Is it easier to be the Pope or the Prime Minister of India? To a large extent the answer would depend on one’s understanding of the Papacy. If it is to be the Vicar of Christ, then of course it is the most demanding job on earth. If it is to be the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, it is comparatively easy. From whatever I have read of church history, and the functioning of various popes down the ages, I am constrained to conclude that, with rare exceptions, the role of Pontiff has assumed ascendancy over that of the Vicar.
It is easy to be the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church! Why? Because he is accountable to no one, and nobody can remove him from his “august” office. The Pontiff pontificates – speaks out. He seldom listens. In contrast, the Prime Minister of India is constantly answerable and accountable – to Parliament, to the Press, to civil society, etc. He is responsible for any crisis, be it war or finances. He has a hotline, and can be woken up in the middle of the night. Can you imagine anybody waking up the Pope to tell him about a tsunami, earthquake, or even the collapse of the Vatican Bank? Such mundane things could wait till he has said mass and had his breakfast in gold-rimmed crockery, and ensconced himself in his majestic papal office. If the Prime Minister or his party messes things up he is unceremoniously bundled out of office at the hustings. Such tremors do not affect the Pope. So I daresay that it is much easier to be a Pope than the Prime Minister of India.
I don’t belong to any political party, and I don’t have the money to stand for election to Parliament. So again, just like with the Pope, I will never be the PM. But as a conscientious Indian, who is active in social, civic and political affairs, I do have some concerns that I wish to articulate. They would be my priorities as Prime Minister.
India’s economic progress in recent years has been phenomenal. The NDA Government boasted of it as “India Shining”, but lost the elections. Learning from that experience the Congress led UPA Government talked of the “Aam Admi”, and implemented schemes like rural employment, waiver of loans to farmers, etc. It got the UPA re-elected with an increased majority.
Then the ghost of corruption loomed large, catapulting Anna Hazare to centre stage; brushing aside all our economic and diplomatic achievements. Corruption is the big C, the deadly cancer that is eating into our innards. It is the silent killer. So the eradication of corruption would be my first priority. V.P. Singh, as Prime Minister, sacrificed his coalition government, rather than allow the Babri Masjid to fall. That required moral courage, not seen in any other Prime Minister, barring Lal Bahadur Shastri. Both these Prime Ministers had very short tenures and have, unfortunately, been easily forgotten.
So whether or not I lead a coalition government, I will not compromise on basic principles, with zero tolerance for corruption. When I.K. Gujral (remember him?) was Prime Minister he made a profound statement that a staircase is swept clean from the top. There is also the natural phenomenon that a fish first rots from the head. So the PM would have to set an extraordinarily high standard of honesty and integrity in public life.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has himself often stated that even Caesar’s wife should be beyond suspicion. So the PM would have to handpick honest and competent parliamentarians for his ministerial team, and the same for bureaucrats to man key posts. It is not that we don’t have honest and efficient politicians, bureaucrats and judges. But many of them are not given their due or even side lined and harassed.
My second priority would be basic amenities like potable water and electricity. There can be no excuses for our people not having access to these. Together with that come primary health and primary education. This may sound like stating the obvious. But then, so often, we miss the wood for the trees.
Before Independence, there was a feeling of nationalism, perhaps because we had a perceived “enemy”, the British. Today our nationalistic fervour is limited to shouting “Chak De India” in cricket, especially if the opponent is Pakistan. We think that Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest Indian and want to give him the Bharat Ratna. A pity.
Somehow, and this is the really tough one, we need to re-inculcate in our people a sense of legitimate pride in our nation, and its premier institutions – the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. We need to tell our young people that there is more to life than the “package” they will get after doing their B.Tech or MBA. Young and old must contribute to society and nation building. A boost should be given to the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the National Service Scheme (NSS). Though I do not advocate violence I would even propose that young people have a two-year conscription in the Defence Services (as in Israel). Those who do their B.Tech or MBBS with Government funding, should in like manner be expected to devote two years to nation building, before being given their degrees. Thos who undertake such exercises should be given incentives in job opportunities or higher education. In fact from the Finance, Commerce or Defence Ministries, focus should shift to the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry. It is a big task, but it must be done. With over a billion people, our biggest resource is our own people. Would that we could make them that more resourceful.
On my part, and in my sphere of influence, I shall do my best for nation building and a corruption free society.
* The writer is the former National President of the All India Catholic Union.
April 2011
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