Something about the state of Denmark – Tribute to another Gandhi

While trying to remain non-political, I watch all political events very closely as the environmental analysis is vital for survival strategy. Many people have asked me, an irritant actually, which party I vote for. I have a standard answer, “Opposition. Even if The Goat party was there, it would have been the same. To live in a democracy, you must always try to strengthen the opposition”. Freedom, I repeat, is the most important asset in a man’s life.

Any sane person in west Bengal will agree that for the health of the democracy and public interest, the Government should be changed at least once after a long long 32 years. Though I have a deep regard for the Chief Minister personally, in spite of his some arrogant remarks, I understand that he is not his party and definitely not the democracy which should be the supreme. With the arrogant anti-people Mafiosi style highly organized squeeze apparatus that is often run by the middle level leaders controlled at the top end, if the opposition was not fighting along against all odds, by this time we would have to get up in the morning and run to the queue in front of the “local committee” for permission to brush my teeth or to go to the loo.

It’s lovely that a single-point leadership-based and inconsistent Trinamool, which has some deep malady in it’s roots that they have started correcting of late, e.g. the lack of second line and presentable leaders and the lack of voice of all except Didi, whose guts and courage I revere, has own this round of election and has thrown off the Front in a disarray that will surely and eventually pave the way for a complete change. But Trinamool should as well understand that the votes were mostly negative rather than positive and if they try to run in the same demon alley, we will also fight that one day. Their political and unqualified backing of the hawkers and the “Kata tel”-run abusive hellish unlicensed autos are signs of the deeper maladies than is apparent from the politically correct lifestyle of our mercurial Didi. I am not sure that they have to vision or capability as of now to put the rail back in track in the most important areas of education, health, environment and industry.

In this “Oasis of peace”, where we the people have been caught between the devil and the deep sea, I have the deepest reverence for one person, our Governor Shri Gopal K Gandhi. In my experience of the last several years, he is the archetype of attitude that I have ever dreamt to inculcate in my students. Even if they can show a small fraction of it, my job will be considered well done. Gandhi, though the holder of a constitutional post and is as such bound by the protocols and codes of conducts, signifies all that is good, sacred and humane. He has defied protocol several times to open his mouth and protest, has shown remarkable statesmanship in breaking the political deadlocks, has shown the humane face of the state in gory and despicable situations which often forced the Government’s hand into more of restraint, and he has shown remarkable leadership and humility in all these uncertain times. He has avoided conflict and confrontation. He has remained silent against the despicable attacks on him when he has protested even more despicable events. He has waited for reasons to prevail.

He has a simple philosophy of life, it seems. He always looks for harmony, always look for situations that is a win win for everybody. It is the fire – the passion for human values that makes the difference in anything you actually do or want in life. My salute to him. I was never into hero-worshipping, but I am a Value and attitude coach and a strategist too. It’s a recurrent dream for me that one day, one day I will be able to meet the man, a combination of grace and elegance, sitting behind the constitutional wall, and shake hands.