INC should create a platform

After the announcement of the elections, I expected the off-field issues about INC will recede to the background. I also went on a silent mode for many reasons. Did not expect a tweet seeking my suggestions to the new president of INC. My response needs some elaboration.

I do expect Rahul to take over or be in a controlling position to execute his plans. He is fully aware of the core of problems confronting INC. He is rightly stressing the basics of INC on conversations, discussions, welcoming all to INC, stopping no one to go out.

It is only others in INC including leaders who need advice on mass-based characteristics of INC; listening, engaging in interactive, conversation mode forgoing their perceptional and personal supremacies. The advice of outsiders will not work for this. But Rahul can do it.

He knows how to present it briefly and succinctly, in the form of measures, messages; waiting for his time, opportune moment. He will unwind his mind, plans smoothly. Rajiv Gandhi once said that the system should withstand the changes. INC is not yet ready for it.

The suggestions for specific measures for INC involves many angles. The one-sided presentations of outsiders may not be of much value. The conversation is needed for evolving, perfecting ideas, issues. But one will find experts at every level rejecting them outright.

The talents outside INC are untapped, unutilised and the scope for productive interaction with them is unlimited. INC should find ways to use them. What is effective, how it is executed depends on how INC takes it forward to openly welcome and engage them in a proper platform.

We do engage in social media like Twitter to exchange opinion, information, ideas. But beyond likes, retweets, comments, responses there is not much scope for in-depth interactions. Basically, people tend to impose views, ideas but are not receptive to correct, crystalise them.

If INC is the recipient, it should proactively create an exclusive platform, welcome contributions for in-depth dialogues, discussions to evolve more consolidated, comprehensive views on issues without perceptional, personal, professional supremacies corroding the thought process.

No one is supreme except the system

Rahul emphasises the process of conversation and dialogues wherever he goes including MSMEs, students of college and schools. He is aware that it is not happening within INC. Maybe he is preparing INC reminding them about its basic philosophies, practices. It is essential now.

Congress leaders should come out of their group culture. When Congress is a democratic, mass-based party, everyone has a right to be heard. The leaders should submit, surrender themselves to the organisation and the system that governs it. No one is superior or inferior.

Rahul’s statement while addressing the INC youth wing is very significant. He welcomed everyone following Congress ideology but also said those who do not follow it can leave anytime. The message is individuals are not important, indispensable but the organisation, its ideals are.

Congress is not a chartered bus to carry its leaders in a specific period of time to predetermined places or palaces on their likes and dislikes. It is to be determined by others evaluating their values, utility for the party. If errors creep in it is part of decision making.

The Congress leaders of the last few decades have not allowed an atmosphere of free discussions but superimposed their superiority and expertise. They remind about freedom of expression and democracy when it is convenient but choose not to answer when others raise questions.

Long ago we had great leaders who had an unwavering commitment to principles, ideologies, truth, honesty; had the courage to appreciate opposition leaders even while differing on issues. Now leaders feel insecure. They are afraid of the truth, suppress it to save themselves.

Focus on planning, execution with perfection

This narration is not a chart of measures for the consideration of the new President of INC. It is only a brief outlook about issues involved and the need for its leaders, cadres to extend support to their President to uphold the supremacy of their organisation and its system.

A gist or bullet points for measures to be initiated may not carry the weight when presented by an outsider. Brevity will not convey its need, impact. The details, justifications should form part of the suggestions. It will not be complete without interactions in a platform.

We have unlimited talents, vision to contribute to such a platform. The ideas, the spark may be small or big but how it is developed, evolved, consolidated to near perfection with free interactions, discussions are more pertinent, essential. A team with total focus is needed.

We should consider the enormity of the problems and the efforts required to bring out solutions; should not indulge in tokenism. Launching a program is easy but for carrying it to the right target persistence, perseverance, close monitoring, course corrections are needed.

We are living in a world where decision-makers look at the parity and importance level of individuals not ideas. What we are concerned is about the merit, utility, validity of ideas and not who contributed them. It is irrelevant if one knows, understands the issues involved.

There is immense wastage of talents. It is universal and common to all including social media. But responsible people, parties like INC should explore, use all talents to plan and execute with perfection. 

Devils are at work. Angels cannot wait for events to unfold on their own.

Ps: This blog is in response to the following tweet.