Fathers of Democratic Nation.
Indian
Leaders Failed to Take Cue from George Washington.
George Washington
George Washington, the
gallant and victorious liberator of America, sprang a surprise when he declined
to stand in the third election for the President’s post in 1796 despite winning
100% of the electoral votes in the 1792 election.
Historians think that
he wanted to reveal to the world no one is indispensible under a republican set
up. He also wanted to assert that the cause of liberty was larger than any
single individual.
Legacy
of George Washington (GW)
Maximum two terms of
Presidency was continued for 150 years with the only exception of Franklin D.
Roosevelt during World War II. This tradition became a law in 1951. The legacy prevented the possibilities of
any attempt to bring in monarchy or oligarchy.
However, the tenure restriction
is not applicable to congress members; a few senators are holding their office
for 30 long years.
As
commander-in-chief of the l Army, Washington respected the authority of the
Congress, and affirmed that the purpose of the army was to carry out the will
of the civil government. The USA had 26 elected Presidents out of 44who were ex
army retirees including Generals like Ulysses Grant, Andrew Jackson and Dewitt
D Eisenhower. None of the military dictators from Julius Cesar to Saddham Hussein
relinquished their power and authority until their death or dethrone. GW was the only exception.
He
hated political parties, however, welcomed criticism from the press. He did not have higher education but had
higher vision to shape a strong democratic nation. He stood as an example for
liberal and republican ideas and gave them effect through the Revolution, the
Constitution, his successful Presidency and his departure from office.
As
an astute statesman he was aware that his presidency would
set a precedent for all that would follow. He was vigilant not to permit the
European style of monarchy sneaking into the system. His followers banned all
the European style nobility titles like Sir, Earl and Duke etc.
Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi’s
achievement is far greater than that of Washington in terms of area, population,
regional/ethnic/linguistic/diversities, religious/political/social complexities
and brutal oppression by the armed colonizers. Inspiring and organizing400
million people with diversities were probably the greatest human achievement in
the world history. Mahatma
Gandhi did not seek a violent approach to achieve independence. He spearheaded
his non violent forces without arms against iron fists with arms. It was a longer fight of over 30 years as
against 8 years of American war of independence. He maintained his undisputed leadership till
his end. Gandhi’s tenacity and
determination was admired by the entire world and they also stimulated freedom
fights in many parts of Asia and Africa.
Legacy
of Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi
refused to take the reins after independence and handed it over to the Westernised
Jawaharlal Nehru. Was it a right choice?
Gandhi wanted a less aggressive and peace promoting person to be his
successor.
Nehru’s
disdain for Indian culture and heritage is well known. He openly remarked that he will be the last
Britisher to rule India. He just
followed the language and habits of the West but never had the pragmatism and
vision of GW to set an example of a
true leader. Nehru, contrary to GW and Gandhi, did not have the broad mind to
build a nation through delegation of authority and grooming a successor,
despite having capable persons like Morarji Desai. Thirteen Vice Presidents of USA were groomed
and they subsequently became Presidents.
He was surrounded by sycophants and his own family members. Consciously or unconsciously he dug a quick sand in the Indian polity in
which the democracy is slowly sinking due to the un checked development of oligarchy
plunging the nation into the old dark days of feudalism.
Political
party leaders follow Nehru by not developing
a successor because of fear of rebellion. They drag until their family members
become old enough to take control of the party and its huge, mostly, ill gotten
wealth. There is hardly any democracy inside political parties. Nehru’s promotion of fiefdom in Indian
politics is the stumbling block to the holistic development. The Congress party
known for its highly educated and dedicated veterans is now reduced to a despotic
family party managed by his descendents.
A
proposal, during the preparation of the constitution, to limit the tenure of
the Prime Minister like the President of India to two terms was cleverly
scuttled. Time is ripe to introduce tenure
limitation for PMs as well as CMs in order to improve the quality and
commitment of their office.
Political
experts introspect that Gandhi should have made a better choice for
spearheading a young democratic nation.
Conclusion
The
approach to the war of independence of the two nations makes all the
difference. GW followed the armed
struggle and took the responsibility to lead after the achievement. He was very successful in giving a good start
which was vital for the future progress. GW was a light house to the USA and
its beam is still alive and bright even after two centuries. The internal and external challenges were all
put down successfully due to the fire of independence and nation building
spirit lit by him. The USA when started had only 13 states in the Eastern coast
expanded upto the Pacific coast with 50 states under its flag.
India
was less fortunate to start with a soft and idealistic leader. But
for the acumen of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Nehru’s faux optimism would have adversely
affected the size and shape of the present Indian map. The spirit of
independence was very high in India immediately after 1947. However, when the external and internal
challenges erupted the poor show and weakness of the leadership became visible
to the world.
Development
of feudalism was cut in the bud by GW whereas Nehru nurtured it making the Indian
republic less meaningful.
Dr.
Krishnan Arunachalam
(Published in Mylapore club magazine Dec/14 by the author under the caption
India's Political Leadership )
