A few days back the congressman, Manishankar Aiyar, had made fun of Narendra Modi by saying that since he was a tea vendor he was welcome to put up a stall at the congress party's headquarters to provide tea to everyone and that he should stop nursing ambitions of becoming the Prime Minister of the country. How many votes have been weaned away from the congress party, in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, by this callous and insensitive statement is an answer that only time will tell. What he seems to have forgotten is that there's this huge population of 'tea vendors' and the constitution they pander to, on a daily basis, all over the country - who'd, during election after election voted for his party just because of their 'brand loyalty' - whom he's sullied with one single stroke. And, by the way, who gives him the right to ask an individual not to dream?
Much has been written and voiced about Aiyar's statement in the media who has mulishly refused to tender an apology and Modi has wasted no time in using it to underscore his humble beginnings!
What appalls me is that Aiyar - I'm told - comes from a well-to-do family, has been privileged to get educated in reputed institutions, has had his innings in the civil service before plunging into politics. With this envious(?) background, the question that comes to my mind is as to what makes him and his ilk - of course, there are many like him - say despicable things like this. Let me try to put down a few possibilities:-
(a) Completely ignorant about the fundamentals of life. Haven't they heard about the 'accident of birth'?
(b) Are trying to curry favour with the influential family of the congress. But won't they read him
through? One need not be more loyal than the king to prove one's allegiance!
(c) Are totally dumb and daft. They utter inanities just to be in the limelight.
(d) Are the 'fifth columnists' in the party who work from within to bring about its destruction, which is
their ulterior motive.
(e) Are simply arrogant and do not care a damn about the others, especially those who've not been
as well placed as they are, in society. Then, doesn't their championing the 'Panchayati Raj' system
sound hollow? I mean, whom are they trying to fool?
The statement that 'truth is stranger than fiction' rings true in this case.
Tailpiece.
1. What use is education if the upbringing or the fundamental education at home has been flawed?
2. One has been brought up drilled by the fact that one must never lose one's dignity or poise while facing an adversary even if he were to use unfair/questionable means.
3. And in a political battle, one's expected to fight the policies of a party and not the individuals.
PS.
I was reminded of a steward who'd asked me a question a long while back and I quote, "Sir, many of the people who come here in costly limousines and display airs use such bad language that I really can't find a difference between them and me. And I was always under the impression that good education meant good manners at all times".
I remember having taken a long time to respond to that observation of his.
Much has been written and voiced about Aiyar's statement in the media who has mulishly refused to tender an apology and Modi has wasted no time in using it to underscore his humble beginnings!
What appalls me is that Aiyar - I'm told - comes from a well-to-do family, has been privileged to get educated in reputed institutions, has had his innings in the civil service before plunging into politics. With this envious(?) background, the question that comes to my mind is as to what makes him and his ilk - of course, there are many like him - say despicable things like this. Let me try to put down a few possibilities:-
(a) Completely ignorant about the fundamentals of life. Haven't they heard about the 'accident of birth'?
(b) Are trying to curry favour with the influential family of the congress. But won't they read him
through? One need not be more loyal than the king to prove one's allegiance!
(c) Are totally dumb and daft. They utter inanities just to be in the limelight.
(d) Are the 'fifth columnists' in the party who work from within to bring about its destruction, which is
their ulterior motive.
(e) Are simply arrogant and do not care a damn about the others, especially those who've not been
as well placed as they are, in society. Then, doesn't their championing the 'Panchayati Raj' system
sound hollow? I mean, whom are they trying to fool?
The statement that 'truth is stranger than fiction' rings true in this case.
Tailpiece.
1. What use is education if the upbringing or the fundamental education at home has been flawed?
2. One has been brought up drilled by the fact that one must never lose one's dignity or poise while facing an adversary even if he were to use unfair/questionable means.
3. And in a political battle, one's expected to fight the policies of a party and not the individuals.
PS.
I was reminded of a steward who'd asked me a question a long while back and I quote, "Sir, many of the people who come here in costly limousines and display airs use such bad language that I really can't find a difference between them and me. And I was always under the impression that good education meant good manners at all times".
I remember having taken a long time to respond to that observation of his.
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