Hindustan Times
Only young
The other day I met Pradeep Jain, a first time minister. He is young and in that sense fits well into Rahul Gandhi’s youth formula. But that is about it. To me Jain appeared to be a typical don: bearded, an overdose of gold jewellery and sporting dark Rayban, perhaps an imitation, even inside his office.
His office, ofcourse is as disorganised as could be. One does not know what the other is doing. I was waiting in the anteroom and his secretary kept telling me that Jain was attending a party meeting to condole the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy. Sadly that was used as an excuse for the next few days when ministers were absconding.
Anyway I waited for over half an hour while there were several missed calls on my cell phone, which as a practice I keep on silent mode when I am with someone. Therefore I did not answer it. After about 40 minutes I was told that mantriji had “arrived”. When I was ushered in to his room, he said HE had been waiting for nearly an hour. There was no point telling him that I was in the room next to his in the clue-less set up. As is typical particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, he was surrounded by cronies: thankfully not half a dozen but only three.
Looking at Jain, I thought there was little point in asking him anything because it was unlikely that he would speak the truth. He didn’t look the types. He appeared to me a school drop out who got on the political bandwagon, that being the ultimate refuge of unsocial elements. I am not suggesting that all of them are uncouth or dishonest but I am saying that there are many who use politics as a foothold to serve their personal motives: however legitimate or illegitimate.
As for Pradip Jain I concede that once he started talking there was a rustic honesty about him: about his father being an engine driver and his mother keen to see that the family got social acceptability. He also spoke about their hand to mouth existence: how as a kid he often missed school because he shared a school bag with his brother. So when his brother packed his books to take to school, he had to stay home. In the evenings the same bag was used to cart vegetables for the family.
It is against this backdrop that one can understand his mother’s desire to see the family break out of the clutches of poverty. Jain was also honest enough to admit that because of the limited electoral reach of his caste, there was a little chance of his making it to Delhi: least of all as a minister.
He said this upfront as he did the fact that he started frequenting Hindu temples particularly the well known ones in Datia and Jhansi for people, other than Jains, to garner support. Jain’s is not a sob story: it is a real life situation of many Indians. Purely on that count, he deserves to be where he is today.
Like many of his colleagues including CP Joshi, Mahadev Khandela and KH Muniyappa even he cannot believe that he has made it to the Union Cabinet. Many of the first timers that I have met, cannot get over the fact that they have reached Delhi. I was witness to some of them actually fighting back tears when talking about their induction.
My problem is not with tears. Or being emotional about getting a top job. My problem is about handling something that you do not believe you can get. If one is so nervous or overwhelmed by one’s assignment, chances are that they will be overawed to an extent that they will either do nothing at all or make a mess of it. So while no one can argue against giving a chance to the second rung or young leadership, it is also advisable to assess whether they can handle the responsibility with the dignity it deserves and carry out the task of governance with the maturity it demands?
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Kumkum Chadha on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Filed under India · Tagged Cabinet first timers, Pradeep Jain, Union Cabinet, Young leaders, young leadership
All these youth and socaleld liberal leaders of congress could nto muster courage to oppose the intra-caste marriage boycot and even murder fatwa by panchayat.. Some fo these guys even supported it ..
Bottomline all these people are chip of the same block.. everytime their daddy retire thei party starst talking abotu youth and youth and by that all they mean is that power should go to their sons and daughters..
it’s basically catch-phrase to sell monarchy
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kumkum chadha Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I am sure if that is entirely correct. Young blood is always a plus point given that they bring freshness and enthusiasm to what they handle or spearhead. Yes often children of politicians are propped up but if one is capable I don’t see a problem with that.
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kumkum chadha Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Sorrt I meant I am NOTt sure if that is correct
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There are plenty of first timers in the present cabinet. Those who have shown remarkable adaptibilty and promise in earlier cabinets can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Amongst Congress Kumari Selja is one of them. Omar Abdullah is another. Suresh Prabhu from SS was one such person with exceptional grasping power with very high proficiency and performance. We need people of that calibre for the developement of India.
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kumkum chadha Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
You are right
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I think Mr Pradeep Jain has been given place in the cabinet to appease the now strong emerging ‘Jain’ commnunity. Looking to rustic and inexperienced Jain as his qualification he should have been asked to gather experience first, which would have been beneficial for him also.
Don’t compare first timers like Kumar Selja, Omar Abdullah or Suresh Prabhu with Pradeep Jain. The formers have got good experience at their respective states and have good grasp on their subject. Suresh Prabhu is a seasoned Chartered Accountant and was on the board of a highly profitable private Bank of Maharashtra. His tenure as Central Power Minister was exceptional.
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Ma’am,
I really like your articles and find them unlike any other articles I read the dailies. Keep up the good work.
I also agree with you that sometimes giving a chance to a son/daughter of a famous politician can be a good. They have been after all groomed for it since childhood.
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kumkum chadha Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Thanks It is reassuring to know that you enjoy reading my writings
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Hello Kumkum,
I agree with you strongly. We cannot have people in positions which matter for development of the nation, who may not be able to justify there presence in that position.
One needs strong skills not only in leadership but also acumen to analyse and guide the teams at these levels. Self belief is of utmost importance to succeed.
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