New Delhi: In the midst of a raging debate over Rahul Gandhi's future role in the Congress- the man in question-Rahul Gandhi himself is away reportedly to introspect. At the height of the ongoing agitation against the Land Acquisition Bill, Rahul Gandhi who wanted to lead the party agitation is not there. What went in his mind that he decided to leave the national capital on the eve of the budget session? Is this an act of rebellion or a 'break' before the big announcement in April?
Everyone is making their own guesses. Many feel that Rahul is almost always away when the Congress needs him the most. According to India Today, Rahul has the fifth-worst report card among all the Congress MPs with an attendance record of 13.64% in the standing committees where he is a member.
The 2014 contest was seen to be an unequal fight between Modi and Rahul. Rahul Gandhi represented Congress's 10 years of incumbent government, corruption, scams while Modi rode on claims and the promise of development. Most of us in the media were in the awe of the idea of high tech campaign (including multi cam set ups at rallies, new ideas like chai pe charcha) by the BJP, while the Congress was still 'figuring out' things.
If one recalls correctly, the headlines were different in 2009, most newspapers and TV Channels hailed and praised Rahul Gandhi and some headlines suggested "The rise and surprise of Rahul Gandhi" writing editorials that he will lead to the party to full majority in 2014 with him as the Prime Minister.
How has everything changed in just five years? Are we judging too soon a man who is the political heir of a dynasty of formidable national leaders including Nehru and Indira Gandhi? Not many agree but Gandhis have sacrificed a lot for this nation and the name also carries an obligation.
Well, Rahul Gandhi does come across as a 'reluctant leader'. Did he even want to be in politics at the first place? Some say he did not want to join politics just like his father who wanted to lead a discreet life away from the limelight.
For reasons as obvious as an absolute lack of privacy, the need to be in public life and not being able to be yourself. There are now lots of expectations from the grandson of a lady who not only saw India through the most turbulent times but has been by far the most powerful Prime Minister since independence.
In numerous interviews, Indira Gandhi had said her sons were not interested in politics and that she would do whatever to keep them away from the world of politics.
Rahul Gandhi, in the present scenario is seen to be unsure of taking up the task of huge expectations from him proactively. When he was made the Vice President of the party, it was taken that stage is set for him and it was expected of him to deliver. All decisions in the party were seen as his and so were electoral battles.
Reports suggest that Rahul's plans for a leadership transformation in the party and his ideas are met with resistance; he is dismissed at all levels- workers, district level leaders and top leadership. Some suggest he wants to bring new breed of leaders, decentralize the party and allow bottom up internal democracy to prosper.
Quoting him from his speech at "the Jaipur Chintan Shivir" Power is grossly centralized in our country. We only empower people at the top of a system. We don't believe in empowering people all the way to bottom" How many in the Congress would support Rahul Gandhi in this regard? Is he fighting a lone battle for nurturing internal democracy and his mother and the old guard are not paying much heed? Many critics even say that he has neither the ideas nor the energy to initiate change.
A section in the Congress feels Priyanka Gandhi is more capable of taking charge than her elder brother. Rahul was told by some Congress workers in Amethi ahead of Lok Sabha 2014 "Rahul bhaiya, Amit Shah ka jawab sirf Priyanka Gandhi... aur koi nahi (Brother Rahul,Priyanka Gandhi is the answer to Amit Shah... no one else). Is the Congress willing to give charge to Priyanka who comes with the Vadra baggage? Her husband is seen to be a corrupt man who amassed amount of wealth during Congress party's rule. As the Congress feels that its only hope for survival is the same dynasty, is Rahul then the only answer for the party?
With burden of perception and expectations around Rahul Gandhi- From being called 'Shehzada'(Prince), to Rahul Baba(A term generally used for babies), one would find several satirical takes on his lifestyle, luxuries he got as a child and a comfortable position of Vice President.
In fact, on social media websites like twitter and facebook and even on WhatsApp, it has become 'cool' to share Rahul Gandhi jokes. Has the Congress done little to manage his image more actively, and do it quickly? PM Modi, during his Lok Sabha campaign said "Rahul is born with the silver spoon, how would he understand poverty"? What do we really know about the man, his childhood, his failings, his abilities and his limitations? Did Rahul have a comfortable childhood? I found little to read on his childhood when I tried as he leads a private life and one can hardly find any details of his childhood, upbringing and choices.
Despite a seemingly privileged life, he led a difficult childhood- he witnessed the circumstances in which his grandmother passed away, the Emergency, how his father took over despite his wishes and then his father's assassination.
Rahul Gandhi was close to one year and Sonia Gandhi in advanced stage of pregnancy, when Indira Gandhi gave orders to General Sam Maneckshaw for the Bangladesh liberation war. Javier Moro in his book has explained Sonia Gandhi was the biggest confidant of Indira Gandhi and she preferred sharing most about the country's affairs with Sonia Gandhi, who was then a homemaker.
Sonia Gandhi was very frightened with the turn of events but did not show. Moro also talks about how Rajiv Gandhi shared with his companions on how much he wanted to sleep next to his family soon after his Sriperumbudur campaign.
He never returned.
Many of us get compelled to accept the reality of death of our parents but the void that can never be replaced. Despite anger both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi did not favour death penalty for those involved. Sonia Gandhi did not want to create one tragedy from another, felt her children were left without a father and no other child needs to be left an orphan.
Due to the security threats after Indira Gandhi's assassination Rahul and Priyanka were home schooled and after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination Rahul was shifted to Rollins college. His name was Raul Vinci and his identity was known only to the university officials and security agencies.
Is Rahul Gandhi different from India's politicians? We live in the era of hat-trick winners like Modi and leaders in hurry like Kejriwal. Will India be patient enough for the re-launch of Congress party under Rahul Gandhi?
Rahul touched the right chords during his speeches at Chintan Shivir in Jaipur when he said "We need the aam aadmi to participate in our politics. Because even as I speak theirfuture is being decided in closed rooms. There is a young and impatient India and it is demanding a greater voice in the nation's future" but was he able to reach out to the Aam Aadmi? Did he have limitations to do so? Some of us think what can stop the Gandhi scion in taking calls within the party?
Only top Congressmen can tell if he makes decisions or his decisions and choices are caught in between his supporters within the party and the old guard that Sonia Gandhi is trying to keep together.
Sociologist Dipankar Gupta suggests "Rahul Gandhi considers today's India to be the India of 70s, when Indira Gandhi gave the slogan 'Garibi Hatao'.
I do recall Rahul reading out a sheet of paper in Parliament that the Lokpal should have constitutional status. On RTI, he said: "The single biggest attack on the closed system of governance is the RTI. Information is power, he said. He has been making all the right noises but does he have the support within Congress? His interview to Arnab Goswami of Times Now before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, made most feel he is some kind of loser but to me he looked natural, nervous but yet more dedicated than most people in politics
In December 2012, when India was angry because of Delhi gang rape, Rahul did not meet the demonstrating crowds and failed to make a statement. People shouted slogans "India's youth is here, where is Rahul Gandhi"? Most of us would guess if Indira Gandhi was alive, she would be the first person to join the crowds. But does Rahul aspire to be Indira? And is India living in the same times as Indira did? Rahul Gandhi looks to be in no hurry to juggle around and change the face of Indian National Congress.
Would Congress ever unite and stand with Rahul Gandhi like it did when Sonia led a march from party headquarters to the former Prime Minister's residence to express solidarity after Singh was summoned in a coal scam case. That was moving. The united and organized front made it clear that if Congress unanimously wants it can support Rahul Gandhi in the same way.
Congress has suffered many set backs, and if it has been able to get back to power under the leadership of an "Italian housewife", it surely has the ability to get back. The recent Delhi setback with Congress reaching zero sure was perhaps the worst of Congress's nightmares in a city that was led by the party for three consecutive terms and gave a stable government.
So was Rahul Gandhi really unfair to India and to the Indian National Congress to take a break from the pressing work? Don't we all get depressed after set backs? We all take breaks to reflect on our lives and at times at work. What is the big deal if Rahul Gandhi also takes a break?
My suggestion to Rahul Gandhi will be to come back with clarity on how to revive the Congress and fight the general perception created against him.
(Anshu Chhibber is Forward Planning and Assignment Editor, CNN-IBN)
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