Sonia Gandhi. Too much has been said about this lady and not too well too. What is there to argue about? A Lok sabha of 543 or so needs a majority of 272 or so? whether it is got by hook or crook, meaning, whether the people chose it or whether their representatives did. A lady who was in the same Lok Sabha for the last term or so was elected head of the coalition that can get the 272 or more number.
So what?s the big deal all about?
Oh.. Didn?t you hear? She was born in Italy.
Oh! Is that so?
How in the hell did she get elected to the Lok Sabha then?
Oh! That.. it doesn?t matter.. she didn?t have too much power then.
So it al boils down to who has the power.. Ladies and Gentlemen? Sonia Gandhi.
Well.. so what?s the fuss about?
The fuss is? what if she was born in Pakistan instead of Italy? Would you have accepted her?
Well? first things first.. Had she been born in Pakistan, the most prestigious family of India wouldn?t have allowed her to be where she is now? there would have been no marriage.. Everything would have been taken care of.. if you understand that, that?s the way things are and will be, not just in India, but everywhere around the world. Everybody who has the power will work things to their advantage, first and foremost.
So, if she were a Pakistani, Mr. Gandhi would have known better. Second, even if he didn?t know any better, his family would have. And in the worst case, if they had not known any better too, the Congress would have, and then finally the people would most definitely have known better. If not, well we would have deserved it. So, then what?s the fuss about?
Well man.. Agreed she?s Italian.. But in India we are tolerant, so once she?s married into one of our families, we accept her as an Indian too. But the thing is, she?s supposedly dumb. She can?t make up her mind on anything.
Well, isn?t that something to laugh about? She led the Congress out of a slump and inspired a complete turnaround that has baffled not just everybody in India but al the political analysts across the world too.
Ah! That was easy.. a lot of Indians are dumb?
Well then.. We deserve a dumb leader?
NO.. That?s not it?. They aren?t dumb? It was her son that did the trick. It was his sweet and clean attitude like that of her husband?s that won her the election.
That?s mighty unfair man.. Don?t you expect a son to support his mother?s cause? Wasn?t it expected of him to campaign for her? Did she not cleverly manage how her son was held back until the right point of time. Perhaps she could have done better than that. But that?s beside the point. The point is? it served her purpose.
Well.. For one, it could have been her fair skin..
It is absurd to suggest that her skin now has all the charm. But it is indeed reasonable to suggest that a western upbringing makes you more disciplined, organized, and efficient in the matters of management. Well, that?s debatable too. Yes, but to a large extent, it is true. Don?t talk about IIMs now. Talk about people. Remember, that?s what got us where we are now? talking about urban and developed India.
In any case, I vote for her. I know and believe, enduring a life in India when she doesn?t need to, and facing all the ignominy of even being called an Italian bitch by an elected representative, the insult of hearing adjectives such as hooker being ascribed to her, I do certainly believe the lady has it in her to face any issue chin up. That attitude of hers and the grace with which she caries herself about, is good evidence for me.
She is Indian not by the dress she wears, not by religion, not by caste, upbringing, or any other but by volition. She had the choice and she made hers. We, as India had our choice and we made ours. So lets just shut up and be graceful in our acceptance of our choice. Indeed our choice did not give her party a complete majority. But, our representatives who have been chosen by us make the choice. Keep trust in your choices. Don?t be as fickle minded as this. Even if it is not your single choice, it is the choice of the majority.
Let them decide what is right now. Let us give her a chance to prove what she is worth. If she is not worthy of that office, it won?t be hers for long. If she is worthy of it, it is in our gain, that we get not just an Indian outlook but also a third outlook, and for the first time a western outlook that may not always necessarily be detrimental to our society. Those of you who are worried, she will sell India to Italy or act in such a way that the western civilization benefits from her decisions at her office, well let me quickly reassure you, she is not the only one in the office. There are people who can pull the carpet from under her feat. Does that make you sleep any better? Good!
Anyway, are you also not saying she is too dumb to even try anything fancy? Well, if she is so dumb indeed, then we have nothing to fear as far as conniving against our country is concerned. If you think that since she is dumb, the choices she might make will affect our nation, well there is an able body that will be with her, to govern not just our foreign policy but also every other goddamn thing in the country. It is not like, she is the only one on whom the entire nation rests.
Well.. if you say so.. but look at what Congress did to our country.. in all its years of power?
Ah! Now, Now, please don?t start with your history of Congress and its good deeds or bad ones.. or with the dynasty rule or with the Rajiv, Sanjay, Indira history. It is none of my concern. I have two choices today or perhaps three, INC, BJP or the Left, if you insist. My choice is and would have been the INC. I don?t want to delve into why..
That should have been done before the elections, not after.. Since the mandate is in our hands, let us not feel ashamed of our choice. Let us not make a fuss about it. Let us show the world we are liberal, which today, in the age where India is rising to meet International markets and trying to compete and co-exist, is a healthy sign for the world. It is a healthy sign that the world?s largest democracy with all its shortcomings is one up on the rest of the world to be able to trust its choice. If you believe, you can do a better job at governing, get going, get elected and fight your way up. Don?t start to bicker about dynasties, aristocracies, power and the like.
If you are not worthy of it, you wont get there. If someone who isn?t worthy of it gets there, be assured, he or she won?t last long there.
As a parting note, let me remind you one thing that is indeed true. That, when an Indian lady clad in a sari speaks with authority and the power that is bestowed on her, the world will listen. That when an Indian man clad in a dhoti speaks the same way, only his followers will listen. Well, I guess that is stretching things too far. Let me go a little further.
Will it be a spectacle to see an Italian born Indian lady, who is fair skinned and has a lot of power, speaking out to the world? I hope it will be and one that we will all hopefully come to respect. Here?s to you, Mrs. Gandhi. Our good wishes are with you. If the people have indeed chosen you, We choose you too.
