Any takers for this refreshing idea?

May 22, 2007

From the Staesman Editorial of 22/05/07

Edits

Anyone but a politician!

India in fact has many, many choices for President Politicians, especially lifelong career politicians, are held in extremely low esteem in the public mind of India today, and, regardless of party affiliation, are seen as corrupt, myopic, self-seeking and ignorant of the national good. Our first, second and third Presidents were exemplary role models ~ the first for his work in the Constituent Assembly, the second for his philosophical and other writings, the third for having created a fine university. Since then, standards palpably fell as career politicians took hold of India’s Presidency. One reason the current incumbent has been popular has been precisely because he has been seen (accurately or not) as coming from the world of science and technology. In the same vein, we have in this country numerous professions from among whom a fine President, man or woman, may be chosen. We could have, for example, a distinguished judge; a distinguished soldier, sailor, airman; a distinguished historian; a distinguished artist; or a man or woman of distinction from any of several dozen professions, including journalism if they run out of ideas. Any such person or a hundred others may be preferable to the country and better respected in public hearts and minds than a known political face who has spent his/her whole life climbing the greasy pole of power. A person of genuine achievement in any field will know quite reasonably well what success and failure is like in all walks of life. He/she may be a greater source of national inspiration and hope to all the people of the country. Let us hope, even if it is in vain, that our politicians see the truth in this and abstain from the temptation of choosing one or two of their own to run against each other.

Rajinder Sandhir