O, blest retirement! friend to life's decline -
How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these,
A youth of labor with an age of ease!
- Oliver Goldsmith
How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these,
A youth of labor with an age of ease!
- Oliver Goldsmith
The bucket list is a movie with a chronicle of two aged individuals, performed by Jack Nicholson and Morgan freeman, who, upon realising that only few years are at hand, upon concluding that bitter family ties may not turn sweet, decide to live their dreams.
Reflection of these bucket list characters can be seen in Indian political parlance. There are two individuals who appear to be wearing same shoes as the oldies in the film.
Dr. Manmohan Singh, who lives more by accidents than choices, is heading the government at the centre. From being liberal economist turned finance minister to the Prime Minister who, at first, appeared serious enough for the job, everything was an accident. A Serendipitous life.
Reflection of these bucket list characters can be seen in Indian political parlance. There are two individuals who appear to be wearing same shoes as the oldies in the film.
Dr. Manmohan Singh, who lives more by accidents than choices, is heading the government at the centre. From being liberal economist turned finance minister to the Prime Minister who, at first, appeared serious enough for the job, everything was an accident. A Serendipitous life.
L K Advani, who probably lives by choices turned into accidents, still nurtures the dream of leading the government one day. From being a Hindu nationalist to the one who praised Jinnah on Pakistani soil, everything was a well thought strategy. He is still waiting for his serendipitous moment.
Manmohan Singh became Prime minister accidentally; Advani wants to become Prime minister willingly. With their respective reasoning, one seeks to get out; one seeks to get in.
Having scaled great height in public life, both appear to be standing unaccompanied like an unwanted old member of a family who, at best, can only offer advice even if there are no takers for it. Despite setbacks on several occasions, the desire to keep trying is still alive. It appears to be an old age rigidity that refuses to die.
General elections of 2009 brought an unforeseen success for UPA that, apart from Gandhi family, was credited to Manmohan Singh as well. He was again given an opportunity to head the government. Display of no nonsense attitude toward work and commitment impressed many in Singh's first term as the Prime Minister. As it appears now, Congress party seems to have left him alone in the battlefield. He is stuck to the chair that majority of Congress leaders, even if implicitly, want him to quit.
Manmohan Singh was appreciated for his silence, now that very silence has been haunting him everyday. Several caricatures find their inspiration in Manmohan Singh's silence on all issues. He realises his dwindling stature in the government and the party. Hence, he is his own guardian. When allocation of everything is turning into some scam, Manmohan has decided not to allot anything at all. Hence, the paralysis has hit his government that has blocked policy decisions.
The same general elections of 2009 turned into a bitter reality check for L K Advani. Despite projecting him as Prime Ministerial candidate, BJP suffered big loss in terms of numbers. UPA's dismal record couldn't be turned into NDA's victory. Advani had to give up his position as leader of opposition too. Apart from other reasons, Advani's blend of Rath Yatra and oratory brought BJP to the level of forming the government at the centre. This blend took him to the chair of deputy prime minister. It is the last mile that looks difficult. But that doesn't discourage this octogenarian leader from keep digging until he gets hold of the treasure that, he still believes, is meant for him. Looking at the current developments, it appears that Advani still hopes to secure another nomination for 2014 general elections. At the same time, the iron man is also witnessing his diminishing stature within the party.
Both Congress, BJP wish to see their leaders as history. It is the perseverance of these leaders that refuses to become part of history as yet.
BJP doesn't need Advani anymore apart from having his face on campaign posters, a fact that Advani himself knows. Congress can't have Manmohan Singh anymore, an unfortunate fact that Manmohan knows quite well. Even if this remains a reality, inner crisis in both the parties give these two leaders an opportunity to stay put.
Even if it is assumed that both leaders earned more than expected in public life, there can be no reason for not seeing them still lingering around with a list of wishes in their buckets.
Commitment to the ideals can make leaders hang on. The fulfillment of the dreams, realisation of importance of those commitments to the next generation; assurance that the cause they toiled for these many years will remain supreme can be expectation enough for leaders to hang on.
Some will also say that exodus from public scene is not a requisite. Fair enough, but departure matters if one wishes to be remembered, and remembered for good deeds. Neither Advani nor Manmohan seem to be in a hurry to hang up their boots.
Shane Warne declared departure from International cricket when he was at peak of his career. That presents two significant scenarios. First, you quit with stature that followers appreciate and cherish for years; second you quit and yet remain relevant.
When the party cares less for what a veteran has to say, retreat from the scene remains the only intelligent choice. There can only be one advice for these two veterans of Indian politics- Leave. Leave before they start ignoring, stop listening, and start loathing.
General elections of 2009 brought an unforeseen success for UPA that, apart from Gandhi family, was credited to Manmohan Singh as well. He was again given an opportunity to head the government. Display of no nonsense attitude toward work and commitment impressed many in Singh's first term as the Prime Minister. As it appears now, Congress party seems to have left him alone in the battlefield. He is stuck to the chair that majority of Congress leaders, even if implicitly, want him to quit.
Manmohan Singh was appreciated for his silence, now that very silence has been haunting him everyday. Several caricatures find their inspiration in Manmohan Singh's silence on all issues. He realises his dwindling stature in the government and the party. Hence, he is his own guardian. When allocation of everything is turning into some scam, Manmohan has decided not to allot anything at all. Hence, the paralysis has hit his government that has blocked policy decisions.
The same general elections of 2009 turned into a bitter reality check for L K Advani. Despite projecting him as Prime Ministerial candidate, BJP suffered big loss in terms of numbers. UPA's dismal record couldn't be turned into NDA's victory. Advani had to give up his position as leader of opposition too. Apart from other reasons, Advani's blend of Rath Yatra and oratory brought BJP to the level of forming the government at the centre. This blend took him to the chair of deputy prime minister. It is the last mile that looks difficult. But that doesn't discourage this octogenarian leader from keep digging until he gets hold of the treasure that, he still believes, is meant for him. Looking at the current developments, it appears that Advani still hopes to secure another nomination for 2014 general elections. At the same time, the iron man is also witnessing his diminishing stature within the party.
Both Congress, BJP wish to see their leaders as history. It is the perseverance of these leaders that refuses to become part of history as yet.
BJP doesn't need Advani anymore apart from having his face on campaign posters, a fact that Advani himself knows. Congress can't have Manmohan Singh anymore, an unfortunate fact that Manmohan knows quite well. Even if this remains a reality, inner crisis in both the parties give these two leaders an opportunity to stay put.
Even if it is assumed that both leaders earned more than expected in public life, there can be no reason for not seeing them still lingering around with a list of wishes in their buckets.
Commitment to the ideals can make leaders hang on. The fulfillment of the dreams, realisation of importance of those commitments to the next generation; assurance that the cause they toiled for these many years will remain supreme can be expectation enough for leaders to hang on.
Some will also say that exodus from public scene is not a requisite. Fair enough, but departure matters if one wishes to be remembered, and remembered for good deeds. Neither Advani nor Manmohan seem to be in a hurry to hang up their boots.
Shane Warne declared departure from International cricket when he was at peak of his career. That presents two significant scenarios. First, you quit with stature that followers appreciate and cherish for years; second you quit and yet remain relevant.
When the party cares less for what a veteran has to say, retreat from the scene remains the only intelligent choice. There can only be one advice for these two veterans of Indian politics- Leave. Leave before they start ignoring, stop listening, and start loathing.
