There are some uncanny similarities between Sonia Gandhi, interim president of the Indian National Congress, and Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, Queen of the United Kingdom.
Both are unifying matriarchs of long-running dynasties. Both have helped their dynasties survive difficult times. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-serving British monarch, while Sonia Gandhi has been the longest-serving Congress president. Both have heir apparent who aren’t particularly popular.
The most striking similarity is how both keep themselves aloof from the public. We hear very little from them, and see them more as ceremonious symbols. This makes sure that they are above reproach. Both wear a neutral expression on their faces; you can’t tell what they are thinking or feeling. They don’t put out their real personalities. If you don’t know who they are, there’s no scope of liking or disliking them.
It’s incredible how little criticism Sonia Gandhi receives from anyone even though she has presided over the terminal decline of her party. In virtually no state has the Congress revived itself under her leadership. Yet, all the blame goes to her son Rahul Gandhi, who became the public face of the party. Sonia is the one who cannot be named, leave alone blamed.
Sonia Gandhi, like the English Queen, is an extremely private public figure (the oxymoron spells out the problem). The Nehru-Gandhi family, like the British monarchy, is good at surviving against all odds. No matter how many elections the Congress loses, the Nehru-Gandhis cannot be removed. Monarchies, even constitutional ones, are an anachronism in today’s world. Across Europe, they were abolished by either revolution or democracy. But the British monarchy survived. Both the British monarchy and the Nehru-Gandhi family don’t think of the immediate; they think of the long-term survival of their dynasties.
But there are two key differences. First, the British monarchy is not just surviving, it’s popular too. Both the Nehru-Gandhi and the Windsor dynasties are seen as privileged and entitled. Yet, an astonishing 70 per cent people in Britain support the monarchy’s continuation. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty under Sonia Gandhi, however, is facing increasing public disapproval.
Second, while both keep their private lives out of the public glare, the British Queen and the royal family have survived key crises by putting themselves out before the British public. The Nehru-Gandhi family, particularly Sonia Gandhi, doesn’t do that.
Also read: Hooda, Tharoor, Scindia — Why Sonia Gandhi won’t crack the whip in Congress, yet
“Huge Royal commercial”
A six-part Channel 4 documentary, The Royal House of Windsor (currently available on Netflix in India), shows how the British monarchy has survived various threats to its existence, from World War I to the death of Princess Diana and beyond, by changing itself, aligning itself to the public mood, and most of all, by putting the royal family out there in the public eye to show they are only too human. That is a lesson Sonia Gandhi, as well as her two children, could learn to adapt to the political reality of India in 2019.
The Swinging Sixties was a youth revolution in UK that attacked tradition. There was no greater symbol of tradition than the monarchy. The House of Windsor seemed like the worst embodiment of entitlement and privilege in the name of tradition. They didn’t seem to be in touch with the people, and instead came across as “tin gods”. Their remoteness earlier protected them, but now it seemed to produce disaffection.
The Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, insisted they should use the newly dominant medium of mass communication — TV. He would appear a lot on TV, saying in one interview, “Well, instead of endlessly having to fend off, err, you know, too close a scrutiny in an attempt to try and live a normal life, it is now possible not to go to the offensive but to try and make contact and try and create a two-way relationship”. He knew the monarchy couldn’t live forever in a gilded tower.
He managed to persuade the Queen to allow a TV crew to come in and shoot a documentary showing their private lives. Three-fourths of Britain is said to have seen the film that showed the royals as any other family — playing with dogs, rowing a boat, sitting on the dining table, reading books, doing what normal people do. It was like a “huge royal commercial” that emphasised on “family” more than “royal”. It instantly had a positive effect on the image of the monarchy, producing an “electric buzz of a direct connection”.
Also read: What Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could learn from Mahatma Gandhi
The arrogance of distance
Contrast this with Sonia Gandhi and her children, who refuse to tell the people of India their story. The Congress party stalled the release of Red Sari, a dramatised biography of Sonia Gandhi by Spanish writer Javier Moro. When the book came out people wondered why the Congress was trying to prevent its release. It shows her in a good light.
All kinds of good, bad and ugly rumours circulate about the Nehru-Gandhi family, and in the age of the internet, they aren’t even hush-hush. If you don’t tell your story, someone else will, and it may not be flattering. If you are a public figure, it is compulsory in today’s world to tell the story of your life. Before the masses may like or trust you, they want to understand who you are, where you come from and where you are going. Nobody knows this better than Bollywood stars, and Narendra Modi.
Sonia Gandhi was the Congress president when the political mismanagement of UPA-2 reduced the Congress party to a historic low of 44 seats. Part of the reason why she didn’t get the flak was because she had been unwell, suffering from cancer. Public figures who survive cancer often write books or do interviews about the experience. It’s the sort of thing that makes us see public figures as human. When powerful public figures don’t tell us their life stories, or their versions of their life stories, they come across as distant and aloof, and people can very quickly judge them as entitled and arrogant.
How little it takes
The British monarchy has turned itself into a global spectacle, its royal weddings are telecast worldwide, media is given access to key events in royal members’ lives. The Queen herself makes compromises, coming down from her high perch so as to come across as humble and in touch with the people. On her 50th wedding anniversary, she and Prince Philip did a long walk into the church, greeting people waiting for them, mingling with commoners. Ten couples who shared the same anniversary dates were invited to come and celebrate with them.
Even if Rahul Gandhi were to get married, can you imagine the Nehru-Gandhi family letting TV cameras telecast the ceremony live? The House of Windsor, on the other hand, has for decades used the BBC as a propaganda arm to make sure their ratings among the British public remain high, and they continue to be seen as representing the British people even though they are not elected.
Princess Diana was at odds with the monarchy. She had separated from Prince Charles, overshadowed the monarchy with her own personality, was having affairs and publicly said in a TV interview that Prince Charles wasn’t fit to be a king. When Diana died in an accident, there was an unprecedented outpouring of grief. The Queen found herself on the wrong side of the public opinion. She turned up for Diana’s funeral, bowed before her body, gave a two-minute speech praising her, and all was well with the monarchy again. That is how little it takes.
It will take very little for the Nehru-Gandhi family to start being liked by the people again. They only have to show us their human side, and tell us their story.
Also read: Shashi Tharoor: Congress members must constructively criticise Modi, not go after my tweet
Views are personal.
Dear Mr Gupta Ji… I recall calling your paper MisPrint for putting out an absurd piece not long back.
Couldn’t you find someone better than this writer to write a more sensible piece? It is pure sycophancy at it’s best. It is now rubbing on to you when to choose to carry it on your Print notwithstanding your disclaimer.
Come on Gupta Ji.. sure you can do better than this.
This is utter nonsense, comparing a monarchy with a democratic republic. You have to understand people don’t want a dynast in Delhi. The 2019 election were nothing but an end to feudalism. If you properly see then its the heirs of the erstwhile princely rulers who lost the election. Even rajasthan govt wasn’t speared in 2018. Start talking about new leadership in the country wether it’s of Congress or any other party.
This article is basically telling us that Nehru Gandhi family is royalty. It appears Vij has joined Gupta and gang and is on this so called first family’s payroll. House of Windsor does not decide day today life of Britons. Nehru Gandhi family could for a long time and are named in many major scandals. Have your heard of The Queen accused of favoring companies who bribed her? It is not possible , due to limited power, for Queen’s son in law (if she had one) to become rich by investing a miniscule amount. Am not saying that Modi is perfect but one thing he could claim in common with British royalty is he is not corrupt, yet. And that is in spite of having power. Red Sari states how Sonia slapped a security guard for checking her Italian friends who are now proved to be crooks. Vij how could you compare the two????? It makes me sick at your sycophancy.
Congress party and their bootlicking supporters cannot think anyone outside dynasty, even such person is some foreigner. The colonial mindset and slave mentality never leaves few shameless journalists.
Shekhar Gupta sir,
why why why? why do you allow such incompetent Shivam write for The Print.
Sonia is no queen and Indians are no subjects. British people are brainwashed. Best for Sonia & her family retire.
Cant you get smart people to write?
I wish my dog was as loyal as this shameless shivam is to nehru family……if Sonia’s family puts themselves out, people will hate them even more….living luxurious life by sucking the blood of the poor of the country….
British masters left 72 years before. But slave mentality still exists and is well nurtured.
I remember an oldie and slightly modified to suit the writer.
‘Asatyam Shivam sadaa Sandesham’ !
*Statutory Warnings:
1. The writer’s opinions are subjected to variations as per the latest Netflix series released in India !!
2. These opinions are only valid till the effect of Netflix binge-watching on previous weekend hangover lasts !!
For Shivam Vij, Sonia Gandhi is a Queen who should be liked by the menial citizens. Sycophancy at its best.
Can Vij be more sycophantic?
Mrs Sonia Gandhi has suffered a lot in personal capacity. She is Italian by birth and may be having humble childhood and grew like many Europians. But she has been a faithful wife and devoted daughter-in-law. She took up responsibility of congress party and country developed. Now loud mouthed are shouting and making noise. Youth like being noisy and enjoy. Leaders of governing party share and exploit them. All love and like. They don’t bother for slippage and move ahead. They love their time and go ahead. Only brooding heads are clamouring on TV screens or social media. Mrs Gandhi and Congress understand this. One need not do wrong but can always ignore newsmakers. This change is necessary if party has to survive and go ahead. Move with time. Let idealism be away. Open to public with best possible face and facts. Talk on TV shows and face gruelling questions and allow facts to flow to people. You are only to check misrepresentations by government and also painting of lopsided views. This is need of time and also of country.
Congress and ‘Learning’? Forget it. They believe that they know EVERYTHING.
When you find any total that has:
A. Abused elected leaders as much as the Gands have
B. Had their extended family profit off their power as much as the Gands have
C. Subverted the power of their own appointed ministers as much as the Gands have
THEN you have the permission to make this parallel. Until then, no, there’s not how little it’s going to take. I’d love to debate with you, man… You’re one of the dumbest turd-brains writing today!
Other than learning from Elisabeth II, what else can an Indian expect from an Italian? Learn from British and rule India had been the Congress mantra so far but wont work now as India has come out of that slave mentality and is not willing to be subordinate to western influences.
I am amazed as to how such immature characters are allowed to write and fill columns of a Shekhar Gupta venture. The very last para in this article by Shivam Vij tells us everything that is wrong with these mediamen who have no stomach to thoroughly evaluate the Gandhi family which they love so much. Or maybe Shivam Vij is telling what he himself wants to see of the Gandhi family but is it what the voter wants to see or hear ? I am sure not. Has Sonia been every questioned about the humongous corruption during her regime ? She is being wprshipped as epitome of seculariam by these mediamen like Gupta, Vij, B Dutt etc when she was the one who appealed to Imam Bukhari during 2014 LS elections, to ask Muslims to vote for the congress. Did any journo has had the guts to question Sonia ? Is this the secularism which these pliable journos want in this country ? Had Modi made such appeal to Hindu saints all hell would have broken loose and there would have been chest beating and trolling by these journos. Realms would have been written on it and Modi would have been demonised throughout the world. Has Mr Vij or his ilk ever asked Priyanka Vadra as to how her husband ammassed so much wealth and if Mr Subramanian Swamy was wrong in making them face the law then why didnt the Gandhi Vadra family sue him. Mr Shivam Vij should look inward and ask if he has done his journalistic duty. The job of journos is to ask questions to all politicians and not give a pass as they often do to Congress, Rahul and Sonia.
Shekar Gupta is inviting trouble by questioning the Nehru Gandhi families entitlement politics. When their own party faithful r treated with disdain do u expect them to mingle with the aam aadmi.
Barmaid and drugie face compared with queen of England.!!!!
She can learn from qeeen Elisabeth II that she isn’t the queen herself….
She could teach the Queen of England a thing or two. How to swindle the exchequer on the sky.
An incredibly sycophantic piece – full of ideas for Congress!
Shivam, How much got paid to write this stuff?
I am even ashamed to read this article with it’s obnoxious comparison with monarchy (as the headlines state). Just imagine how this writer will express himself if Modi were to even give a hint of being the emperor of India.
Of course, there is one substantial difference. The Windsors reign, they leave governance to Prime Ministers who rise and fall like the tide. They need to retain their popularity ratings because it costs Britain a fortune to maintain them in the style they are accustomed to. In one sense, harmless. It helps that QE II is a most gracious, sagacious monarch, more than the rest of them put together. 2. The Gandhis matter. Many would say, they used to matter. Day to day Glover depends on how well they function. Being out of power casts a more harsh, unforgiving light on them. Not measuring up.
Day to day governance …