Words of wisdom

Prime Minister Vajpayee’s statesmanlike message

Grant it to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his ghost writers. He may not do much about running an efficient and active government during the course of a year, but his year-end musings have elevated him to the status of a sub-continental statesman of Nehruvian proportions. Mr Vajpayee’s new year message for 2002 is even more inspiring than his Kumarakom musings of 2000. Commenting on his Kumarakom musings we dubbed him “Atal Bihari Nehru”. With his 2001 message for 2002, he has tried to combine his Nehruvian vision with some Sardar Patelian firmness and Indira Gandhian concern for poverty. No one can quarrel with any of the sentiments Mr Vajpayee has expressed. The statement offers a balanced emphasis between our domestic policy priorities and our external challenges, between the urgency of an economic agenda and the necessity of a security strategy. It offers a hand of friendship to our testy neighbour with a firm warning that if our patience is repeatedly tested we will not be found wanting in defending our national interest. Mr Vajpayee’s commitment to the fundamental values and principles of our Republican Constitution, to freedom, democracy, secularism and social equality are important statements in this day and age.

Mr Vajpayee’s commitment to secularism sounds genuine and his track record does inspire confidence. This renewed commitment to secularism is a message directed both at our neighbourhood and at Mr Vajpayee’s own political supporters. Mr Vajpayee has left open-ended the future course of action India intends to take in dealing with a troublesome Pakistan. A well-advised strategy. We must not be short-sighted and hasty in our response to recent provocations from Pakistan, but we must remain clear-sighted in our objectives and firm in our resolve. Statesman Vajpayee is capable of leading the nation along the righteous and correct path. However, to do so effectively he must be more engaged in governance and focus on the domestic economy. High thinking and good prose are not enough to meet the challenges we will face in the years to come. Hard work more productively done, humanism and liberalism, and a genuine commitment to economic development are needed. Socially fractious agendas, bigotry and chauvinism, irresponsible management of public resources and pervasive corruption at all levels have damaged national interest more than any outsider can. The electorate will reward Mr Vajpayee handsomely if he follows up his good words with better deeds.