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Management Lessons from THALA (The Leader)

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In the classic IPL 2023 finals, 3 images have stayed with millions of cricket buffs and with me. Deepak Chahar drops a sitter with the classy and prolific Shubham Gill at just 3. Pan to MSD. A calm, stoic face and the game moves on; then Jadeja beats Gill as he lunges forward. Dhoni’s lightning fast reflexes are on show as he removes the bails in a flash (0.01 seconds). The bowler runs towards the wicket-keeper with eyebrows raised and the latter nods quietly. Yes, they have stumped the batter. It’s quite clear that Shubham Gill has been plotted out; as CSK are crowned champions Mahibhai is called to lift the trophy. But he has already invited Ambati Rayudu (who has announced his retirement)and Jadeja whose cameo hitting sealed the match on the last ball to join him on stage to receive the trophy. Then as the entire CSK contingent is celebrating we see the smiling captain at the back and corner.

The most impressive trait of the man is his unflappable temperament.  Ravi Shastri acknowledges this in his foreword to Bharat Sundaresan’s book, ‘The Dhoni Touch’, “Captain Cool may sound clichéd now but in many ways, it was an apt description as nothing could frazzle Dhoni. I have seen him remain steadfast and inscrutable as a monk in victory or in defeat.” The crucial lapse by Chahar could have rattled the team had their captain let out a stream of invectives and abuses. “But Thala is known to take the pressure off his players. He has always looked at the bigger picture in tight situations or even after a couple of defeats. Things will balance out in the longer run,” says Michael Hussey. In some of his interviews, Dhoni has revealed his mental resolve, “I feel frustrated. I feel angry at times. I feel disappointed. But none of these are constructive. What needs to be done is more important than any of these emotions.” His calmness both as India and CSK captain has soothed the nerves of the rest of the team and ensured that they stay focused and continue to believe in themselves. Not losing composure in stressful situations is the key to positive team spirit and sustainable success. Our Corporate Managers can take a leaf from MSD’s book. Business targets have morphed into targeting team members- especially down the line. The simple mantra is that a good work environment (dressing room culture) translates into good results.

Some Corporate leaders today tend to complicate things, by an overdose of reviews and meetings and analysis. Dhoni is not too invested in cricket data analytics. He relies more on his observation skills and his deep appreciation of every nuance of the game. THALA has a genius for keeping things simple. Everything is not within our control. “Control the controllable things and attend to the small details and address the ground realities. More often than not results will be in your favour. If you don’t get desired results, accept and work to improve,” from a Dhoni interview. In a company setup, the controllables are mobilizing the right resources, deputing people to the right assignments, defining their roles and giving them space to deliver, facilitating teamwork & co-ordination, selecting the right leaders + Training, Upskilling, Motivation, Appreciation, and having their backs when there are bad days at the office. It’s not surprising to know that MSD often has dinner with the younger members of the team to put them at ease and to jell with them.

This attribute of MSD of having faith in and backing his players is a recurrent theme. Spinner Yuzi Chahal who has experienced his best days under his captaincy says, “Newcomers or with 15-20 match experience-MSD backs you and trusts you. A couple of bad matches does not shake his faith in you.” It’s only a game that is an oft-quoted response from Dhoni after losing a match or even a series. Connect the dots to the high success ratio at both the international levels and also in the IPL tournament. Hence it is that you don’t see much chopping and changing of players in the Dhoni era as became the norm later. Merit more than loyalty mattered to him.

This sanguine, down-to-earth mindset of Dhoni is commended by Shastri, “even in the new set up with Kohli as captain and with many youngsters- his mature understanding of the players and dressing room dynamics – Dhoni morphed into a pillar, advisor, and mentor without intruding into team management space.” Mahi had even earlier proved that he was the master of quietly taking charge without rocking the boat. The Art of Managing Egos. Catapulted to captaincy ahead of several Indian cricket superstars and former captains, he took his time, didn’t interfere with their proven methods, and managed to extract the best performances from these legends and the upcoming stars without ruffling feathers. Lest we forget the 2007 T 20 WC winning team was completely raw and the current CSK team was at best, average on paper.

MS Dhoni is an enigma to many as he is an unorthodox leader and a unique personality. His art of taking ownership has many levels- Being in the Present; keeping it simple but looking to improve;  thinking about results only puts more pressure on the team, so focus on the process; keeping emotions under control is more constructive- anger and frustration lead to wrong decisions; don’t throw in the towel till the result is decided. Devon Conway (CSK opener) gives more insights in an interview with Harsha Bhogle, “MS gives us a role and backs us to do the role. He steps into their shoes as everybody reacts differently to pressure.” So it is little surprise that Thala’s pre-match meetings last only 10 mins but he has a sequence of one-to-ones. Also what he has to say in team meets is already known to seniors but helps to get the others on the same page. His simple take is- A captain is only as good as his team.

At the workplace also, team members reciprocate and feel a sense of belonging and responsibility based on the trust shown to them by the leader.

Leading from the front has been his hallmark. A corporate honcho has to herself/himself excel in one or more domains-Sales, Finance, HR, Operations, Technology or their leadership will always be in doubt. Delegation is good but one cannot be a non-playing captain. MSD has been at the top of his game as a wicketkeeper, a batter (at various slots), and a captain responsible for every action on the field. The innovative and effective helicopter shot is synonymous with him. He personifies genuine multi-tasking across various formats of the game and often raises the bar. This means living in the moment and in leading the charge in whatever the role demands. Not everything he has touched has turned into gold. But he has always appeared in total command on the field- not scurrying around to mitigate a difficult situation.

The Best Finisher accolade he has earned is well deserved for his utmost capability to lead from the front even as the asking rate appeared to be beyond reach. An astonishing stat is that he has scored 4,000 runs in a winning cause batting at No. 5 or lower.  In ODI’s power hitting came into vogue because of him. No score was considered safe if he was batting for India. His batting average in successful chases in the ODI’s is the highest for any player in history- an incredible 102.71. The six to finish off the 2011 WC final is etched in a nation’s consciousness and has become part of folklore.

With 294 Test dismissals, 444 ODI dismissals and 91 T20 dismissals MS Dhoni is in a league of his own- the Don with gloves on… But as wicketkeeper cum captain he morphs into a different avatar. The stump mic has caught him advising bowlers on what and where to bowl or talking about the batter’s mind frame. Yuzi Chahal certifies that the plans have worked more than 70%of the time over a few overs.

Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. But the Thala halo also speaks of a brilliant cricketing mind. It has been said that he has the game all mapped out in his head. Amazingly, he is often on the right course. Shubham Gill was outwitted by the Dhoni-Jadeja combination in the IPL finale. But few may know that in the 2011 WC final a Dhoni-short of runs- promoted himself above the Man of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh in the batting order. His rationale- danger-man Muralitharan was bowling and he had played him often in the CSK nets. In the Champions Trophy of 2013 he asked Rohit Sharma to open with Shikhar Dhawan and a hundred partnership opened the floodgates to many more runs. The sharply observant Dhoni saw things that others overlooked.

Adam Gilchrist has commented about the MSD aura, “Sheer calm and confident body language evoked great respect and even fear in the opposition camp.” The ultimate tribute has come from the master himself-Sachin Tendulkar, “Calm, positive and always one step ahead of the opposition. The best captain I have played under.”

He has always shared credit with the team and taken the heat for the losses. The 2011 WC winning team photograph also shows him in a corner with other team members at the front and center. After this heady win, it was all downhill for Dhoni and the Men in Blue as they faced one embarrassing loss after another in the Test series in England and Australia. It took great strength of character to bounce back with the sheer weight of performance once again. His announcement to retire from Test cricket during the Australia series in 2014-15 speaks volumes about the man.  “90 Tests. The temptation to reach a milestone 100 is almost impossible to resist not to mention the power of captaincy. But he bid adieu as he believed he couldn’t give it his all,” comments Ravi Shastri.

MSD has always had the street-smart brain to cut through the clutter and reach a decision correctly. His technique both behind and in front of the stumps has been unconventional to say the least. He himself believes that millions connect with him as his cricket mirrors their gully cricket style. The sea of yellow at stadiums across India during the IPL is an unusual social phenomenon. It goes way beyond hero worship to a massive cult following. That this man from Jharkhand has been so warmly embraced by the people of Chennai and Tamil Nadu has a powerful message for our political netas. His respect for the people, their culture, and his humanity and simplicity, have made him their very own ICON.

In this era of omnipresent social media, this celebrity cricketer is totally missing from Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He considers it a distraction and an addiction. In his own wry manner, he says, “Core job is to play well for India in cricket. If you do that there will be enough likes and enough followers.”

The incredible journey of this railway ticket collector from Ranchi to Chennai and beyond has not been without controversy. The CSK-RR match-fixing scandal and the banning of both teams from the IPL for two seasons must have scarred him badly. He has called it the lowest point in his life. The 2016 film, ‘MS Dhoni-the Untold Story’ produced by his friend Arun Pandey did not reveal anything. Mahi only spoke about it in the documentary ‘Roar of the Lions’ on Hotstar in 2019. Another cautionary tale is the conflict of interest issue with Rhiti Sports (where Dhoni had a 15% stake) also managing the careers and fortunes of his CSK team-mates- Raina, Jadeja, and Ojha.

The 2023 IPL final was heralded as MSD’s ‘Last Dance’ with the CSK team.  But the cricketing legend has now metamorphosed into a national emotion. After his recent knee surgery he will likely return to CSK in IPL 2024 as a captain for a few matches and as a Mentor for the team and franchise. The final hurrah will be played out at Chepauk.

The Sense of Humour

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Photo by Danilo Batista on Unsplash

A sense of humour is the ability to see the funny side of things and revel in the experience. Enjoy the moment.  Different people and cultures may find different things funny. RK Laxman’s Common Man and You Said It cartoons published daily in the Times of India did it for me.  The subtle digs at our socio-political system with its antics and posturing’s and travails hit home. The entertaining wordplay in the Amul ads had a charm of their own. Chuckling through the Life’s Like That and Laughter is the Best Medicine features in the Reader’s Digest became a monthly dose of humour. Moving on to the witty metaphors and quirky humour in the PG Wodehouse novels. It helped that many amongst friends and family were already on the same bandwagon.

Comedy films have a lasting and refreshing impact. Be it the vintage Modern Times with Charlie Chaplin or the Hindi film classics like Padosan, Chupke-Chupke, Angoor, Golmaal  or Hera Pheri. One can watch these movies again and again and still laugh out loud at familiar scenes. This is the effervescent power of humour. Recently, I viewed on YouTube filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi relive the making of Andaz Apna Apna which has now acquired cult status. One couldn’t help but laugh with the Director as he laughingly narrated what craziness transpired behind the scenes.  During Covid times in 2021 the rollicking Telugu film in a similar genre, Jathi Ratnalu, captured an all-India audience on the OTT space. As did the Tamil comedy-drama-political satire Mandela.

A book called The Wit of Cricket delightfully revealed that the game has so much more to offer than statistics and records  and trophies and controversies. At the Headingly Test in 1952 the Indian team were in dire straits- losing 4 wickets for no runs in the second innings. Fiery Fred Truman was bowling to the hapless batsman. He beat him with sheer pace and then hit him on the shoulder. The 5th ball of the over then found the sensitive spot-you know where- the box guard. The batter collapsed to the ground in pain. After a few minutes he got up to face the next delivery. The commentator dryly remarked, “Good Man. One ball left.”

Humour in the work-place.  A great way to alleviate stress, make work enjoyable and build camaraderie. As a fresher and trainee at National Insurance Company Ltd in 1981 I went through one of the first issues of the Company magazine. The last page caught my eye as it referred to the Funny Side of It. Capturing some of the amusing reasons given by customers in a claim form after a motor vehicle accident. One said, “the only and immediate reason for the accident was a small man in a medium car with a big mouth.” Years later with the newly formed Bajaj Allianz General Insurance I was at the meeting hall of a Corporate Finance Company with whom we had signed a tie-up. The senior Manager- probably struggling with the word Allianz- introduced me as “He… is … Alien.” There was laughter for many, many minutes. But then I had the opportunity to make an informal pitch to a receptive group, happy to hear from an extra-terrestrial.

Even at official conferences and presentations light-hearted wit often wins the day. A friend of mine who is an Actuary told me about a conference he had attended in London. One of the main speakers projected his PPT on screen. It introduced him as say, John Woods, MA FIA (Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries). This brought the roof down and as the laughter subsided, he dryly remarked that there was actually little difference between the MAFIA and Actuaries. The latter estimated the number of mortalities in an area whilst the Mob actually decided who would depart. A rapt audience listened to a 60 minute presentation on a dry subject like Data Analytics as it was peppered with some more amusing anecdotes.

Even serious messages have more impact and recall value when packaged in ironic terms. Like some Indian Road signs, ‘Better be late than Mr Late’ and ‘This is a Highway, not a Runaway.’

We have the 5 senses and Intuition or Instinct is at times referred to as the sixth-sense. Some psychologists have characterised Humour as the 7th Sense whilst many others refer to it as a character trait or virtue. Empirical research has supported the fact that a person with a good sense of humour will be in a better position to handle difficult times, enjoy more cohesive relationships and benefit from more positive mental and physical health. The singular attribute is the relief from stress and worry with laughter serving the function of a steam pressure valve. The muscular and breathing process connected with laughter plays the role of releasing pent-up anxiety and frustration.

Hence the ever increasing popularity of Late Night shows, Stand Up comedy acts, Laughter clubs and comic memes on social media. All for the good.  However, there is an unseemly and even toxic side to this trove of laughs and guffaws. Double meaning dialogues in films and plays have an audience of their own. But a definite line should be drawn at Misogynist, Racist or Community offensive joke and even where the unfair stereotyping  of a people is perpetuated.  They are not only in bad taste but can spell trouble. Sarcasm is oft called a wasted form of wit. Churchill revelled in it and once famously called out a political opponent, “There, but for the grace of God, goes God.”

 One wishes that our political leaders hold back on vitriol and invective and resort to wit and humorous repartee. The political scenario in the US of A today is vituperative. But our Netas can take heed from Ronald Reagan who was targeted for his age during his re-election bid, “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponents youth and inexperience.” He won his second Presidency term.

In conclusion one has to be careful if the gags and jokes are at someone else’s expense.  The warm, fun quotient goes out of it if it becomes a barb to hurt another’s feelings or identity. But self-deprecating humour helps in navigating situations – even sensitive ones- and fostering rapport. If one can laugh at oneself and not take oneself too seriously, life tends to become simpler and smoother. It  feels like some tiresome  burden has been removed. Lighten up and let the laughs roll and the smiles spread.

Why our high profile Investigations usually wind up nowhere?

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The scourge of corruption and the unaccountability of the political class and their complicit bureaucrats have seriously undermined India’s well-being and development. Good, transparent and fair governance has never been front and centre. In our country the rich and the connected are above the law.

Let’s start with the sensational potboilers playing out in Mumbai for the last 2 years and more. The unexplained death of film actor Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR) which the city police immediately dismissed as a suicide. This tragic event was preceded 3 days earlier by another mysterious death of Disha Salian, one time manager of SSR. Passed off as another suicide. Accompanied by a curious, affirmative chorus from a section of the media, some film people and some politicos. Both the cases were closed in the first week itself by the Mumbai police, supported by botched up post mortems at a convenient hospital. The entire approach seemed casually pre-determined. The professional Mumbai police of yesteryears under Julio Ribeiro would not have contaminated the possible crime- scenes. Once evidence surfaced of a possible link between the 2 suspicious deaths, the detectives should have been smacking their lips. Instead, a narco-racket connection, missing hard-drive from SSR’s systems and trails leading to the film industry and the corridors of power were ignored and buried. Thanks to massive outrage on social media the CBI and NCB were brought into the picture and raised hopes of a thorough investigation. Over the last 18 months there have been political theatrics and lots of planted news but justice has not been served. The Central Agencies have flattered to deceive. Why the inordinate silence. ?! At least let the final official version come out.

The other matter is equally sensational and has many strands. The “Vasooligate” or extortion scandal masterminded by some politicians and their police lackeys. Collecting monthly money from dance clubs, bars, restaurants et al. Shades of the protection money or hafta collected by the goons of the underworld. The Home Minister had to resign, a big wicket to fall. That’s all. The Sarkar’s hand-picked Commissioner of Police ended up on the wrong side of this venal churning and disappeared for more than 220 days. What were the State Police and the Central Agencies doing??!! An absolute disgrace. A re-instated sub-inspector goon presumably ran the racket at the behest of the powers that be and went around with a note counting machine. Was the administration sleeping?! Amidst all this a dead body was found floating near a creek. Quickly pronounced as another suicide by the local police authorities. However, in this case the charade could not be kept up and Murder it was. Another link to this curious plot was the planting of explosive devices outside the residence of India’s richest man, Mr Mukesh Ambani.  Central Agencies like the CBI and NIA joined the fray with the Mumbai CID and Police going great guns. With so much time, energy and resource invested what has been the outcome so far. Another never-ending saga. Till the next episode. For public memory is short.

This leads to 3 assumptions. First, that the police are under the control of their political masters and will not rock the boat. The colonial police of the British Raj has evolved into the “Feudal” force of present times. All political parties are one on this matter. Ironically, if given a free hand the cops will not cop-out but can solve difficult cases like the Nirbhaya rape and murder.

The investigating agencies have not been provided with the professional know-how and infrastructure to crack today’s crimes. Forensic training, social data recovery, tracking cyber-hacking footprints and money-laundering trails and sharing of inputs between different agencies.  In the much publicised “Aarushi” murder case incompetent police and forensic work has led to the question of whether the conviction of the Talwars was a miscarriage of justice.

Last but not least is to whether there is a quiet understanding between the political parties to have each other’s backs if a big scandal erupts. A few pawns will have to be sacrificed but that’s the political chess-board, isn’t it. The long-hands of the law rarely grasp the necks of the biggie politicians, business and media tycoons and stars and celebrities.

Please draw your own conclusions. Are these raids or arrests – witch-hunts or political or personal vendetta? Or just to gain political capital from a gullible populace and garner votes during elections. For many of these arrests and allegations are made just before election season kicks off? Or to deflect and distract public attention from some sordid goings on in their own camp? Here, a word of caution. In all fairness, such fraud or crime issues should not be kept simmering indefinitely. The Government of the day (the BJP led government now or the State governments) should give it a closure if there be no conclusive evidence. It should not be raked up again for a hit job during the next election season. As the Bard said, “a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

The unearthing of the Rs 270 crs cache of black money from the residence of a perfume baron in UP coincides with the upcoming UP election. Probably, these monies were to fund rallies and campaigns; to buy and swing votes for some political party in the State polls. With some part of the country always in election mode, such news snippets give a sense that the anti- black money mission is very effective. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Despite De-Monetisation, unaccounted cash continues to grow and thrive.  This dark side of our election story harks back many decades. The Nagarvala case of 1971. Supposedly a RAW agent gone rogue. The Rs 60 lakhs of unaccounted cash was kept in suitcases at a leading nationalised bank branch and handed over to this mystery man on the basis of a purported phone call from the PMO office. He was nabbed the next day, confessed and sentenced within 2 days, to a 4 years imprisonment and died in prison a few months later. One of the speculations was that this was KGB sponsored election funds. The Agency had infiltrated the highest levels of our Government per the Mitrokhin documents.  Today’s Chinese whispers are that Chinese money is propping up some of our political outfits, media houses and activists. A serious national security issue. Indian intelligence agencies will be on high alert.

Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi are our poster-boys of financial crimes. The two have duped our PSU banks of thousands of crores and are financial fugitives in London.  Their passports could have been impounded as evidence of their scams had already surfaced. That the King of Good Times attended a Rajya Sabha session on the 1st March 2016 before fleeing the next day is telling. Coincidentally, it was on the 2nd March 2016 that a cluster of PSU banks moved the Debt Recovery Tribunal against Mallya. The diamond merchant escaped from the country on the 1st Jan 2018. On the 29th Jan 2018, the PNB filed a case with the CBI against Modi. Is it just sloppiness on display here or is there more to it? The Panama papers were released in 2016 with the names of 930 Indians or entities parking their monies in off-shore accounts in tax havens. The Pandora papers of 2021 exposed the names of 300 Indian businessmen and celebrities with such accounts. These reports are the work of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICICJ) and many European countries have taken serious note and action. Other than a few snippets here and there like the actress Aishwarya Rai being called for questioning, there does not seem to be much headway. It needs to be said that some of these off-shore accounts may have been disclosed and legitimate. Official statements to such effect must also be released.

Over the last 70+ years Independent India has seen thousands of public frauds, corruption scandals, corporate favouritism cases, and ties with the underworld. But the administrative will to go after the big-wig culprits has simply not been there. Yes in the late 50’s Mundhra went to jail in the LIC scam as did Big Bull Harshad Mehta in the stocks-scam of the 1990’s. But the exception proves the rule. The defence procurement scams of HDW submarine, Bofors and Augusta Westland have never been laid to rest. The middle-men have been outed and named (foreign nationals) but the investigators have lacked the balls or the skills to connect them with senior political figures or bureaucrats. Mr VP Singh, our Mr Clean PM, used them to win an election, period. The leaked Nira Radia tapes not only brought to light the corporate lobbying interface with the Union Ministers. It also hinted at how coalition political partners were vying for lucrative ministerial berths and how influential media persons were facilitating the same. The Saradha Chit fund Ponzi scam claimed a couple of MLA’s in Bengal and the file was closed. Coming to the present, is it so difficult to establish whether in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal kickbacks of 7.5 million euros were paid in secret commission to a middleman to seal the deal (alleged by a French investigative journal in 2021). Although, the Supreme Court has already ruled on the matter in 2019.

Some may pertinently point out that Bihar’s CM Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav went to jail in the fodder scam.  Sure. His wife, Smt Rabri Devi became the interim CM.  Madam Jayalalitha also spent time in jail in a disproportionate assets case, but her life is celebrated in a recent film drama called “Thalaivi” or Revolutionary leader. Sahara Shree Subroto Roy is in the Tihar jail. But he is frequently out on parole and by all accounts having a cushy arrangement in the prison quarters also. The Sahara group long innings was enabled by political patronage. Mr Ramalinga Raju spent only 35 months behind bars for the Satyam Corporate scam which shook the Indian business world at that time. Not even a slap on the wrist. Film star Sanjay Dutt was jailed for illegal possession of weapons but was out on parole for a large chunk of his sentence time. And then there was the film, “Sanju” and director Raj Kumar Hirani doing a great white-wash job on his buddy’s  very dubious connections. 

The NCB raids especially on Bollywood stars have attracted a lot of media attention.  Drug peddlers have been nabbed and there have been drug seizures across the country. Some film stars have been grilled eliciting excited reactions on social media. The spotlight on drug trafficking and the film world is welcome. These celebrities are role models to millions of youngsters and their being held accountable is a good thing. So is the counselling of some of the young stars and star scions. But here again are we missing the forest for the trees. Drugs are the main source of income for the underworld and the Pakistani establishment and terror outfits in the region use it to fund terrorism.  It finally boils down to a national security issue. No political party or law and order machinery can compromise on this.  Also, what of the 3000 kgs of heroin worth Rs 20,000 crores seized at Adani port in Oct 2021. The Director of Revenue Intelligence and the National Intelligence Agency are seized of the matter. But will we know more about the origins and the kingpins or will it just remain one of the largest drug seizures in the world?

This leads me to another headline grabber- the incarceration of businessman Raj Kundra for 60 days around Sept 2021. He was arrested by the Mumbai police in connection with an adult film racket. Released on a surety of a paltry Rs 50,000. Was this yet another case of Much Ado About Nothing; or was it the Maharashtra Sarkar trying to deflect attention from the “Vasooligate” crises; or with the accused being the husband of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty was it signalling that it was not being soft on the film industry. Perhaps the Mumbai police was trying to reclaim its lost glory. Else, did this exemplify another case-study of poor diligence and follow-up in building up a convincing case? An aside. Raj Kundra is a joint-owner of the Rajasthan Royals franchise which was banned from the IPL tournament for 2 years on match fixing charges.

Take the case of match-fixing in Indian cricket. Would the truth have ever come out had not South African captain Hansie Cronje admitted and confessed to South Africa’s King Commission in 2000 that he had fixed matches for money and had been first introduced in 1996 by Azharuddin, the India captain, to a bookie. Granted that the Delhi police had shared the initial findings with the South African Cricket Board in March 2000. A side-note is that a PR movie called “Azhar” was made to clean the slate and he became the Congress MP from Moradabad and now is a senior functionary in the Telangana Congress. Then the IPL match fixing and spot fixing scandal saw CSK and RR being banned for 2 years from the tournament.  Sreesanth being the only well- known cricketer to take the rap. Why the top promoters, administrators and players got away is not really a mystery. Incidentally, the film on MS Dhoni makes no mention of this sordid saga.

The toxic effect of unbridled corruption and power on our society is there for all to see. The black-money economy has become a large, parallel and unregulated sector with all its corrosive impact. But it is the top-down trickle syndrome which has earned us the stigma of a highly corrupt nation. People in all walks of life are now emboldened to be corrupt and not only for financial gain. Integrity has lost its value and currency. The real brunt is being felt by the poor and the middle-class. Think of the labourer whose 50% wages is siphoned off on a daily basis by the contractor through his agent. The Government proclaims that a lot of government transactions and document related work can be completed on-line. Things have improved in certain areas like passport issuance and renewal. Otherwise, the ground reality is that one has to download forms and submit the documents physically. If one wants prompt results, enter the agent. You know what this means. This palm greasing for every little thing is what earns us the honors on global corruption indexes. The heroism of front-line health workers, policemen and sanitary workers and many common folk are being justly applauded in these Covid hit times. But one cannot turn a blind-eye to the huge profiteering during the pandemic. Whether it being availability of the Remdesivir drug or the scarcity of oxygen or hospital beds. Covid 19 has shown us both the good and bad sides of who we are as a people. The Aam Aadmi has just given up or become indifferent to this plague of corruption.

What is also worrying is that even educated people tend to shrug off this unsavoury aspect of life. As if it was just another tax to pay as a common citizen. Even more worrying is that many of them tend to look at corruption through the prism of community, State or ideology. Underhand dealings are ok if done by a leader from ones’s own community, State or preferred political party. Some of these charlatans are feted as Chanakyas- Masters of the political chess-board.

The pandemic of corruption is rampant throughout India and has hollowed us out as a nation. Is it better or worse in a certain area or region or government is a relative concept. The misdeeds of the present Union Government will also be exposed after a few years. After all, they have adopted the same old playbook. Then the skeletons will be out of the closet and will dance to the tunes of the new regime in place.

One of the lowest points of the current dispensation has been the handling of the 2017 Unnao rape and subsequent murder cases. The BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar continued to get the support of his party till the shit hit the ceiling. The 17 year old rape victim tried to immolate herself in front of the CM’s residence and the media and activists thankfully jumped in from thereon.  Amidst the uproar, the Supreme Court and the CBI had to step in to send this so called local bahubali to life imprisonment in 2019.

One of the ways to break this insidious status quo is the tabling of the Vohra Committee report in its entirety in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for an intensive debate. It should also be made available for public scrutiny and consumption. Submitted in Oct 1993, it is deemed to be an expose of the links between the Mumbai underworld and top politicians and officials at the State and Central governments. Only 7 or 8 pages have been briefly discussed in some Parliamentary Committee and the 100+ page exhaustive dossier has apparently gone missing. Why??? By Whom??? The PIL matter is pending with the Supreme Court.

Police reforms will be the game-changer. A litmus test for the Central Government. Incredibly, the Police Act of 1861 is still in place. The landmark SC ruling of 2006 with its 7 crucial directives for implementation has been gathering dust for many years. A law-oriented, fair, impartial and apolitical police force is a hallmark of a mature and progressive nation. But an anathema to the powers that be. This vital force has to be ramped up by half a million personnel; their abysmal working conditions and below- par salary structure requires significant improvement; with modern equipment and training enhancing their effectiveness and public perception. But considering the general disenchantment with the police, it will make sense to expand the Community-Policing initiative. To foster engagement and trust between the people and the police in an area. The other side of the same coin is to invest in, to overhaul and build a robust judicial system. Most administrations have been very miserly on their judicial related budgets.

Our Netas and their Enablers are averse to any change and they rejoice in the general public apathy. As a people we are quite indifferent to reform although we will benefit the most from it. Change for the common good has to be forced into the system. Constant pressure has to be built up and applied on the powers that be. Social media now provides a vast and instant connect and it’s for the citizens and especially the younger, aspirational generation to put the writing on the wall.

Na Mo 2.0

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Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi is back with an absolute majority, and as we all know with great power comes great responsibility.

Here is my wish-list for our all powerful Prime Minister.

1. Introduce the long-pending structural reforms. The 33% Women Representation bill for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by making it mandatory for every political party to give 33% tickets to women candidates. Yes, for starters, they will mostly be proxies from political families. But a good number of them will win on merit and competence. Plus women tend to take responsibilities more seriously. Enough to be a game-changer.

Bring in the much needed police reforms to free them from the clutches of the unscrupulous politicians. Our under-staffed  police force is still guided by the Police Act of 1861. Let them as a professional force report to a professional,independent  governing body or Security Commission. Let transfers, promotions, emoluments, over-time, perks, recruitment, training, facilities, housing be all administered by this institution. Which functionally reports to the Home Ministry.

Black money and cash for votes play a big role in our elections. Our politics continues to be dominated by the much-vaunted winnability formula of money, muscle, caste and creed. This also ensures that we are cursed with incompetent and venal leaders and representatives. The same dynastic and musical chair games continues every five years. A political funding bill needs to be passed and is overdue. It does not suit our political parties including the BJP. It is imperative for the concerned citizen to know the source of funds. Who contributed and how much. Limits can be put for legal funding by individuals, trusts and corporates. It is going to be a rocky road but any major change will encounter that. This will also level the field for more decent and capable people who want to play an active role in our public life.

Vote in the Criminality law. People with criminal track records or facing serious charges should be banned from contesting elections. India deserves better leaders. Mr Modi can take the lead by ensuring that his party will give tickets to good people only in the coming Assembly polls. Consign the undemocratic winnability formula and dynastic politics to the dust-bin.

2. Good Economics is the best politics. The overwhelming majority of Indians only seek a better life for themselves and especially their children. ‘The Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” slogan will be really put to the test in this second term. Expectations are sky-high. If the right laws, progammes and initiatives are not put into place within the next 12 months the Modi aura will be greatly diminished. Whether it is addressing the farmer distress or the MSP issue; water conservation; power generation;generating employment for millions; putting infrastructure on the fast-track; rationalising the GST and income-tax slabs; the opportunity for off-shoring in the wake if the US-China trade war- all will require vision, commitment and a political will to really deliver on the ground. People are tired of slogans and empty promises. They ache for really good governance.

3. The need of the hour is a few good statesmen. Can the tallest political leader evolve into one in his second innings? Can he break-out from the Sangh Parivar mould and become the talisman for our great, diverse and pluralistic land? Can he avoid the trap of surrounding himself with Yes men and courtiers? Can he bring in some intelligent, committed professionals like Deepak Parikh, Arif Mohammed Khan and Nandan Nilekini to consult and advise on critical policy decisions? All for the greater good.

Will Mr Modi stand up and fight for the independence of institutions like the Supreme Court, the RBI, the CBI and the Armed Forces?

Where does ‘ the Sabka Vishwas’ kick in? The PM has to have his ear to the ground. The situation and sentiments on the ground. The fears and insecurities of a sizable section of our fellow countrymen. Will the PM have to gumption to really shut-up the motor-mouths in his party? Will he drop a minister or suspend an MP or MLA for inflammatory or divisive comments? Will he facilitate more moderation and maturity in our political discourse through personal example? Set high standards for conduct in polity and public life. The PM recently commented that the minorities have been exploited as a vote bank for too long. Does he really have a plan to reach out to the minorities to address their genuine concerns and win their Vishwas? There are developing fault-lines in our society where Modiji has to apply the balm. And the message has to go down the line to the karyakartas.

Before his address in the Parliament Hall, he again bowed to the Constitution as his sacred book. Will we citizens see this idea of India put into practice consistently? Most Indians are put off by a divisive rhetoric. All we want is a better quality of life.

The Prime Minister should have realised by now that people have voted for him in humungous numbers. In many ways the 2019 elections have been like a Presidential election and the BJP has just ridden the Modi wave. Many voters did not know who the local BJP or even NDA candidate was. All the talk was about Modi. So it is time that he occasionally steps out to take questions from voices critical to him. At a Town Hall, a University campus or even an interview at a hostile TV channel. This is the sure way of connecting with those sections of the populace where his name strikes a negative chord. Remember the words-‘ Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. Indians are an emotional people and oftentime perception is more potent than fact. The last component of the slogan can be the enabler for the challenging journey ahead.

India has missed huge opportunites in the past to accelerate economic growth with Indira Gandhi in 1972 and Rajiv Gandhi in 1984. Both enjoyed huge mandates but could not put their popular authority to effective use in the best interests of the country. Na Mo 2.0 is another huge moment for the nation. The hopes and aspirations of a billion plus people and esp. the younger generation rests on the Hon PM and his handpicked team.

Will they deliver?

Being Human

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Photo by V Srinivasan on Unsplash

His name was Balu.  Short for Balaji. He lived his entire life in what was then Madras. He had no recollection of his date of birth but was likely born around 1932. Five years before his beloved sister, Bharathi.

I came to know him as he stayed in the out-house of my uncle’s ancestral house. He was just around 5ft 2’, lean and wiry and with a perpetual half-stubble which changed to salt and pepper in later years. He had a bent right leg below the knee and used to hobble around. An attempt at corrective surgery had failed.

Balu was family. I had an inkling that my grandfather and Mama had helped in getting his sister married off to a nice guy working for the Railways.

He did odd-jobs for the house-hold and was the Man Friday whenever needed. But he lived and helped-out in a much larger community space. He stayed the night at the hospital to bail out a needy family. With his connects he was the go-to- person for weddings and family ceremonies. He explained the government forms and regulations to small shop-keepers and traders. Balu was fluent in Tamil but also had a good knowledge of English. We never knew whether he had passed his Matriculation exams or not. He had expressed his fear of Maths to me on a couple of occasions.

I have never seen a person with less wordly possessions. He had 3 half-sleeved shirts and 3 white veshtis. Two towels, undergarments and rubber slippers completed his wardrobe. Every year when we visited Madras my father used to gift him a shirt piece and a veshti. He also ensured that the shirt was stitched.

My folks knew that if you gave him money it would be soon spent on idli-sambar and coffee at the corner restaurant and the latest MGR film in town. He had a passion for the movies. He could recite the famous dialogues of MGR or the other thespian Sivaji Ganesan in one take.

It came as no surprise that Balu  gave English language tuitions to a starlet and a singer associated with Tamil films. He was also a big hit with children with his gift of telling stories and anecdotes. His re-telling of the Hindu epics would have done justice to the big screen. These sessions with the kids normally happened in a small park near his sister’s place.

In the thirty years or so that I knew him I have not seen a kinder or more simple person. Soft-spoken and always flashing his distinctive grin. He had lost an upper tooth. He never spoke about his problems. He never asked for money. Indeed he is the first person to advise me to never bargain hard with people like the vegetable vendors. Their margins were small. But also to be careful of the unscrupulous auto drivers who took many for a ride.

Balu passed away whilst sitting alone at a bus-stop adjacent to the lane where Bharathi lived. It looked as if he drifted into a peaceful sleep. I later heard that over a thousand people attended his funeral to pay their last respects. This ordinary Aam Aadmi had touched thousands of lives. In his death, came alive the true meaning and value of his existence.

An extra-ordinary human being. We still miss his toothless grin.

The Art of the Spin

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Some years back I saw two top level state politicians from different political parties bonding together at a resort. They were hand-slapping and laughing loudly. The same morning they had been featured on the front page of a national newspaper calling each other derisive names. The esteemed correspondent had analysed that the parties could part ways soon.

Politicians are past-masters of Spin and it’s more extreme form- Propaganda. But their most effective spin has been that they are all bitter rivals on the grounds of ideology and policy. Nothing could be farther than the truth. With a few exceptions like the feud between Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi which had sunk to personal levels, behind the scenes the political fraternity is just that- a fraternity. When one is in power he ensures that the other is not unnecessarily harassed , leave alone prosecuted. All the name calling is for public consumption-during elections, on media and on the floors of Houses and Assemblies. Politicos switch parties whenever it suits them and political alignments are formed or dropped as the landscape changes.

Please think why lip-service is paid to some of the most significant legislations our country requires. But is never passed. Think 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha and the State legislatures. Think the police reform bill basically freeing the law enforcement agencies from the clutches and control of the political masters. Think about the Election Finance Bill making the source of political funding transparent to the public. The Criminality Law barring candidates with criminal records from contesting elections. Lots of talk but no action. No politician of any consequence wants these ground-breaking changes. They will destroy his well entrenched interests and derail their dynastic agendas.

The media has become a willing accomplice in these manipulating games. Some have become propaganda mouthpieces. Think of Fox News in the US. In India the so-called high brow, intellectual channels are as guilty as the shrill competition they laugh at. The common man today does not have a single TV channel or newspaper she/he can turn to for unbiased, factual news content.

The avalanche on the social media platforms is also disturbing. Political parties and big business have their spin professionals and there is a lot of fake stuff floating around. The consequences can be scary and momentous. Think back to the 2016 US election or the Brexit referendum. Russian hackers with downloads of Immigrant hordes and impending marginalisation of the white population could easily have swung the results.

Spin is not the domain of only the political stream and need not have national or global repercussions. But even at this level there are interesting case-studies. Remember the ‘whitewash’ job done by Rajkumar Hirani in ‘Sanju’. A bio-pic of Sanjay Dutt?. A large hearted and at times misguided victim of circumstance and the media. His close ties to the mafia and the wanton ways of this privileged person are all glossed over. Hirani and Sanju Baba will soon team up for the third instalment of the lovable Munnabhai series.

Take the case of the legendary Dhoni. Embroiled in several controversies between 2013-15. He was VP at India Cements, captain of Chennai Super Kings and captain of India. His boss, Srinivasan was the owner of the first two and the Chairman of the BCCI. A cushy position for MSD. All bases covered. The Tamil-Nadu police officer who exposed the match-fixing racket has disappeared into the shadows. Smaller fish like Sreesanth have been sent to the cooler. Dhoni has manfully stood up for his boss’s son-in-law Meiyappan before the investigators, reportedly calling him’ just a special fan of CSK.’ Public memory is short. But this sordid episode is just not cricket. The Chennai team and RR are back after a two year ban. THALA IS BACK.

Then there is the small matter of Rhiti Sports, an agency run by his friend Arun Pandey. Co-owned then by Dhoni. Representing Jadeja, Raina and Ojha amongst others. Any conflict of interest, friends?

The same Pandey produced the hit movie “Dhoni”. The uplifting story of MSD from humble beginnings in Ranchi to railway conductor to captain of the World Cup winning team. The legend who finishes of the final with a six. Etched in our memories forever. But no mention of the match-fixing saga, the 2 year ban, the conflict of interest et al.

His accomplishments are undeniable. Captain Cool. Winner of two World Cups for India. One of the greatest cricketers ever. An inspiration to millions and millions. But with a spin-doctor in the background.

The latest chapter in what is at least this dubious- association tale is the case of the Amrapali Builders. The SC has come down like a ton of bricks on the real-estate operators who have duped thousands of middle-class buyers . Dhoni has been their public face and endorser for years. Now his lawyers claim that the cricketer has been duped of his Rs 40 crore fees. Another victim, right?

Is it any surprise that a docu-drama called “Roar of the Lion” is now streaming on HotStar. MSD setting the record straight. The cricketer-hero will soon be riding out into the sunset. But before that the country anticipates the Dhoni magic again-conjuring up the third ODI World Cup win for India.

The IPL event shows the Hype Machine in all its glory. This unusual mix of cricket, Bollywood, Big-Business and the Politicos is seductive. But the novelty may be wearing-off. The crass commercialisation may be its undoing. It has become more of a social event than a serious tournament. In which other top sports event will you hear the commentator screaming a ‘Yes Bank Six’? Even the ultimate cricket stroke is sponsored. Show-time it is. Great sport it is not. The passion, the edge is missing.

Make-believe and Bollywood are two sides of the same coin. Take the case of Salman Khan, the other bad-boy of the film-world. Maybe, Hirani can do another effective ‘white-wash job’ The super-star has been accused of killing an endangered species of deer whilst on a shoot in Rajasthan 20 years ago. Then there is the reckless driving and manslaughter case where a poor pavement dweller was run over and some others injured. In India, the rich and powerful can literally get away with anything. Then, the Spin kicked in. ‘Being Human’ a philanthropic organisation was born and promoted with gusto. Remember the T shirts with the logo.The large-hearted BHAI was taking shape.

Salman has become something of a social phenomenon, in the same way Rajnikanth is. But his is a carefully cultivated image off-scream. On-screen the swag, the attitude, the over-the –top action and the one-liners are the formula for success.

‘King Khan’ has however been having a disappointing run over the last few years. His last film Zero disappeared without a trace. But his PR machine is in top-gear. He is all over the social media. Everyday , there is some latest news about SRK. A honorary degree from some University, the doting father, some nostalgic pics from his early days, the enthusiastic owner of KKR, his grand visit to China. Hat’s off – the celebrity is happening while his career is in a slump. His friends in the media and his mega-star status ensure that there is little talk about his poor choice of movies and even taking his audience for granted. Now, he has hit the pause button and is on the look-out for the right role. His legion of fans are praying for a blockbuster. Here’s hoping that something of the quality of Swades or Chak De is in the offing.

But herein lies another example of the power and mystique of Spin. Many people will assume that SRK is the King of the Box Office. That has always been the title he is crowned with. Reality-check says different. In the last decade Aamir and Salman lead the honor list with 3 movies apiece in the top 10 Indian Movies list. A Shah-Rukh film does not make the cut.

The Corporate World has also bought into this game of Buzz and Hype. ‘The Best Company to Work with’, ‘the Best in the Industry’ are all trophies ardently solicited and even bought. There are media channels, newspapers and industry bodies willing to oblige. There are professional facilitators willing to show the way. All for a price. There are sponsored appearances on television and paid articles and interviews in the print-media to raise the profile of the CEO or the Company.

As for the tycoons, they own or have a stake in the media-houses and other hubs of influence. Need anything more be said.

In this spinning, at times manipulative world with its over-dose of planted news, it is difficult to sift through the real information. But for our own sake, let us hit the pause button at times, question what is being presented and try to make our own sense of things.

Captain Kohli

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Virat Kohli alongwith MSD is the biggest sporting hero in the country today. He is simply all over the place- on TV, Twitter, Instagram, You-Tube, magazines and of course, the Manyawar ads. He is the youth icon married to a glamorous film star. His is the face of Success. The hairstyle and carefully trimmed beard are the rage in upmarket salons and at downtown hair-dressers.

He is at the top of his game. Already rated as one of the greatest batsman the world of cricket has ever seen. Across all formats-Tests, ODI’s, T20’s. He is getting even more dominantly consistent.

He is also the Indian cricket captain. And therein hangs the tale.

The first warning signs came when the impetuous young man forced the BCCI to sack Anil Kumble as team manager in favour of his own man, Ravi Shastri. There was muted criticism from some sections of the media and from some ex-cricketers. Nobody dared to take  the young prince head-on. After all the powerful Board had pathetically caved in before their eyes. Why jeopardise their own chances of jumping on to the gravy train. There was the glaring example of popular commentator Harsha Bhogle who was sidelined for a season. He had to toe the line. Join the club to reap the rewards.

Ravi Shastri fits the bill. Over-rated for his cricketing acumen, he was more the brash and loud establishment cricket expert. A complete loyalist who knows which side his bread is buttered. He has evolved into a side-kick, glorified chamcha and cheer-leader for Kohli.

With the gross IPL culture kicking in you need seasoned and grounded people to lead the national cricket team. The MEN IN BLUE. The pride of the country. Yes, the fitness and fielding standards have remarkably improved. Our youngsters are no longer awed by the Aussies or the West Indians. But the money and glamour have exacted a heavy price. The pride of wearing the India cap is not what it used to be. When a Rahul Dravid walked in to bat you could see the tricolor fluttering in all its glory.

The Hardik Pandya-KL Rahul episode on a chat show gave an insight into the rot which has set in. There is no moralising here. It is the crassness, the insensitivity, the arrogance of privilege and entitlement, the sheer irresponsibility which is abhorrent. It gives a disturbing insight into the team culture. There is no captain or coach or manager to rap their knuckles, counsel them or rein them in.

We cannot ape, say, the Carribean life-style and deliver consistently at the top tournaments and over-seas tours. The discipline, the focus which motivates truly great teams is simply not there. Yes, our guys will have their moments in the sun, win an occasional series abroad but will not make that special cut- an all-time great team.

A master batsman and superb out-fielder need not be a great captain. The best player in the team is not nessacarily the only choice for this critical role.

Virat, the captain, is incompetent if you see through the aura around him. His mis-reading of pitches has become a regular feature. On a dry Southampton wicket on the England tour he opted for only one spinner, a half-fit Ashwin. The hosts played Moeen Ali and Rashid. The Impact player-Moeen. Likewise,at the new Perth stadium our skipper packed the team with four fast bowlers-taken in by the history of the ground. The Aussies had Nathan Lyon who gave the man of the match performance. In the first match of this IPL season he again mis-read the turner at Chepauk and the RCB were roundly thrashed. He also gets critical things like the dew factor wrong in the shorter formats of the game and puts the team at a disadvantage.

The other serious concern is the frequent chopping and changing in the side which undermines player morale and team spirit. For instance, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar was summarily dropped from the Centurion Test after a good all round outing in the first Test of the South Africa tour. Pujara has been dropped thrice despite being our most dependable Test batsman with a sterling over-seas record. Ajinkya Rahane had a fine run from 2013-15 but is now a shadow of the player he was because of the inexplicable and ad-hoc approach of the captain. Then, there are those who continue to be in the playing XI despite their inconsistencies and weaknesses exposed for all to see.

Last but not the least is the famous Virat temper. This unrelenting intensity may be firing-up the batsman in him. However, this constant state of tension is unhealthy for the team in what is essentially a team sport. Where team-spirit, strategy, camaraderie and every little contribution counts. To have your captain constantly on edge must be pretty un-settling for the Indian players. The confession of the young Rishabh Pant is revealing-‘ what he fears most is the skipper’s anger’.

It is his misfortune that he steps into the huge shoes of MS Dhoni. Captain Cool. The player’s man. The Motivator. The Finisher. One of the most successful skippers ever. The de-facto leader when both are playing together. The MSD shadow must be over-powering.

Let us rejoice in the supreme skills of Virat Kohli the batsman and cricketer. Let us cheer on his inevitable progress into cricket’s hallowed Hall of Fame. However, let him be freed from the burdens of captaincy. The torch should soon be passed on to someone better suited to the leadership role albeit he be a lesser player than the master.

Finally it is the performance of the Indian cricket team which matters to us. Their success and dominance is what ultimately fuels the passion of the fans. And drives them in droves to watch the IPL circus. Fortunately,RCB is in line for an early exit from the IPL. India needs Virat Kohli firing from all cylinders on the biggest stage- the World Cup. And with Dhoni behind the stumps, who knows???

Padmaavat without the I

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The recent Padmavaati controversy sadly represents India, circa 2018. Is the all powerful government losing the plot? Will India be third time Unlucky?

The controversy surrounding the film sadly represents India, circa 2018. A little known outfit, ostensively to defend Rajput honour, stirs the political pot and gets four State Governments to ban the film. The media goes into a frenzy looking for the most vicious sound bites. They get it when some politico announces a bounty of Rs 5 crores to whoever beheads the lead star, Padmaavati aka Deepika Padukone. Sounds familiar? A sign of the times.

The Supreme Court effectively steps in and “freedom of expression” triumphs over “hurting the sentiments of a people”. Also thankfully, the Censor Board under its new Chairperson finds nothing objectionable in the movie and certifies its release. Imagine if the previous gent had been in the chair. As a laughing-stock, our stock would have soared further.

The movie itself, not much to speak about, is breaking box-office records. A 100 crores or so is thanks to this self-styled Sena. Ironically, it glorifies the “Aan Ban Shan” of the Rajputs whilst over-dramatizing the tragic custom of Jauhar. Also the four States which had abjectly surendered are grudgingly falling in line for the release of Padamaavat under tight security.

It is a pity that the majority government at the centre has again succumbed to the threats from some fringe elements. The Baba Ram Rahim episode is still fresh in memory. The powers that be do not seem to realise that even their genuine achievements are being drowned in all this unnecessary intimidation,noise and confusion.

Cut back to 1972. After the Bangladesh war, Shrimati Indira Gandhi is compared to Goddess Durga. A truly powerful pan-India leader at the top of her game. Just three years later the Emergency happens and the rest is history.

1984. Riding on a sympathy wave, Mr Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress wins an astounding 404 seats in the Lok Sabha. A young, modern leader will pilot the country to unprecedented heights. Just three years later, the government is engulfed by Bofors, Mandal and Shah Bano.

Forward to 2014. Enter Shri Narendra Modi on the national stage. People vote for him in droves and the BJP cruises to a majority of its own. His clean image and CEO style of governance holds a lot of promise. The mantra is Development. Just three years later Vikas (aka development) has become the butt of jokes on social media. The level of political debate has fallen to a new low. Regressive and uncouth motor-mouths hijack headlines every other week. Nothing has changed. The same political machinations prevail. Horse-trading, whole-sale defections, criminal candidates. Money, muscle, caste and community-the formula remains the same. Only today’s chanakya has a different name. Has Modiji lost his mojo?

Will India be unlucky a third time around. Has another golden opportunity for progress been missed?

At the risk of sounding naïve and foolishly idealistic, I stick my neck out. India has thousands of politicians- most of them corrupt, feudal, venal and full of themselves. Isn’t it high time we are blessed with a few Statesmen. Mature visionaries who act for the greater good. A few good men who do not surround themselves with “Yes” men. Tall leaders who are not bothered about the next election. A few public personalities with the ideas and the drive to change the narrative for this vast and great nation.

There is a still a year to go before the next general elections. It is time for some more big bang reforms to positively change our economic, social and political future. If I had the honourable PM’s ear, I would earnestly recommend that a Padamaavati bill be tabled in Parliament asap ensuring 33% reservation for women in both houses. Yes, a majority of them will be proxies for their politician fathers, husbands and brothers. But even if 50 get elected on merits it will be a tipping point in our toxic politics.

Then, fresh winds of change will blow through our corridors of power.