[ A fictional account of thoughts of a person who rose from humble origins to become Prime Minister of India, a person second perhaps only to Nehru in political astuteness and vision. "The Insider" -- a semi-autobiographical account of PV Narasimha Rao ends at the point where he, an outsider in reality, finally becomes the insider..Just thought of typing some thoughts with lots of idealism ingrained in the character which many may refute. Its a work of fiction nonetheless and my way of paying tribute to the great leader]
Destiny is often met in the very path we take to avoid it.
And fate intervenes precisely when you’ve finally figured
out what you want to do for the rest of life.
Not that it was new to me. My journey – from humble
origins from a Princely State in
pre-independent India to a close ally of the supreme head of
Independent India – had prepared me to face the vicissitudes of life. A journey
involving tenacious opposition to every step I took towards
bettering India.
Having seen India passing a phase of being
subservient to foreigners to becoming rulers of their own fate – I had high
hopes for my country. My own feeble efforts towards the out-throwing of a monarch
in my region gave me the first taste of blood…..a blood determined not to allow
someone else to impose his will on us.
I persevered – long in the sidelines – waiting for an
opportunity to usher a regime of change. It was a really really long and hazardous
journey in the sea of anonymity and behind the scenes. India had not
lived up to its potential – I always felt. When much more was right within our
reach, we were struggling like an eagle that assumes itself to be turkey and
limits its imagination to grow…
The so-called successes were only the outcome of
correcting mistakes – which we should never have committed in the first place.
That these vast resources cannot be enjoyed by a minority while million others
languish in pitiable conditions under the spell of poverty! Our duty was not to
make Indiarich – it’s to make Indians rich.
A nation doesn’t comprise merely a land, natural
resources, vegetation, livestock etc….its main constituent is the PEOPLE. It’s
not an iron spell of fate that has doomed India to such a pathetic
condition; it was the result of conscious decisions of people who never
realized that politics is an instrument to enrich the country – not an art of
capturing the office.
As if in an answer to my prayers, I was elevated to the
position of Chief Minister of my region. That was not necessarily because
anyone saw any merit in me but as a compromise candidate I was considered best
in light of the disturbing conditions in the state. My vision was now aided by
the political machine.
With a series of steps, dramatic changes were brought
around. With a sweep, I introduced schemes that were aimed at leveling
regional, economical & social disparities. I was confident that by the
time my term ends the good work would already be initiated and even if I do not
continue I can heave a sign of relief that my life has not been without a
meaning to the masses and to myself.
Alas, I now realize that I grossly underestimated the
extent to which I cut the arms of the very powerful elite that brought me to
power. And how, my schemes to eliminate disparity at the grassroots levels had
spiral effect on the top people who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the
loot.
Naïve as I was, it never dawned on me that they would
dislodge me because I was stopping them from having the rightful “share”. I was
to face the humiliation of quitting the office despite my party having a
majority in assembly and to top it was a Presidential rule.
That had a lasting impact on my political ambitions. I
was disillusioned for a while and to keep the life going was assisting the
first family of India in whose eyes I was reasonably useful person. I
was lending my ideas, my words to these people who dramatically enhanced their
impact like a cinestar.
But the damage was done. I foresaw that I had no scope of
ever leading my region or nation and my ideas could never be translated to
action. The writing on the wall was pretty clear. I was contemplating a quiet
life with my books and personal hobbies leaving my hopes forever. Already I was
advancing in this direction.
And suddenly…it all changed. Our leader, a charismatic
person, an unbelievably young Prime Minister was assassinated in a bomb blast
in a function atSouth India. The leadership vacuum he left was getting
unmanageable. The country was in chaos. So was the economy. The communal
harmony so laboriously maintained thus far was disturbed due to an immature
action of the late PM.
The nation was heading to a total chaos with multiple
powers raging for their share from the people. The young lion-cub left too much
vacuum behind and hundreds of wolves were racing to fill in the gap.
The winds of change set in. There were whispers that I
could be fielded as PM candidate – a compromise candidate, again – for the
time-being. My advanced age they felt ensured their free run while I would
remain as a mute figurehead! At the moment, I was uncharismatic, powerless, of
frail health – a perfect combination of attributes for becoming PM?
As I looked at the newspapers already hinting the
readers, I was ………happy? No, I felt a heightened sense of surroundings….My
senses more keen than ever as if imploring me that their contribution would be
maximum in my final battle.
I felt that I was born for this moment – all my life, all
hardships, all humiliations were but a preparation for this moment.
Armed with experience, fuelled by resentment, emboldened
by hardships, matured by victimization – I decided that this was my final
chance. I have at best 5 years with me. Whatever I do during this period must
have a lasting impact on my people….The very scale of development should be
such that it cannot be undone by my successors.
Ideas do not die with the individual! And my goal – would
be to do whatever is in the best interests of the millions of my countrymen.
While others knew the art of politics, I knew the art of POWER!!
The rules, ideas, ideologies of the past belong to that
era. To attempt to solve the new age problems through aged ideologies is
tantamount to prescribing agriculture to a problem resulting from
industrialization.
I will try to do solve the problems that bother us. And
opposition? They themselves have taught me how to deal with them….My aim, my
goal, my vision – that of bettering India – is the most important
ideal to me. For me, anyone else however prominent is secondary to my ideal.
I will do everything that I can to handle these forces
that might impede the country’s progress. I know – I am buying lots of
displeasure from various powerful people who would haunt me the moment I step
down the power. But that doesn’t daunt me the least. The individual in me might
succumb, not the IDEA. The idea lives on if it passes on to other minds.
For me to do execute my vision, I also have to put the
first family in the backburner. So be it. I may be denied any official
appreciation…..but appreciation cannot be calibrated. My image will rest with
those who in hindsight will observe the good that I have done to my nation! My
brand may not be owned by my party…but the people themselves in due course of
time own it.
Guiding me was an image of a brahmin born two millenniums
ago……a man who single-handedly created a empire who fame lasts as uncorroded as
the pillar that found its way through our national emblem. A person who
personified the art of diplomacy to control all opposing forces and who groomed
a lion that shattered the wolves plundering the people!
I will make sure that I will not
let India remain as poor as it is today! I WILL!!!
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