Rooting for Rahul

Four things are common between RG (as Rahul Gandhi is affectionately called) and me. We both were mediocre in college, we both are eligible bachelors, we both wear specs and we both are ambitious. But two major differences are: The world knows him and his father was Prime Minister. Now, let’s talk some sense.

A decade ago I was an ardent supporter of Atal Bihari Vajpayee because he had a vision for the country and thought not for himself but for his countrymen. Now, I see a similar leader in RG. In a cover story in its latest issue, the Newsweek terms RG as ‘the quiet revolutionary’. Let me summarize what it has to say about him.

• He stands for secularism, good governance and growth; is above narrow identity politics.
• He is creating space for fresh ideas, competence and youthful energy.
• He tried to acquaint with poor, rural India by numerous ‘discovery of India’ tours to remote and neglected villages. It’s a big deal for a scion where politicians prefer to travel in air-conditioned comfort.
• He wants to give ‘opportunities’ which he believes is the only difference between a rich man and poor man. Thus, comes up the concept of ‘inclusive growth’.
• He wants to enlist 10 million young people into the party's youth wing and hold democratic elections to produce new leaders from among them.

Now, imagine if given the chance any politician in India would renounce Prime Ministership? Not once but twice? While greedy and corrupt politicians are obsessed with their small and short term goals and have personal ambitions, I don’t see any reason not to believe that RG is like an oasis in the desert: our last hope.