Congress response to yet another defeat is predictable: Dynasty loyalists praising Rahul Gandhi’s efforts, office-bearers offering resignations, and rhetoric about self-introspection. Congress president will offer to resign, only to be rejected. A repeat of this drama in a moment of an existential crisis instead of a drastic change is suicidal.
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Let’s consider the analogy of Apple Inc. Steve Job’s era up to his death and ask two questions: (1) was Apple an idea/vision or was it a firm propelled by an almost fanatical innovator? and (2) how many of us thought that Apple would survive and grow without Steve Jobs?
Congress was born as an idea. Now it has to recreate another novel idea. The starting point is to admit that the world has moved beyond pure socialism and nationalism is an international phenomenon (at least for the time being). The latter is especially true for India because threat is real, and therefore, at times there is a need to talk and act tough. Next, it should sincerely bring about visible economic change in the states it governs; reduce income equality and deliver reasonable quality of bijli-pani. It could invite large scale private investment in its states and encourage creation of self-sustained communities (clean water / health / education) with public-private partnership model. And finally, if Rahul Gandhi feels he is not capable of delivering such benefits, then find a leader who is absolutely passionate about bringing change (genuinely) with focus of Arjuna. Think Apple. Find a Tim Cook.
I am not a fan of dynastic succession. However, in the Congress, at this very difficult time, who else is there ? 120 million votes means a lot of Indians share the core values of the Congress. The Congress President wasted a decade during UPA rule. It is very condescending to say, I did not wish to undermine Dr Singh – there is no way a junior minister can undercut the Prime Minister, unless he believes his family owns the firm. Rebuilding the Congress, taking on the most powerful political machine India has seen, is not a part time job. Fortunately, he has a valuable support in the form of his sister. Learn from failure – 2019 had more than its fair share of mistakes. Be more accessible. Visit Amethi, not as often as Ms Smriti Irani did in the last five years, but thank them for standing by the family for fifty years.
Let’s consider the analogy of Apple Inc. Steve Job’s era up to his death and ask two questions: (1) was Apple an idea/vision or was it a firm propelled by an almost fanatical innovator? and (2) how many of us thought that Apple would survive and grow without Steve Jobs?
Congress was born as an idea. Now it has to recreate another novel idea. The starting point is to admit that the world has moved beyond pure socialism and nationalism is an international phenomenon (at least for the time being). The latter is especially true for India because threat is real, and therefore, at times there is a need to talk and act tough. Next, it should sincerely bring about visible economic change in the states it governs; reduce income equality and deliver reasonable quality of bijli-pani. It could invite large scale private investment in its states and encourage creation of self-sustained communities (clean water / health / education) with public-private partnership model. And finally, if Rahul Gandhi feels he is not capable of delivering such benefits, then find a leader who is absolutely passionate about bringing change (genuinely) with focus of Arjuna. Think Apple. Find a Tim Cook.
I am not a fan of dynastic succession. However, in the Congress, at this very difficult time, who else is there ? 120 million votes means a lot of Indians share the core values of the Congress. The Congress President wasted a decade during UPA rule. It is very condescending to say, I did not wish to undermine Dr Singh – there is no way a junior minister can undercut the Prime Minister, unless he believes his family owns the firm. Rebuilding the Congress, taking on the most powerful political machine India has seen, is not a part time job. Fortunately, he has a valuable support in the form of his sister. Learn from failure – 2019 had more than its fair share of mistakes. Be more accessible. Visit Amethi, not as often as Ms Smriti Irani did in the last five years, but thank them for standing by the family for fifty years.
Let’s consider the analogy of Apple Inc. Steve Job’s era up to his death and ask two questions: (1) was Apple an idea/vision or was it a firm propelled by an almost fanatical innovator? and (2) how many of us thought that Apple would survive and grow without Steve Jobs?
Congress was born as an idea. Now it has to recreate another novel idea. The starting point is to admit that the world has moved beyond pure socialism and nationalism is an international phenomenon (at least for the time being). The latter is especially true for India because threat is real, and therefore, at times there is a need to talk and act tough. Next, it should sincerely bring about visible economic change in the states it governs; reduce income equality and deliver reasonable quality of bijli-pani. It could invite large scale private investment in its states and encourage creation of self-sustained communities (clean water / health / education) with public-private partnership model. And finally, if Rahul Gandhi feels he is not capable of delivering such benefits, then find a leader who is absolutely passionate about bringing change (genuinely) with focus of Arjuna. Think Apple. Find a Tim Cook.
I am not a fan of dynastic succession. However, in the Congress, at this very difficult time, who else is there ? 120 million votes means a lot of Indians share the core values of the Congress. The Congress President wasted a decade during UPA rule. It is very condescending to say, I did not wish to undermine Dr Singh – there is no way a junior minister can undercut the Prime Minister, unless he believes his family owns the firm. Rebuilding the Congress, taking on the most powerful political machine India has seen, is not a part time job. Fortunately, he has a valuable support in the form of his sister. Learn from failure – 2019 had more than its fair share of mistakes. Be more accessible. Visit Amethi, not as often as Ms Smriti Irani did in the last five years, but thank them for standing by the family for fifty years.