do, logic be damned.
The anti-corruption brigade entering the political playing field under the banner of AAP offers me an opportunity to learn how a supposedly apolitical mass movement can crystallize and, surprise, become a political party! This is a live demonstration.
In my lifetime, I have had only few such opportunities: one, South Africa becoming unapartheidic (I do not believe apartheid has an established and frequently used antonym) and becoming a nation. Two, Vietnam getting decolonized and becoming a nation. One actually witnesses the progress of nationhood in both these instances. I am hoping that AAP will be chance for me to learn how a partyhood establishes itself and progresses.
True, over the past 40 years plus when I have slowly become aware of political movement and politics there have been any number of parties, like SP, BSP, Shiv Sena, MNS, Trinamool Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Indian National Lok Dal, any of the local (sub-regional?) parties that dot the landscape of Tamil Nadu such as AIADMK, PMK, MDMK, coming into existence. But, as far as I understand none of them claims to carry a national mandate, much less a universal one. And, that is the USP of AAP.
As a political party, how will it eschew intra-party politics? Can it develop a corruption-inoculated hierarchical system? Within the corrupt system, how would AAP stand out, sequester itself? It must have a super-robust party constitution, by-laws etc. If such can be arranged and managed, can that be scaled up? If yes, will it argue for revamping Indian constitution along those lines? Even if it were to achieve this task, how will it get through the rest of the political system, with its corrupt parties? Or, will the nation, over a short term, adopt a one party state and AAP being that party? As the sole party, will it resist the temptation of becoming dictatorial?
So many questions and AAP, if successful in the elections, can go towards answering at least a few of them.
Now you understand why I welcome AAP within the folds of our corrupt political system.
Raghuram Ekambaram
P.S By the way, are there political parties that expressly claim that they will let the issue of corruption go unaddressed?
8 comments:
I feel happy, Raghuram. I'm happy you are venturing out...
Kejriwal won't achieve anything great, perhaps. But he deserves a chance simply because no other Indian emerged promising anything like what he has done.
We can question him later about his promises. But shorn of other options in this great democracy, I WILL vote him.
Then Matheikal, please be ready to answer questions on his behalf :)
RE
I guess the keywords in your blog is "supposedly apolitical".
A pity Kejri wasn't creative in choosing a name.
Btw, have you followed the development of the Pirate Party?
Excuse the typo...it should be...are "supposedly apolitical"...
I was focusing too much on "supposedly"...:-)
Hi Arjun, I am sure you are the Pirate-in-Chief, what with the face mask and all :)
Kejriwal has too many things on his plate, like how to pro-actively uncorrput the people who are lining up behind him, to worry about the name of his party!
RE
Raghuram,
I was referring to the party in Germany (and not my own herd)...:-)
The following article on the Pirates and why they are losing popularity might apply to the Rise and Fall of the Kejri:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/pirate-party-in-germany-loses-popularity-amid-growing-problems-a-851864.html
Obviously I am not that aware of things happening around in the world, NNE! I will go to the link and see what it has.
RE
Arjun, I read that link and also a couple of others ... Not impressed, as yet ... I'll wait and see. I am not sure Kejri, as you call him, will dare try anything even close.
RE
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