DYNASTY DEBATE IN RESPECT OF

Hydra-headed, the subject matter gets propped up to debating area in respect of Indian intelligentsia and fourth estate, whenever occasion arises to bash up the Indian political system. Latest is the election of Ms. Meira Kumar, daughter of late Babu Jagjivan Ram, as the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Dynasty politics, in a derogatory manner is referred to in respect of Nehru family also. So also about Abdullas of Kashmir and Karunadhi of Tamil Nadu.

But consider the following:

1. Semi educated and management deficient progenies of businessmen could overnight assume high and important posts in the family managed ( which is euphemistically termed by the businessmen as ‘ family owned’ ) business organization, despite the fact that the entity has public money of shareholders and banks, besides employing a large number of people. This is accepted as a normal feature of business and hence taken for granted, despite the fact that inefficient running of the organization would affect banks and livelihood of employees.

2. The same, i.e., son inheriting and subsequently managing, applies to most of the small time commercial activities, be it chawl type tea shop, barber shop, cycle repair shop.

3. During the British times, it was the normal practice to give job to the son of Indian retiring from the service of the company.

4. For a long time in respect of Government jobs, unsaid preference was given to sons/daughters of people who are or have worked in Government.

5. Even in religious bodies, temple management more often than not is passed on from father to son.

6. Even in fourth estate this has been happening, despite print/visual media, making fun or chastising such development in the political arena. The son takes up the position of chief from father. And some times the son even changes the tilt of the entity.

7. Dynasty or no dynasty, the fact has to be noted that a person has to win an election to be eligible for the post of Minister. There may be immediate reaction that a person can partially circumvent this condition by coming through Rajya Sabha. Yet there is also election. Just because a person is son of a Minister he cannot claim entitlement for a ticket.

8. For a long long time India was ruled by kings. At one time there were over 500 kingdoms. The accepted principle was for the eldest son to occupy the throne or for any reason the king ( father ) is not favourably disposed off towards the eldest son, then may be the second or third son is made the king.

9. The above position was the case more or less in respect of most of the countries in the world. It still continues in Arab countries. Both England and Japan have kings as titular heads in whose case also the position is hereditary.

And lastly, what about House of Lords in U.K.

King’s father has to be king, but Minister’s father need not be Minister.

End note: Despite all these cogent arguments, the fourth estate may still say that this does not happen in America. For the fourth estate, mesmerized as it is by USA, all the wisdom can be found in what America is doing. Forget the meaningless war and resultant killings of thousands of Vietnamese or annihilating Japan by Atom bombs by Americans.

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