KAHIHI

A leader, one who leads, as the word suggests, is supposed to be an icon, a confident example for the youth, and a strong shoulder for the old to rely on. Recently, one such man who personifies these qualities visited Mumbai, a city which is in dying need of a good leader and able administrator.

Barack Obama was in Mumbai. A man whom people have willingly elected as their President and given him the reigns of the most powerful office in the world. A man who when speaks has fullest of attention drawn to him, people listen without any hesitation and with pin drop silence interspersed with claps and applause. Back home, we have an equally mesmerising speaker-leader, who shares a similar stature and charm - Raj Thackeray.

Obama, a change America believed in and a change world saw. At his Hampshire speech, he upped the crowd frenzy with his words “change is what happening in America right now”. Every time he speaks, Obama seamlessly disseminates his energy to the crowd. And he does it the best. He conjures his vision of doing the best for America and that Americans deserve the best with the crowd that makes the entire environment zealous. That is what is needed in a speaker, a leader. And India lacks such a leader.

There are many leaders qualified to lead India, but we lack a man who shares his zeal, his love for India through his words, through his talks, and no doubt through actions.

There is one such marvellous speaker here in India, on the wrong path though, Raj Thackeray, whose objectives match that of Obama’s, of doing good for his men, however, his steps seem to have set off in the wrong direction. When he speaks, the crowd moves to his words, when he takes his patent pause the audience, all his nemesis miss their heartbeat.

“Yes We Can, three words that will ring from coast to coast and from sea to sea” and these three words did undoubtedly create a new chapter in history not only in America but in the whole world. He motivated people for a change through his words, through his speeches. And when he recently visited Mumbai, his interaction with the youth at St. Xavier’s College was inspiring for us young Indians to bring into politics a leader like him. The dialogue he held with the students, his tact of answering them – taking a pause, pondering over the question, composing an apt answer – show the great orator inside him.

One lucky student who got a chance to ask him a question, remarked, “Sir, someday I wish to be half as good as an orator you are”.

This reaction piteously exposes the dearth of good orators we have in our politics. And the handfuls that we have lack the charisma of holding people together merely by use of effective words. Some speak with accents we can’t understand, some way too loud and some like they are sharing a secret with the microphone. India needs charismatic leaders, who hold the public to their every word, who make people stand at their speeches without hesitation, who inspire the youth, who charge them up, and so on. Raj Thackeray fits into this description of orators. It is simply impossible to ignore him, though you may hear a lot of his hateful-stories. Allies or opposition people take notice of him, he makes them listen and everybody appreciates his oratory, though a few do so cowardly.

At St. Xavier’s, Obama gripped those present, with his alluring style, presenting the youth with three questions to answer and making us want for some more. One of his best answers was about whether material wealth, in very crisp words he just said, “Never preach an empty stomach”. He even remarked that he fell short of examples when making references to people like Gandhi and Dr. King. This shows his humbleness. This is something that Raj may have to work on; a little essence of humanity added to his words will make sampoorna Mumbai fall at his feet. Obama left an impression upon us youth that will last forever and a path that will be walked upon.

Politicians, in my generation, will not commit the mistakes of the older generation, but our own mistakes, in the President’s words. This grappling effect of the youth leaders will certainly make new icons among this generation that will fill in the gap that Indian politics and society desperately need. Raj and Obama can be our “Adarsh” to bring about the change that we have been waiting for long, way too long!

The day of our Independence was spent reasonably well, watching movies like Gandhi, Mountabatten - The Last Viceroy of India, Rang De Basanti, and listening to songs that echoed throughout the residential complex. The nasha just couldn't get enough and the heroics of freedom struggle kept resonating in my mind. It was certainly a constructive effort of all, who at that time fought for independence through their own means; everything looked justidied. However, as always it has been, Gandhiji still creates a lasting impression on my mind for the ways he adopted to get us freedom.

A compassionate being who, even at the peak of freedom struggle and amidst the conflicts of the national leaders then, firmly believed that "the British have stayed with us for long, we should part with them in a friendly manner with a smile", and hence denounced any kind of violence. His ideologies of non-cooperation and non-violence through the "Dandi March" and the "Quit India Movement", can be said to have triumphantly brought independence to us.

There are many who think that Gandhiji's principles were irrational and that he was the reason for partition, and that non-violence is a sign of spinelessness. However, for a moment, assume that, had we got our freedom through violence, bloodshed, and hatred; things would have been different today. Our beliefs in reaching the goal and achieveing what we want through fights and carnage would have become staunch - "fight for what you want and then kill if you don't get it". Had that been so, our nation today would have looked like the African countries and Afghanistan with even small children running around with guns and grenades instead of toys and cricket bats.

Somewhere, the Gandhian thought does leave a deep mark, if we rationally try to look at the happenings during our independence. Forget looking at God, or reading the Gita or Quran or the Bible. A sensible understanding about Gandhiji's view point will itself make one a peaceful human being, adept enough to choose between right and wrong.

Such was the greatness of that man, and we shall always remain grateful to that soul.

However, amidst such greatness, you sometimes need to taste the dust of regret and shame. For many, the freedom has come for free, and hence mostly, is taken for granted.

The CWG, mining scam, IPL frauds weren't enough, when one of our political leader made me fall flat on my face. The leaders who say, "we fight for the benefit of the nation", despite being in the opposition or in power, shamefully exhibit their knowledge about the same very country.

While rejoicing the movies and the songs, I happened to check my email and found this in my inbox.

Hareshwar Patil and gang, sadly do not know the difference between "Independence Day" and "Republic Day". And that too in the constituency of our dear (pun intended) Sanjay Nirupam, who ferociously brags on television channels about how he is so considerate about our nation. Which nation? May be a nation whose Republic Day coincides with our Independence Day.

And we shall always remain regretful to such souls.

- Amol Redij