Bengaluru: On Saturday, billionaire-turned Congress aspirant Nandan Nilekani was forced to bring his public address to a halt. Why? Because he spoke in English. The more fervent members of the audience charged up to the foot of the stage, insisting he speak in Kannada.
"You're contesting from Bengaluru," they claimed. "You have no right to speak in English."
As much as we hate to admit it, language, caste, creed and religion are the cornerstones of Indian politics. The new brand of politcians entering the fray, the Nandan Nilekanis and Balakrishnans, the ambassadors of what a friend once referred to as air-conditioned politics, have no place, it seems in the rough-and-tumble world the more seasoned politicians claim to champion.
Playwright Abhishek Iyengar, best known for his political satires, chatted with Rinitakar Choudhury, who is doing her Masters' Degree in Political Science, at an al fresco coffee shop on MG Road. The topic for the day was whether or not language should be able to make or break a politician, which it certainly seems to do today.
"Yes, language helps you reach out to people at the grassroots levels, but it won't take you much farther than that," said Choudhury.
Iyengar disagreed with this at once, saying, “I believe that if a person wants to represent a certain region, he has to know it inside out. Nandan, for instance, should have full knowledge of the language and culture of the community he claims to represent."
For most Indians, protecting one's identity in a land marked by heterogeneity is the most important thing. "We are deeply sentimental people. So it is only obvious that politicians play on language, caste and creed."
Politics, pointed out Iyengar, is the only profession in India that doesn't require an entrance test! "I think that's partly at fault," he said. "People only enter politics if they want to make a lot of money or if they have nothing else to do! Nobody thinks of studying to become a politician!"
Can this new brand of politics, led by the corporatised politician, actually survive? "First and foremost, they need to identify with our issues," said Rinitakar.
"In India, poverty is the biggest problem, the vast majority of people are only interested in survival. No amount of bookish knowledge can bring about awareness in a person, it's something the new politicians lack."
They will survive, felt Iyengar. For now. "Their parties will ensure their survival, because of the amount of funding they bring to the table," he said, cynically. "That's why they contest from constituencies like Bangalore South and Bangalore Central, where the electorate is sophisticated. It's being handed to them on a platter. I want Nandan to contest from Haveri!"
While the new generation of sophisticated, intellectual politicians can bring something India really needs to the table, they will, most likely, find themselves cowed down by more boisterous party members. "Mass contact is the most important thing for a politician," said Choudhury. "A politician who does not appeal to the people can't get anywhere."
Young, cosmopolitian urbanites may scoff when Nandan Nilekani is forced to end his speech for talking in English. To us, it seems absurd. We are just a tiny section of the country, however, dominated by legions of poverty-ridden, largely superstitious men and women,for whom survival is a struggle.
"We're still promising the people food, water and electricity," said Iyengar. "Even Afghanistan has done better than us!"
