We have a new Cabinet with many familiar faces from the past although, in an ideal and utopian world, one would have liked to see a series of new and fresh faces. There were few of those. The Prime Minister is a man of unadulterated integrity and fine intellectual sensibility, who will preside over a motley group of colleagues with differing ideologies. But he will be a very adept and able bandmaster because Manmohan Singh respects individuals for what they are, recognises the strengths they bring to the table and is not prone to being judgmental in a negative fashion.
He has a quiet and dignified way of overcoming glitches and hiccups, with understanding, compassion and a firm resolve. He does as he believes and believes in what he does. He is just plain different and that is his greatest attribute.
To have P Chidambaram back at the helm of the finance ministry is good news to say the least. What will be interesting to watch is the manner in which all those men who headed the many institutions in Mumbai and some in Delhi, will scurry back to those they had discarded during the tenure of the NDA. Some, who were known to be acolytes of the former finance minister, will have to be a trifle creative in choreographing their jig back into the portals of North Block. They will be received with grace and dignity but their somersaults are there for all to see, and to marvel at their agility!
While some alliance partners scramble for the portfolios they have had their eyes on, the Press, predictably, is being snide and sarcastic about the new coalition. They seem to have forgotten the shrieks and tantrums of Mamata and Jayalalithaa with George F on a non-stop shuttle for weeks; they have forgotten the lambasting of the BJP by the other arms of the Sangh Parivar, the RSS and the VHP, their own mother body; they seem to have forgotten that India is a democracy and not some dictatorial regime where adjustment is unheard of; they seem to have forgotten that these shenanigans are intrinsic to politics; they seem to have only one interest ? to get a sound byte that gives them some pleasure. A handful of TV anchors look and sound peeved by the result!
The reaction by most to Laloo Yadav being in the cabinet smacks of supr-eme condescension. Here is a leader who won his election against all the poll predictions. Instead of trying to crack the reasons for his victory, we are overwhelmed by comments that mock him. Is it because he belongs to another class, to the soil of India?
It is as though the educated and privileged community have a dis-regard for the others, for Bharat.
The new dispensation at the Centre has much to do. If in the next three months they can begin to show their paces in all the critical ministries, they will be well on their way. If they do not, they will begin to falter. It is hard and dedicated work that will bind the alliance. The DMK has an assembly election coming up in a couple of years. Their performance will be assessed by their constituents. They will have to be careful about being clean and having no scandal attributed to their leaders at the Centre. Honesty and integrity may become a compelling factor! Maharashtra will be going to the polls as well. The same will apply to the NCP.
The ministry of environment should have ideally been with the Congress since it was Indira Gandhi who legislated extensively to protect what little remains of our natural treasures. They should have taken responsibility of this space. The fear is that without an abiding, zealous faith and commitment to our natural habitat, the nurturing of these sacred tracts will be tough. It is rare to find a politician who understands the need to grow the natural environment, to preserve the water catchment areas et al.
Rapacious exploitation has been the norm and corruption has been rampant. Bureaucracies have supported their political masters in this mauling of the land. Greed has dominated. Fortunately, the Supreme Court is committed and active in this area. Therefore, fiddling and scandals will be exposed.
In the realm of education, freedom of expression must be sacrosanct and all positions and views encouraged. That is what makes for an exciting and enlightened nation. Forcing stuff down the throats of all only makes for intellectual regression. Those who are able to, try and escape to other lands and the diaspora, therefore, grows with every passing year. It puts a vibrant country on the backburner of the world?s stage. India has always been tolerant and has absorbed many layers. To mainstream it on what one lot wants it to be, will reduce it to an inconsequential land mass.