The apprentice who would be king

POLITICALLY INCORRECT

The apprentice who would be king

SHOBHAA DE 13.11.11

“We need Rahul Gandhi to look after all of us,” said Digvijay Singh without cringing or blushing. Digvijay is 64 years old. And Rahul, 41.What exactly was Digvijay Singh thinking when he made that rather astonishing statement? And who is ‘we’? The people of India? The Congress Party? Digvijay Singh’s immediate family? What sort of ‘looking after’ was he referring to? Physical and emotional well-being? Spiritual succour? Political leadership? Who knows? Diggy has spoken! And going by his recent, unchallenged utterings, it is safe to assume he speaks for ‘the family’. And that includes the extended family around Rahul Gandhi. 
    As the officially designated Good Shepherd, Rahul is expected to provide the much-needed booster shot to a party that is dithering and struggling to hang together. Too many brains, too much ambition and lots at stake. Plus, the rather grim possibility of a couple of heads ready to roll in the near future. Takleef ki baat hai -—no leader, no rudder. Just a good-looking, earnest young man trying hard to fit into a role he doesn’t particularly enjoy. It is almost as if all this responsibility is being thrust on the poor chap and he is being force-fed on a daily diet of sycophancy to make everything seem better. For all his good manners and charm, Rahul looks and behaves like a well- meaning apprentice working in a PSU. An intern learning the ropes under the critical gaze of a billion people. It’s tough being Rahul Gandhi. But then again, what choice does he have? 
    If Sonia indeed does slide over to ease sonny boy into her own, highly privileged position, there won’t be a squeak of protest. If that happens and Rahul gets to cut his teeth on steering the shaky party (with a li’l help from mama) to safer ground, will Rahul get promoted to the next level, and have India’s prime ministership thrust on him? Zero resistance guaranteed. Even from those ministers who are spending more time these days on fixing each other than on earning their keep. Better a Rahul, than a rival! 
    Corporate India will be overjoyed as well. Rahul is seen as ‘one of us’, and everybody is comfortable with him. Besides, as business honchos have shrewdly concluded, rather a wet-behind-the ears Rahul, than any of the Machiavellian present lot gunning for the top job. Poor Rahul is no ‘game changer’. But he is a welcome distraction. The media loves him – he is photogenic, young and reasonably articulate. He is no threat to anyone. And it is understood, Rahul can be ‘managed’ quite effortlessly, if handled right. So far, ‘Team Rahul’ is lying low, perhaps waiting to test the waters before unveiling ‘The Plan for the Prince’. It’s the right strategy. Playing it cool is definitely the way forward, and Rahul’s minders are making sure he doesn’t overstate his case or credentials. 
    For a person who has no real qualifications, has not held a ministerial post, moving to the top of the heap may prove to be a little tougher than envisaged. But throughout history, there have been inexperienced young princes groomed and licked into shape by senior courtiers and family elders. 
    Again, comparing Rahul’s trajectory to his father’s is not fair. Rajiv was plucked out his comfort zone and thrust into a brand new role because of a ghastly personal tragedy. The mood of the nation was gloomy… India was grieving. It’s a different story now. The only grief we know has to do with corruption and poor governance. Is Rahul Gandhi the right person to lead a frontal attack against both? Can he play the Knight in Shining Armour and fix the naughty boys within his own party before tackling the rest? Today’s young Indian is impatient, aggressive and demanding. Deliver or else, is how it works. Rahul Gandhi has to deliver. Dropping in on unsuspecting, poverty-stricken villagers to break bhakris with them can only take Rahul this far. If he does indeed take the leap of faith required to lead India as prime minister, he will have to do much better than that. As reality shows go, there can be no better concept than India itself. Today, we have a Sushil Kumar, the toast of the country after winning Rs 5 crore on KBC. Sushil Kumar has The Big B to thank for his luck turning overnight. But The Big G (Rahul) has it tougher by far. He will have to hold out a comparable promise to an entire generation of hungry Indians waiting to hit the jackpot. 
    In case Rahul Baba gets stuck, who will bail him— and us —out? Any answers, Diggyji?

HEIR AND NOW: Rahul Gandhi has to do more than break bread with villagers to find his footing in politics