Kozhikode, Jan 18: A "fifth-generation dynast" Rahul Gandhi has no chance in Indian politics against a "hard-working and self-made" Narendra Modi, and Kerala did a disastrous thing by electing the the Congress leader to Parliament, historian Ramachandra Guha said here on Friday.
Guha said the reduction of the Congress from a "great party" during the freedom movement to a "pathetic family firm" now is one of the reasons for the ascendency of Hindutva and jingoism in India.
"I have nothing against Rahul Gandhi personally. He is a decent fellow, very well-mannered. But young India does not want a fifth-generation dynast. If you Malyalis make the mistake of re-electing Rahul Gandhi in 2024 too, you are merely handing over an advantage to Narendra Modi," said Guha on the second day of the ongoing Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) during his talk, "Patriotism Vs Jingoism".
Addressing the crowd, full of Keralites, he said, "Kerala, you have done many wonderful things for India, but one of the disastrous thing you did was to elect Rahul Gandhi to Parliament."
"Narendra Modi's great advantage is that he is not Rahul Gandhi. He is self-made. He has run a state for 15 years, he has an administrative experience, he is incredibly hard working and he never takes holidays in Europe. Believe me I am saying all this in all seriousness," he said.
But, even if Rahul Gandhi was "much more intelligent, more hard-working, never took a holiday in Europe, as a fifth generation dynast he still will be at a disadvantage against a self-made person", the 61-year-old author said.
He took on Congress president Sonia Gandhi too who, he said, reminded him of the "late Mughal dynasty" and how aloof they were of the state of their kingdom.
"India is becoming more democratic and less feudal, and the Gandhis just don't realise this. You (Sonia) are in Delhi, your kingdom is shrinking more and more but still your chamchas (sycophants) are telling you that you are still the badshah," he said.
Further, he quoted his teacher and noted Indian sociologist Andre Beteille to describe the story of Nehru-Gandhi family as a classic "reversal of the famous Biblical injunction": the sins of the father will be visited upon seven successive generations.
"In the Nehru's case, it is the sins of the seven successive generations have been re-visited upon Nehru... look at the national debate today. Why is Nehru evoked everytime? Why does Modi always say Nehru ne Kashmir mein yeh kiya, China mein yeh kiya, Triple Talaq mein yeh kiye ... because Rahul Gandhi is there.
"Now if Rahul Gandhi disappears, Modi has to talk about his own policies and why they failed," he said.
According to Guha, "Hypocrisy of the Indian Left -- the fact that they loved other nations more than India", "rise of aggressive nationalism worldwide" and "the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in neighbouring countries" are some other reasons behind the evident leap of Hindutva in India in the recent times.
Historian William Dalrymple, novelists like Benyamin, Namita Gokhale, Chetan Bhagat and journalists Karan Thapar and Rajdeep Sardesai are among the many other writers who will be attending the four-day festival.
The focus theme of KLF 2020 is environment and climate change.
Comments
No need to point thier members, they all are the wings fo desh drohi RSS. In Karnataka all will epxerinece their
communal and hate speeches only for vote bank. They might think by the name of cunning religion and caste polcy they will succeed to devide our Great country. In INDIA normal citizens will never accept RSS groups policy to accept their upper caste and lower caste Hindu policy and targeting other religion.
Rest of the Nations are living peacefully with all religion why can't we .
India is the only country in the World fight against dirty british invader with Non Voilance. For that we all to salute the great man Mahthma Gandhi. RSS criminals never supported or they parcitipated during nation freedom strugle with dirty britishers. Now they are looking to devide our Nation but never, hence we all have to stand together ; be unite to save our NATION form these evils. Then no time very shorlty their organization and their criminal institutions will be vanished from all corners of NDIA.
Jai Hind! Jai Karnataka !
These disgraceful caste based un secular Muslim appeasing Sid Ra Miya of Conning-ress, is equating Bajrang Dal & RSS with some of the parties (A--i Na---al) which it sponsors, RSS has proved for many years that it is a party doing many social services, this cheap fellows will be in power for barely another 4 months
CM has problem in a mental stablity ot he is drunk should we call for ban for Congress Muslim party who looks for their votes
Sid RA Miya, Conning-ress, & Parakasha Rai/Raj are already Hob Nobbing with PFI, SDPI, & many similar organizations directly & clandestinely
@Mangalurean. Very few sane, Hindus, have such guts. Others all are chameleons..and turn color whenever get a better chance.
I wish, he was not in Congress, which helped RSS grow into such a giant organization and now a school of teaching hatred to innocent common Hindus.
Salute. Many common Hindus feel the same way, unless they are in politics.
So the President, Vise-President and the Prime minister are terrorists? India is a terrorist country now then. This idiot will be shown his place in the next election.
BIG sallute to Siddaramaih!!
HE the CM of Karnataka has guts to speak the truth of hidden Agendas of against our nation as well Karnataka...!
in fact who killed the BOMBAY POLICE CHEIF of Mumbai, its RSS becouse very soon he wanted to open mouth of big shots who are enjoing the government protocol and security today..
Almost all leaders and prominents in India are THUGS but some also TERRORISTS.
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