The stage is all set for Mr. Shashi Tharoor to enter state politics. He would be contesting on Congress ticket from the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. Having read many of his books and articles over the period of time, I have mixed feelings about this move from him.
The first question which comes to my mind is, why politics?
Has he run out of a job, a sense of purpose after losing to Ban-Ki-Moon in the UN Secretary General elections?
Is it the bid to complete his own ideology of filling in the gap of good educated politicians in the country compared to the US?
Or is it just another power monger in the fray?
I have seen Tharoor as a skilful writer with the right selection of words mixed with vibrant sarcasm and charishma. After working in the UN from the age of 22, I am also sure of the fact that he is a good diplomat too. After all he is the Global Leader of the world.(World Econimic Forum at Davos)
But, do one have to be the global leader to be a good leader in state politics. I feel it’s a totally different ball game. Let’s weigh them.
At this juncture where I am gonna vote for the first time, there are some qualities which I feel that the person whom I vote should have.
They are the sense of purpose, not to change the world all together, but to accept the things the way they are, yet trying their bit to make it a better place. He/she should know the people they represent. In fact truly REPRESENT them. Should be patient to listen to their pleas. Should be there for them. Should not disappear once they get elected to the Parliament and then never appear in their constituency! Should be knowledgeable of their constituencial problems atleast, forget solving them. Should proudly voice our concerns in the House.
I feel as a voter, I have the right to expect these from them. For that’s their job and they should be doing that without getting malignant.
I understand the dilemma of the voters in TVM. On one side they would be happy that they are getting a choice to vote for one of the greatest diplomats from the contemprory stage. Yet they would be concerned for his inability with the mother tongue, his less experience in the state matters as such, although he has been a frequent visitor to the place.
What surprises me is his allegiance to Congress which he has so much criticised in his works. Was he just opting for the better among the lots? What was his preference criterion then? I am puzzled. I am sure the people of TVM would also be.
I remember during my college days, he had come to MASCOT (a 5 star hotel) to deliver a speech. But, TVM is not just MASCOT. As a politician he has bigger responsibilities to fulfill.
Is he ready to come out of the MASCOTS and the TAJ and plunge into the difficult world of state politics where fair deals are many a time rare. I am sure he would have got a pinch of it, with the youth wing of congress opposing his candidature. That’s just a beginning.
I am assuming that he is living his ideal of getting to serve his country which he is so very boastful in his works. No one who has read him can doubt his passion for India.
I just hope that the passion for his India and my India gets converted to the compassion for the needy. I hope that he becomes a fair politician.
I wish him all the very best!
7 comments:
Radhee..
I loved the topic. And the write up. A question top most on everyone's mind - Why is he here? With people like Mallika Sarabhai and Tharoor in the fray, as either independent candidates or with some or the other party, the face of Indian politics seems to be changing. And i feel happy.. Coz though inexperienced what they will bring into this election is another view point. another perspective.. and herein you have penned the very same questions which Tharoor would have to answer, IF he has to stage a win. But I guess most folks in Tvm itself would be of the same mindset as Sandy who says - "Can't even speak proper Mal. There is no way he can win!!".. Here is wishing that the best happens. Here is to your writeup and your hope!!
de tharoor fan bak at work!!!
good to see u blog again..
i mite as well remain de diplomat who hear arguements from both de sides..dats vat suits me de best ;)
mm..lotsa debates..lotsa arguements..even dats vat tomy n nani does at home des days :)no..dats vat de do everyday..jus dat, rite now de got an additional topic ;)
keep writin rakri!!! lukn out for more..
"power or empowerment??" , this very question has been haunting me ever since Tharoor announced his his willingness to fight elections.. again i am confused by de dichotomy of the situation, as a voter from trivandrum, i would obviously want someone who will be ready to attend to the problems of the common man, for which knowing de vernacular is a priority.. nd when i think of the larger picture and evaluate the goods he can bring to country in de position of external affairs minister , a position bull shitted by the present incumbent pranab.. in de coming years when the question of foreign affairs will be very relevant considering that we are half way through nuclear treaty, as a neo-liberal indian youth, i take it as a moral responsibility on myself to get him elected.. If he stands up to what he preaches in his book, we can look forward to a bright future for the country..
awesome as always radhee..
u have very correctly captured the feelings n apprehensions of the common man...
do keep blogging more often..
Nice write up Kris!! One controversial point i would put across here, politics is eyewash!,you re thinking from the eyewash perspective!
What do you want from the politician, to develop and grow the region where he operates from, irrespective of which hotels he visits or whether he wears an Armani or Mundu!!
I feel this guy knows what the country needs now, if this is sufficed the peoples needs are automatically satisfied!
Think before you cast your vote:)
I need to give a simple,common mans view of ur write up
I disagree with the views expressed here..He may be a good diplomat but that doesnt herald him as a good politician.Whatever his supporters say,I dont believe he can identify th e pulse of the country.He may be a better presenter of people s problem since he is well versed in English.After hearing that Sonia Gandhi raised just two questions regarding her constituency Amethi..I dont believe in all these projections.With full regards to his diplomatic and other skills,I dont believe in his political will..One more thing ,since he cannot reach out to the public easily he can rely only on the kowtows who will protect only their personal interest..He will be tied up. I am not forgetting the fact that the diplomatic stalwart VK Keishna menon was elected from TVM..but the times have changed ,we should not only think of the candidates but also who is going to control them when they get elected ..
female...
the elections are over and the common man's votes have been cast.
well am jus surprised that u have doubts regarding ppl like tharoor.
He seems to be fresh air in the midst of this mess we call state politics with choked out bearers of the red... yes thats the ardent fan of the nehru legacy speaking.
But i cud even argue my point out.
U think any other person who speaks malayalam wud jus sort out all the probs that tvm has...don the so-called leader of the ppl and the neo-stalin pinarayi reside in Tajs..,does he not send his own son to London while hammering out several self financing colleges popping up in the state in the name of poor ppl...is tat not hypocrisy????????
lets try this man who is there to be a change..??????????
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