Evolution in Indian politics
I was following the IPL-Tharoor saga not just as another scandal, but rather as a definition of what is the Darwinian fitness in Indian Politics. When Tharoor became prominent in politics, to me it was a welcome mutation – not a perfect new species, mind you – but a mutation that was a definite improvement on the existing species. And there was reason to believe that the environment of selection too has changed with increasing education of the masses and increasing influence of the electronic media. From that perspective it was quite interesting to watch if this new gene survived.
It is probably too early to write the obituary of this political gene, but I think it looks unlikely that it will survive. In Indian politics it appears that the fittest one is the same old fashioned, wily gene. For those who are wondering why I am wasting my breath in supporting someone who apparently misused his position of power, I am not here to justify what he did or what he is supposed to have done. My point is this: Parties and individuals here have been involved in more scandalous acts like Bofors, Gujarat riots, Babri Masjid demolition, fodder scams, waste of public money in statues. Some of these disclosures made some noise for a while, but most of these parties and individuals survived these and continued in power. Going by this evidence, it is clear that misuse of power does not make a political gene unfit. So what made the T gene unfit must have been those qualities that made it different from the general pool.And I think that many of those qualities were desirable and ought to have been 'naturally selected'.
The intolerance to this change is more evident in the earlier scandals involving Shashi Tharoor – where even some inconsequential tweet of his was blown out of proportion. To me, the most unkindest cut of all came from the media, for I believed that the media would nurture and support the evolution in our politics.
Hi Mohan,
ReplyDeleteGood view point from the stand point of "natural selection".
This kind of "coming-from-nowhere" genes takes a while to survive (if at all).
Most of such genes are destined to fail.
But then over a period such kind of gene coming in to the pool itself changes the overall complexion which hopefully is good one in the long run.
In politics it is always the "art of possible" rather than "art of desirable".
In this case, the gene seems to be ignoring both :-(
Cheers,
madhu
I am relieved that Shashi Tharoor has resigned, in fact he should have done it the day the scandal broke. If we believe this gene is different, then the difference should show not just in the perceived DNA but also in the actions. How else can he be different from Lalit Modi (or Narendra Modi) if he acts the same way as they do. But I am grateful to him that he has unwittingly stirred a corrupt system. The source of money in this entire business is unknown. Can we investigate the shareholding patterns of all other 9 teams, and find out HOW they got their crores, and whether that was tax paid? I understand IPL is exempt from tax, why should it be that way? Why was it decided that ICL is illegal and must be banned, and only IPL is legal? Do we have the courage to have an inquiry into all these questions, and stay IPL matches till we get the answers?
ReplyDeleteKalyan,
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the whole thing is probably good for IPL. It badly needed some clean up.
Mohan
Madhu,
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the jumbo mutations. According to evolutionists it is very rare that the jumbo mutations are naturally selected - as they are likely to be seen as oddities in the society which reduces their mating chances.
Mohan
Leason learned : Sum total of all his positive factors and some of his weaknesses which does not end at cricket does not equate to the quintessential political gene that he apparently lacks.
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective.. I think the reason other scam tainted politicians survived is possibly because of the perceived or real voter base they commanded.. T had some appeal to a much smaller section of the voting population(people who really go out and vote) and that probably made him less immune to getting dumped.
ReplyDeleteNRR,
ReplyDeleteThat explains why it was easy to dethrone him. But this does not explain the animosity shown against him - especially by media - who is expected to be neutral.
Mohan
Entry of such external genes to new environment by choice, confident of adaptingto it, is not new and should not be taken as a welcoming trend. Many of the most crooked persons in poltics have been well educated and polished, and they have more than once proved that these characters do not enter politics due to a change in selection environment neither they are strong enough to really change the environment. Shashi Tharoors later political journey have proved that he has adopted well to the mirky environment,rather than bringing any change to it.
ReplyDelete