Guess who stole the show at a glittering Bollywood event in Mumbai recently? A cheerful, chilled-out Union minister—the “dapper netaji” species isn’t extinct yet.
There was Kiren Rijiju (54), young, energetic, articulate, and very “today”, blushing away as Hema Malini (77), India’s Forever Dream Girl, posed imperiously next to him at her personal milestone event, ‘Celebrating the Dream Girl’s Diamond Jubilee’, held at Mumbai’s iconic Shanmukhananda Hall. Maybe Hemaji was Rijiju’s secret crush when he was still a toddler? Yes, the two of them belong to the same side of the political fence, and Malini is a well-respected MP from Mathura. That evening, in a sea of well-known movie stars such as Shatrughan Sinha (who was once a same-to-same political fencewala) and Jeetendra (well, Stardust had dubbed him Jumping Jack back then—for him, fences are easy).
There were tributes galore as singers, colleagues, and admirers of the Diamond Jubilee Queen (and her husband, the late Dharmendra) came together to mark the occasion. Despite the tough showbiz competition, it was Rijiju who stood out and held his own with customary good humour, dignity, and charm.
It kind of got me thinking.
Here’s a leader India can project for a major global role (I am not getting into trouble defining exactly which role, but hint-hint, it’s the same one being discussed in hush-hush tones by the Big Boys of the BJP). Rijiju’s credentials are pretty good. So is his track record in politics. If one can overlook a few major gaffes, like the one he made in 2022 on the judiciary, for which he was widely criticised. Errr… “opaque” Collegium system ka matlab? Got it! Rijiju was basically saying, bhaiyya, let the sarkar decide the appointment of our judges. Then came the unfortunate comments on retired judges who, according to Rijiju, represented the “Anti-India Gang”. These were Rijiju’s two most controversial “bafaats” (Bambaiya for “boo boos”). But then, shooting from the hip is always easier when the bossman backs and rewards you for doing the party’s dirty work. If a young neta can still manage to hold his own in a crowded field with far older rivals… good for him.
Rocking optics
India is a deliciously young nation.
A change of guard is overdue. It is happening. One does not have to look too far—see how smoothly the transition took place in Tamil Nadu, with the spectacular win of an untried but hugely popular person—Vijay. This is exactly the future of our country being anticipated and hoped for by the youth. Enough of fuddy-duddy politics and politicians. Enough of geriatric leadership. Enough of megalomaniacs hanging on to their kursis. A true patriot knows when to exit the arena in the larger interests of the country. If the existing netas genuinely love the nation more than they love themselves, they’d actively groom a new generation of educated, motivated, dynamic leaders plugged into the aspirations of the new India. The Naya Bharat. Leaders who can read the mood of the twenty-somethings—the ones who will define India’s global ambitions in the near future.
Born into a Buddhist family in Nakhu village of Arunachal Pradesh, Rijiju is an outsider. An advantage, sure. But also a disadvantage, given the old picture of how India visualised its leaders. His BA-LLB from Delhi University is a huge plus, given the poor education of our topmost politicians. His wife, Joram Rina Rijiju, is a gold medallist from Rajiv Gandhi University and teaches history at Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar. Together, they represent the best—a power couple, urbane and comfortable in their respective identities and skins. The optics rock!
Rijiju is super active on Instagram, and clearly takes his cue from his boss, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Every public engagement of his is faithfully shared by his social media team on an hourly basis—almost. There he is—hiking, trekking, cycling, dancing, singing, playing badminton like a pro with PV Sindhu, two-time Olympic medallist and world champion. They frequently share the court in Delhi to promote the Fit India Movement. This is called smart politics. Know your strengths, court your constituency. How much more effective this strategy is as compared to the ghisa-peeta yesteryear’s approach of going from one dull political meeting to the next, giving boring bhaashans.
I am an unabashed Rijiju cheerleader.
Years ago, I had shared a stage with Rijiju in Delhi and told him he should aim for the top job someday. He has what it takes, I cheekily announced. And it’s about time a leader from the Northeast was given a major shot at playing a significant role at the Centre. This, more than many other political gestures, will demonstrate our unity as a nation. Rijiju had visibly baulked at my suggestion, but recovered swiftly, and suavely dismissed it off with a light, “Aap mujhey marva dengey… (You’ll get me in trouble)“
Well… Rijiju… Go do your thing! India is waiting… and watching.
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Give Sima aunty a new show
Sima aunty… the country needs you! If there was one individual who had figured out the complicated Desi Rishta Game in the billion-dollar marriage mandi of the subcontinent, it was the practical, self-assured lady called Sima Taparia. She became an international celebrity after the monumental success of Indian Matchmaking (2020) on Netflix. Taparia describes herself as an “alliance consultant” and has been fixing suitable boys with suitable girls since 2005. Given the current crisis in our marriage-obsessed society, Sima aunty needs a fresh platform to address the problems of young couples who no longer want to play by the arbitrary rules established by family elders.
“Young men in India are facing emotional trauma,” I keep hearing. “The most insecure segment of our society is the bachelor boy in search of a dulhan.” Apparently, this lot is running scared. Terrified of dire consequences. Taparia offered sane advice in a recent interview with Sunday Times.
“You don’t have to discuss every personal detail in the first conversation. But before the relationship becomes serious, both people should know,“ she said.
The reference was to premature balding, receding hairlines, and cosmetic hair patches after the macabre murder of Ketan Agarwal (skipping details), as several narratives focused on his hair patch.
Conversely, if young men are expected to come clean with the bald truth, shouldn’t young women who have undergone procedures such as breast enhancement, wear hair extensions or coloured lenses, have lip fillers, or indulge in drastic facial restructuring, be equally obliged to reveal all at some point? Bolo, bolo, Sima aunty?
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)