Not My J
It was 4th of May that I posted on my blog, so a full two months have gone by. Here in Andhra Pradesh, May undoubtedly was the month of the by-elections. Newspapers, TV shows, conversations with friends and relatives - not a day passed without discussing by-elections and Jagan.
Jagan is a controversial leader. Of course, unless proved matters that are discussed will be only allegations and conspiracy theories. He is ambitious (of course, whom amongst us is not?). Written in the Business Standard (2/3-Jun-2012) article “Man on a mission” is: “Once, when questioned by a journalist about his claim to the CM’s seat, Jagan had shot back, 'Is it a sin to be ambitious? If you were in my position, would you not aspire to take on the mantle to carry forward the good work of your father?' Only, for Jagan, the road to this destination might have just got longer.” Now we might say that he was punished for his ambition. In the future, historians will say that he was tested for his determination.
YSR Congress and Jagan came out on the top, despite the arrest and the headline-news-capturing CBI grilling. I think the principle that got reinforced is 'no publicity is bad publicity.' I also think that people did not have a chance to express their affection to him till now and the by-elections were a big first chance.
So far as analyses are concerned, the one would I like to quote is from folklorist, Dr. Pulikonda Subbachary: Jaanapada manasthatvam raajakeeyallo chaala gattiga pani chestundi.... Kaani daani naijaanni pattuko leka pOthunnaru. Jaanapadulu thama edurugaa okaru hathyaku lEda himsaku gurainappudu vaari nEpathyam Emiti anEdi kooda choodakundaa adupu lEni saanubhootini choopistharu. Prajalu nijaa nijaalu thelusukovadam vEru. Sathaabdaalugaa konasaagi vasthunna jaanapada manasthathvam vEru (Surya, 07-Jun-2012). My rough translation: “Folk psychology works very strongly in politics. Those who routinely do political analysis do not consider it. Sometimes it is also called mass psychology. But they are not able to grasp its essence. When someone gets killed or hurt, folks show massive sympathy without considering their background. People knowing the facts is one thing. But the folk psychology that is continuing for centuries comes into play.”
Dr. Subbachary spoke to some people, both literate and not, about Jagan’s victory, as to why they voted for Jagan despite him having swindled money and being put in jail. The replies he got are: “Sir, who is a great leader now? If we start imprisoning - how many leaders will be left outside?”; “Who is not leading a criminal life here in politics?”; “The one who is caught is a thief, what about those who are not caught?”; “He (YSR) did good deeds for us. I don’t know what they swindled. Our village was benefited a bit, we got benefited a bit.” (Surya, 19-Jun-2012, translation mine). Folk psychology and indifference to vices as long as a person is perceived as one who can deliver have come into play.
What about other parties? The Congress would do itself well to look at D. Purandareswari Devi and start projecting her. For the TDP: there are two things to consider - one, a well-crafted political path (urban, youth, and professionals) for Lokesh. Operation La Akhilesh. Secondly just spread the word: “A vote for YSR Congress Party is a vote for Congress, as breakaway Congress groups either merge back (Mr. Chidambaram’s TMC), or ally (NCP, Trinamool) with the Congress. It's only a matter of time before Jagan goes back into the Congress. So why waste your time and votes for that party?” In fact, on the day the results came, Mr. Digvijay Singh said on NDTV: "Where is the TDP? YSR Congress is from the same genetic DNA as the Congress."
I tend to avoid discussing politics on this blog. But couldn’t avoid this post - such was the intense mind-capture of the by-elections and Jagan during May. But my J is different - Java programming language. Though I’ve been wading through a lot of programming and technology stuff recently, I haven’t posted anything. And that will change with the next few posts.