A Cheer For The Austere

Tehelka.com, 18th September, 2009

Cynicism is a national pastime, especially towards our politicians
RAVI SHANKAR

RAHUL GANDHI is not known to be a big eater. But when he visited Kalahandi and tribal hamlets in Orissa and Karnataka, sharing their austere food, meeting suicide-widows and sleeping in a farmer’s hovel, there was mocking laughter in Parliament. Cynicism is our national pastime. Especially towards our politicians. When Sonia, heeding her ‘inner voice’ refused to become the prime minister, in spite of the furious baying of dismayed sycophants, age-old cynicism winked at the generic memory of our democracy. But a little faith can go a long way. When Sonia travels economy class and Rahul takes a train let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. The Gandhis aren’t flashy people, their pedigree doesn’t include Vijay Mallya-like habits. When they go on an austerity drive, they mean to set an example. Perhaps, it is time to show faith.
In post-recession India, massive layoffs and defaults are the norm. Output of automobiles and commercial vehicles, steel, textiles, petrochemicals, infrastructure and real estate, finance and retail is down. According to noted economist Shankar Acharya, official financial data may show a serious slowdown in the second half of 2009, its gravity decelerating the full year’s growth to below 7 percent. India from flying first class and business class until late last year has been bumped down to economy.
Like Gandhi’s fasting, it’s not the politician who is important but what he draws our attention to
And it has taken an economy seat on an airline to remind our high-flying politicians that it is time to deal with the status of their carbon footprint. Predictably, now, they will scurry to fly economy in true sycophantic tradition. Unless of course, they have commandeered the private airplane of some businessman. And like all other symbolic acts of self-denial, this too will degenerate into a trend. Until the next Political Fashion Week. In politics, the Leader and his charisma are the fount of a party’s symbolism. His life and actions form the subtext of its political narrative. But between the small print, the countless followers take refuge. It was crusading Congressman Mohandas Gandhi who first effectively deployed the symbolism of austerity. The Congress Party’s 1971 slogan was “Garibi Hatao”. Indira Gandhi once drove through Delhi in a bullock cart, all the way from 1 Safdarjung Road to Parliament. Powerful gestures of political leaders are not to be taken literally. They are the result of some deeply personal baptism by public experience. Like Gandhi’s fasting, or Chandra Shekhar’s padayatras. It’s not the politician who is important, but what he draws our attention to. But in a short while, business class seats will be full of white khadi again. Political caravans will be led by Prados and Tuaregs. It is not a failure of leadership. It is the triumph of cynicism. But at least, it’s a start.