The Leader
Content
AMY GU DAVARTILYINDIANPOLITICS isonce again at the cusp ofperceived to be anactof bringing powerand,
perhaps, masculine to gain the "respect"debating how to have a strong leader whocloser to the common
citizen --read directof fellow party men and the cadre. In thisdoes not undermine the significance of
thedemocracy --but as a violation of the sensemode of imagining, the leader should notpolitical party he or
she belongs to. In theof self as a citizen. Kejriwal himself hasever have to face dissent or difference
ofpopular perception, a good leader is some-agreed that what he did came as a "culturalopinion, which are
considered signs of weak-one who is decisive and clear -minded. Butshock" to the aam aadmi in Delhi and elseness and disrespectthe leader is also expected to be morewhere.There is a serious problem for those
whoamenable to public opinion, approachable,A "good leader also can't be apart -time"lead an active public life
to retreat into theand accountable. These popular perceptionspolitician; he has to be a professional
andanonymity of the private. This seems to beof leadership influence the manner in whichcommitted to
spending all his time with thesomething specific to the culture of our na-political leaders manage their parties
and themachinations of party and govemment Thistion. Nelson Mandela, wholed a tireless pub-way they project
themselves.view coexists with the idea that a good andliclife as part of the anti-apartheid struggle,Indira Gandhi
was lauded for her strong,strong leader is ascetic who believes in re-very seamlessly slipped into a quiet
privatealmost authoritarian, personality, and wasnouncing his personal and private pursuitslife. Even George
Bush preferred to pursueportrayed as "Durga". But she was also chas-for the largercause of the nation. By this
logic,painting, after rather "eventful" two termstised for undermining inner -party democ-those without
afamilyare often, ipso facto,as president of the United States. However,racy, and for initiating a process of de
-insti-considered to be honest leaders. Power has tomass leaders and politicians in India rarelytutionalisation and
making demands for abe managed with a single-minded pursuitever announce retirement from public
life."committed judiciary" that finally landedand without personal attachments. This isGiven the dominant
public morality inIndian democracy in the crisis of thethe gift of the Gandhian imagination ofbrah-India, it
only looks logical that leaders andEmergency in 1975. This tension, and fric-inadralya,which means celibacy
in the im-their lifestyles assume a greater importancetion, between the rathe rop posing imagina-mediate sense,
but also indicates a sense ofover parties and procedures that are seen astions of leadership is a continuing
thread ofdetachment, in the broader sense.necessary to keep them democratic andIndian politics and
democracy.It is, therefore, more than a coincidenceopen Personality cult is not, therefore, thatArvind Kejriwal
was touted as an honestthat among those considered strong andwhich emerges merely from certain ideologand approachable leader, who cared aboutThere is deep discomfortpopular leaders are Modi, Atal
Bihariical proclivities: its source may well lie in thepublic opinion. But when he sat on dharnaVajpayee, Mamata
Banerjee, jayalalithaa,way public morality is stiuctured. What weamong Indians with the ideaand did a sitin while being the chief minis-Navin Pamaik, and Mayawati. They pursueare witnessing in Indian politics
todayhas ater of Delhi, he was roundly criticised. Theof the private and with beingpower singlemindedly all the time andlong history and deep socio- moral base.general opinion then was a leader
cannotordinary. The leada has tonever display private emotions. Even lead-What it will do to Indian
politics in future isbring down the prestige orgarima of an offi-be larger than life and,ers who work outside
the institutions of statesomething that will determine the essencecial position by taking to the street as a "comare often gauged by these very standards.of democracy in the country.perhaps, masculine to gainmoner:He
needed to maintain dignity thatThere is deep dis comfoit among Indianscomes from keeping a distance
from thethe "respect" of fellowwith the idea of the private and with beingThewriter is with the Centre jor
Politicalstreet Looking approachable was no longerpart ymen and the cadre.ordinary. The leader has robe
larger than lifeStudies.JNU
perhaps, masculine to gain the "respect"debating how to have a strong leader whocloser to the common
citizen --read directof fellow party men and the cadre. In thisdoes not undermine the significance of
thedemocracy --but as a violation of the sensemode of imagining, the leader should notpolitical party he or
she belongs to. In theof self as a citizen. Kejriwal himself hasever have to face dissent or difference
ofpopular perception, a good leader is some-agreed that what he did came as a "culturalopinion, which are
considered signs of weak-one who is decisive and clear -minded. Butshock" to the aam aadmi in Delhi and elseness and disrespectthe leader is also expected to be morewhere.There is a serious problem for those
whoamenable to public opinion, approachable,A "good leader also can't be apart -time"lead an active public life
to retreat into theand accountable. These popular perceptionspolitician; he has to be a professional
andanonymity of the private. This seems to beof leadership influence the manner in whichcommitted to
spending all his time with thesomething specific to the culture of our na-political leaders manage their parties
and themachinations of party and govemment Thistion. Nelson Mandela, wholed a tireless pub-way they project
themselves.view coexists with the idea that a good andliclife as part of the anti-apartheid struggle,Indira Gandhi
was lauded for her strong,strong leader is ascetic who believes in re-very seamlessly slipped into a quiet
privatealmost authoritarian, personality, and wasnouncing his personal and private pursuitslife. Even George
Bush preferred to pursueportrayed as "Durga". But she was also chas-for the largercause of the nation. By this
logic,painting, after rather "eventful" two termstised for undermining inner -party democ-those without
afamilyare often, ipso facto,as president of the United States. However,racy, and for initiating a process of de
-insti-considered to be honest leaders. Power has tomass leaders and politicians in India rarelytutionalisation and
making demands for abe managed with a single-minded pursuitever announce retirement from public
life."committed judiciary" that finally landedand without personal attachments. This isGiven the dominant
public morality inIndian democracy in the crisis of thethe gift of the Gandhian imagination ofbrah-India, it
only looks logical that leaders andEmergency in 1975. This tension, and fric-inadralya,which means celibacy
in the im-their lifestyles assume a greater importancetion, between the rathe rop posing imagina-mediate sense,
but also indicates a sense ofover parties and procedures that are seen astions of leadership is a continuing
thread ofdetachment, in the broader sense.necessary to keep them democratic andIndian politics and
democracy.It is, therefore, more than a coincidenceopen Personality cult is not, therefore, thatArvind Kejriwal
was touted as an honestthat among those considered strong andwhich emerges merely from certain ideologand approachable leader, who cared aboutThere is deep discomfortpopular leaders are Modi, Atal
Bihariical proclivities: its source may well lie in thepublic opinion. But when he sat on dharnaVajpayee, Mamata
Banerjee, jayalalithaa,way public morality is stiuctured. What weamong Indians with the ideaand did a sitin while being the chief minis-Navin Pamaik, and Mayawati. They pursueare witnessing in Indian politics
todayhas ater of Delhi, he was roundly criticised. Theof the private and with beingpower singlemindedly all the time andlong history and deep socio- moral base.general opinion then was a leader
cannotordinary. The leada has tonever display private emotions. Even lead-What it will do to Indian
politics in future isbring down the prestige orgarima of an offi-be larger than life and,ers who work outside
the institutions of statesomething that will determine the essencecial position by taking to the street as a "comare often gauged by these very standards.of democracy in the country.perhaps, masculine to gainmoner:He
needed to maintain dignity thatThere is deep dis comfoit among Indianscomes from keeping a distance
from thethe "respect" of fellowwith the idea of the private and with beingThewriter is with the Centre jor
Politicalstreet Looking approachable was no longerpart ymen and the cadre.ordinary. The leader has robe
larger than lifeStudies.JNU
