Mansion

Mansion

For a career politician known for his faithful attention to detail and lack of flamboyance, his unremarkable last days in office as Finance Minister capped a long political career of 43 years. In 1978, it was Mr. Jyoti Basu, the legendary Communist Chief Minister of West Bengal who pitch-forked Mr. Mukherjee to New Delhi and the attention of Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

Mr. Mukherjee’s tenure at the helm of the Finance and other key Union Ministries over the years, and a plethora of Government GOMs, are not, distinguished with any breakthroughs or landmarks. His has been a talent for the balancing act behind the scenes, and the pushing of his Party’s agendas discreetly. For many years when the Congress Party ruled with Left Support, it was Mr. Mukherjee who was the key go-between. It may now account for Mrs. Mamta Banerjee’s hostility to his candidature as President.

Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, with his vast experience and knowledge of the inner workings of the Government, albeit in a rather non sequiturish, Yes Minister manner, should have little difficulty in essaying his new role. That is, as far as the routines and pageantry goes; and following the current incumbent, Mrs. Pratibha Patil, should prove to be a dawdle for him.

Mr. Mukherjee is already a master of procedure, protocol and indeed, the rule book. He knows almost every notable political personality in India today. In addition, his familiarity with the external relations of India and personal rapport with many leaders around the world, will, no doubt, serve the country well in his role as First Citizen.

Mr. Mukherjee is therefore expected to contribute flawlessly and learnedly to the ideas enshrined in the Constitution. But, if his track record is anything to go by, is unlikely to resist any attempts to interpret it, for better or worse, on the part of his political mentors in the Congress Party.

The resistance to the subversion of the Indian Constitution to serve narrow political objectives of the ruling Party, will lie, in its political weakness at the head of a restive coalition and indeed a vociferous Opposition. As for the Congress Party’s penchant to sponsor amendments to solidify its vote banks, it is the inability to muster the requisite number of votes that will protect the Indian people as a whole. And, of course, the ideas of fairness to all enshrined in the Constitution.

However, Mr. Mukherjee, if he stays true to form, is likely to come through with a biased call in the event of any tricky constitutional jugglery required by those to whom he owes his elevation. This particularly as Mr. Mukherjee, God willing, will preside over the coming General Elections in 2014 and the formation of the new, probably coalition Government, thereafter.

To be fair to the man, Mr. Mukherjee has announced his plans to resign from the primary membership of the Congress Party, in addition to laying down his office as Finance Minister and Head of various Committees before becoming the President.

While the “Becket Syndrome”, named after the famous Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury between 1162 and 1170, because Becket defied King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church apropos those of the State; could yet surprise us all; it seems unlikely.

As it stands, Mr. Mukherjee has more in common with those of our former constitutional heads of state who have played hand-maiden to the Government of the day, rather than those who have dispassionately, and “without fear or favour”, upheld the Indian Constitution.

And yet, the apparently malleable Mr. Mukherjee, who acquitted himself with fervour in the implementation of those aspects of the Emergency that fell to his lot, was not thought to be malleable enough to be made Prime Minister; or indeed, at first, President, by the current Head of the Congress Party, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. The reason may be his only known act of personal indiscretion which revealed an independent and even courageous streak. Mr. Mukherjee made a bid for the Prime Ministership just after Mrs. Indira Gandhi was assassinated, and before another “loyal” President, the late Giani Zail Singh chose Mr.Rajiv Gandhi to take over from his slain mother.

It is in this context also, that the challenge to his election from Mr. Purno Sangma, needs to be viewed. Mr. Sangma, as underdog and one time Sonia Gandhi baiter, is laying great stress on the secret ballot.

Mr. Mukherjee is also attributed with credit for the rise and rise of the Ambanis of Reliance and the decline of certain of its rivals. But, as usual, the favouring, if any, is in the tweaking of Government regulations and the fine print of possibility, rather than any crude exercise of power or the whiff of illegal gratification.

And, at all times, Mr.Mukherjee did no more than follow “his master’s voice”. It was Mrs. Indira Gandhi who was renowned for her inclination to arrange the political and business landscape to suit her own preferences.

  

The trouble with all this is its micro focus on minutiae. Mr. Mukherjee has always shied away from the big idea, probably thinking it was not his place to essay such notions. But the Congress Party culture prefers to attribute all policy to its First Family and its unshakable dynastic moorings.  

This even as the common observer may be forgiven for wanting to see something of Satyamev Jayate style Aamir Khan in scion and heir Rahul Gandhi. But, nature places its ideas in the heads it chooses to, and for the rest it is all tired formula and Party dogma.

India is currently suffering from a lack of bold and visionary leadership. Amongst the Congress Party and its self-seeking allies in UPA II, the burden is one part dynastic and one part Socialism that has long passed its sell-by date.

In the principal Opposition, namely the BJP, powerful in the States, and plagued by its negligible flock, and its so called “communal untouchability” - it is the attack, renewed and fired from a variety of shoulders, to bring down a proven and capable leader like Mr. Narendra Modi.

India is being reduced to the consequences of ideological bickerings on secularism and the evils of reforms, even as we sink lower and lower in every parameter of performance. Once we were the second fastest growing economy in the world. Now, we are a mass of contradictions and thwarted hopes.

A President can be more than the figure head of the Nation. He can lead and inspire. Will Mr. Mukherjee, ever the second man, rise to meet the destiny of the nation as First Citizen?

(1,100 words)

26^th June 2012

Gautam Mukherjee


Published as Leader Edit  on the Edit Page of The Pioneer on 28th June 2012 as "An excellent trapeze artiste" and online at www.dailypioneer.com