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
Tipu is one of the few freedom fighter who didnt bow his head to British and fought bravely and died in the battlefield. unlike RSS, VHP who bowed their head to be their slave. Now these little puppies have grown up to speak against Tiger of Mysore forgetting his contribution to the indian freedom struggle. Secondly if Tipu had converted hindus into islam by force then there would have been not a single Hindu left in the country now while Hindus make up 80% of Indian population. Foolish people talk without any logic.
Hindu jaya Gosh (gosh of beef)
who is tippu. he is a crimnal. why shold we celebrate his birthday?
If these goons kill Gandhi the person who gave freedom and did ultimate sacrifice for the nation, then how can we expect these goons will talk fairly.
Now Mr. Jain himself is a Jain and not Hindu. He should set an example by denouncing his religion and should join Hinduism.
About Muslims joining Hinduism,
Mr. Jain come for a healthy debate.
If Hinduism proved to be true, all Muslims will join Hinduism.
Like wise if Hinduism proved to be untrue, you first join Islam and ask your people to accept Islam.
They only calls... but no body listen to them.
Wah Re Wah... What a meaningful statements by Mr Jain, the member of non violent community! Thooo nin janmakkishtu
Jihadist and Bajrangi's mentality are same. Both are terrorist. Please just ignore them.
instead of this time waste, do good to the country, help poor family to come up in life.
Tiger-Tippu is being remembered for his bravery.... and entire country is appreciating for his hard work....he is the only king stood against british rule at that time....these chaddies were supporting british....nobody from chaddies fought for our country for our freedom....they should be ashamed of themselves.....
Creating violence in the peaceful society is their birth right!!
Bap Ray Bap what's going on here and there, Mallu
We need thorough research to unearth the historical truth.
Tipu was never a freedom fighter and was fighting only to save himself and like mentioned to convert to islam. It cannot be condoned that others did so can he. What kind of logic is this to support tyranny. So by default we are agreeing to BJP's ghar vapsi. What wrong VHP is doing if Tipu was right in his actions.
None of the royalty was \freedom fighter\".They were fighting for their own glory and power. The poor faceless people who died for the country after 1857 were \"freedom fighters\""
none of these castes and religions belongs to India. Hindu, Christian, Muslim. All this people are developing wide spread hatred among people. In India we were having Dravida origin people. They may have converted to Buddism or jainism but not on any compulsions from out side Indians but due to the intuitions from the times GURUS like mahavir or buddha. Even before that we had aadi dravida culture. With out having the detailed study or finding on the back history, we are spreading hatred on starting from edges of the last point.It is mere nonsense. Tipu sulthan the great may have committed crime as a king. the christians preachers may have converted people to their religion by force or else. At this point of time study and analysis may favour some historical revelations but creating hatred in the name of religion and causing poor people to lead violance is a ploy that every religion at every time played in and around the world. Israel, Arab countries, US, UK, Australia and even in Africa these game plan works and the loosers are always the down troden common public and the profit makers are always the top leaders of the religion as well the politicians. This is the corrupt intolerance
Nobody is with clean hands. Something or the other is done by everybody in general for their survival. If everybody's history is revealed the person will be caught in somewhere in the middle of his life. There is no any such great person who did all good things for others. So stop this hatredness and let's see how to move forward with the country where there are types of religion, race, community, caste, creed and culture. If this comment goes on with UCA then they are also poking their nose in the issue which is not related to them. Kindly if you are not able to do goodness please do not agitate the country. The seed sowing job is done by the communal parties in the year 2002 by demolishing Babri Masjid and massacring thousands of people from a particular religion. Remember. Don't blame the religion. and UCA and BJP/ VHP/ BAJRANG DAL or so called sangh parivars is going against the Karnataka government and the INDIAN Government decision. We would like to thank to the HONORABLE CM OF KARNATAKA and the Congress leaders who has taken rigid decision to commemorate Tippu Sulthan. Tippu never opposed. In fact he used to work with secularism where in his court he was giving equal position to all. Like Poornaiah, and the list goes on. He fought with the British rulers bravely. They only awarded him as THE TIGER OF MYSORE for his bravery. Even English mothers tried to make the child sleep by saying his bravery. So stop blaming UCA. This UCA should not come into picture. They also joined. Ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!
Thanks to our Historians. These historians were patronized by ruling elite, to give us wrong history. We were fooled. Ms.Danya Rajendran had tweeted that she knows a family by name 70s. That is, they are descendants of 70 families, in Mysore, whose males were killed by this Great Tipu. During his period, there were JUST TWO temples in his kingdom. This fact is also known after this Tipu Jayanthi celebrations by Govt.
Instead we should celebrate GODSE jayanthi,
pathetic people, need to revise History again to these people!!!!
We never want to celebrate anybody's birthday. Only God knows what is Tippu's situation now as every soul shall die and will be asked with what he did with the life that God has given us...
Aren't they all have any intellect?
If Tippu did not started the War with the British, we would still be the slaves of the British and their chamchas , the cheddis.
Why the stupids want us to believe what they say without learning the history...
Cheddi leaders have tricked very easily many ignorants...Wow there are so many, who doenst use their God given intellect... and they stand with the LIARS... for petty gains...
Dont worry God is with those who are truthful... As a whole evils will perish one day
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