The quality of governance derives from the quality of political leaders but the voter has little choice, or does he?
The World Bank report on Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), released in June, covers aggregate and individual governance indicators for 212 countries and territories over 1996-2008. With a view to creating an internationally comparable measure of governance, it focuses on six dimensions. Percentile ranks indicate the percentage of countries worldwide that rate below the selected country. Higher values thus indicate better governance ratings. On the whole, India appears in the 25th-50th percentile group (see box). This implies that out of 212 countries studied, 50-75 per cent countries have better governance grading than India.
The World Bank defines governance as the exercise of political authority and the use of institutional resources to manage society’s problems and affairs. Governance is thus a function of political authority. It follows that quality of governance is directly proportional to the quality of political leadership that a country enjoys. Therefore, if after 62 years of independence, India fairs poorly in governance, it has its political leadership to blame.
The unfortunate part is that the people are aware of the abysmal character of the current crop of political leaders but find no alternative. The voter’s dilemma is symptomatic of the deep-rooted malaise that afflicts the political system. At election time, there is not a single name that inspires confidence. A voter is forced to choose between known goons with multiple murder charges and notorious land mafia. Worse, even candidates accused of rape stand for election on national parties’ tickets. The whole exercise becomes obnoxious and gets reduced to electing the lesser devil – whether to put a murderer or a rapist in charge of affairs.
Politics has come to be identified with everything immoral and decadent. Politicians’ standing is at its lowest ebb today. They are derided in the media and at public gatherings (see box).
People resent state security provided to criminals masquerading as mass leaders. Many are of the view that if a leader is so cowardly with regard to his personal safety, he might as well stay out of public life as no one forces him to be in politics. Like common citizens, leaders should also learn to live with day-to-day trepidation and risk.
In India, it is not the quest for public service that motivates people to join politics. Politics has become the most lucrative profession, having acquired the traits of family business. All sensible and far-sighted parents want their children to join politics. It is commonly said that a single tenure even at the municipal corporation level is good enough to cater for the next three generations. Many among the present crop of political leaders started as petty traders and today command wealth worth hundreds of crores of rupees. In no other profession can so much be amassed in so short a time.
Undoubtedly, politicians are the fountainhead of all fissiparous tendencies in India. They threaten the fabric of India’s social cohesion by seeking votes in the name of caste, religion and region. They have a knack and penchant for generating innovative issues to divide the people and keep them embroiled in petty discords and internal dissensions. To them, vote-bank politics preclude letting countrymen stay united. One does not have to be a visionary to predict the danger of abetting illegal migration from Bangladesh for garnering votes. If political leaders can imperil national security for the sake of power, they can stoop to any level.
Sadly, political leaders cannot be expected to change as they believe in the ends and not the means. They bank on short public memory to remain in the business of politicking. It is time the people came forward to force changes.
World Bank’s grading of India
• Voice and accountability – 58.7 percentile rank
• Political stability and lack of violence – 16.7 percentile rank
• Government effectiveness – 53.6 percentile rank
• Regulatory quality – 46.9 percentile rank
• Rule of law – 56.5 percentile rank
• Control of corruption – 44.4 percentile rank
Holding a mirror
• It is commonly said that cinema is a reflection of society. Of late, villainy has become the exclusive domain of political leaders. The moment a character in khadi and a white cap appears on the screen, the audience recognizes him as the chief villain. Worse, he is shown to be occupying the chair of Home Minister. He patronizes criminal gangs, has corrupt police officers in tow and has no inhibitions in selling the country for money. He supports widows’ homes overtly but demands women covertly. He divides people by instigating religious riots. In short, he is depicted as the most unscrupulous and devious specimen of humanity. Understandably, no political leader has disputed such a projection.
• Two cartoons that appeared in the wake of the terrorist attack on Parliament showed the contempt in which the people hold political leaders. One showed a terrorist trying to dissuade another terrorist from entering the main hall of Parliament to lob grenades, saying, “No, no, don’t kill Indian politicians. That will be a pro-India act.” Another showed Indian citizens talking among themselves, “These Pakistani terrorists have let us down. They would have earned Indian gratitude by ridding us of a few politicians.”
Of the people, by the people
• All leaders over 65 years of age must be rejected outright.
• No leader should be allowed more than two tenures of Parliament (both Houses put together) and Assemblies.
• Any party that puts up candidates with criminal background should be considered anti-national and discarded.
• Any leader promoting his progeny must be shunned.
• Political parties must be made to fear the wrath of the awakened public.
In India, it is not the quest for public service that motivates people to join politics. Politics has become the most lucrative profession, having acquired the traits of family business
Political leaders cannot be expected to change as they believe in the ends and not the means. They bank on short public memory to remain in the business of politicking. It is time the people came forward to force changes
