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
Naren please wake up from your dream.
Natasha alias nattu ..it works like baaydu maga maga ...banji du baga ...every powerful leaders are like that only .trump is also same ...nattu meaning na kelu nimma CD team hatra ...editor ge tulu baralla ...but staff knows well ...they will explain u ...silently we must finish what we have thought ...
In the end its all about power. Power insane.
Lol...Ban on Muslims was also a ' Chunaavi Jumla'?
Boothada Baayalli Bagavathgeethe!!
jihadis tried to block modi , they failed ... they tried their level best to block trump , they failed very badly ... islamic countries will have tough time dealing with US . Mr putin also hates islamic millitancy o the core . i got latest information from israel , israel govt banned public reckless screaming as it was annoying its citizen .. positive sign ...hahaha
ALLAH says in QURAN:
Say (O Muhammad pbuh) : O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom you will, and You take the kingdom from whom you will, and You endue with honour whom you will and you humiliate whom you will. In your hand is the good. Verily, you are able to do all things...
Do people think without God's will Trump or Modi came to power.. NEVER. Allah will take care if the powers are misused ... People should know the QURAN mentioned of the tyrant ruler like Pharoah and his mightiest army... and how they were destroyed when mankind was oppressed by the arrogant leaders of that time..
He takes advice from jumla man???
Another jumla baazi.. Now this is really a burnol moment.
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