Successors, by default?

India is a truly diverse nation. It no topic of discussion, its a bare fact. One actually wonders how it came to be like this.

India is a democracy with dynasties, political dyansties. This is one aspect discussed many times over and is over-cliched. Especially when someone important dies. There are innumerable examples which I will not labour to mention. We have had people, mostly recently, hue and cry how bad it was for a democracy, especially as its the most populated one. This is true to a large extent. But it happens again, it happens over and over.

Why does this happen?

Because death is such a sudden and startling visitor. And if it chooses a leader, on whom millions have nested their hopes, it creates huge shockwaves (that created by YSR's death are being felt right upto Delhi). And from this comes a sense of insecurity eventually leading to strong urge to maintain the status quo. The most plausible way to not lose the momentum is, to seat deceased's kin in his place. This comes from a strong Indian belief that people inherit many leadership or other qualities from their elders, more so by sons or daughters. But sometimes, interestingly, also wives (may be they presume atleast some qualities might have infected her!). I cannot say this perspective is entirely false.

Actually, this happens in all fields, in all countries. You can see it in sports, movies(where its hellishly rampant!), business etc. Now the fact that it happens a lot more in politics is due to the fact that the yardstick of performance in politics is relative, very. And we are more worried if it happens in politics. In all other fields, even if you try, ones without actual results tend to fade out. But a bad politician can be made to look good and a good one bad. And especially more in India. We idolize people. Instead of aiming at preparing a large base of competitive supporters, making few of them capable enough to be prospective successors, we tend to hint who the successor might be. We kill choices and start becoming over dependent. As it was said, in the context US, many Abraham Lincolns are still cobblers.

Lets see the current scenario in Andhra Pradesh. YSR died right at the peak of his career. He planned a lifetime in becoming what he was now and wanted to do a lot. And many of us hoped it might do some good to the state. His negligence or misfortune or both could have led to his death. But irrespective of that, the void he created is gaping. I conservatively expected, on a gut feeling, that the next Congress CM to be elected(in elections) will be Jagan, YSR's son. Maybe due to his popularity and that in party opinion, he seems to be a natural leader like his father, I don't know. And I am amused, if not surprised, that many are backing his appointment as CM, already! He's just about 100 days old, politically and almost talks and walks like his father. This only shows how over-dependent Congress was on YSR. We know that he was the sole string that tied the Congress together.

Now, I can't even the if the idea of Jagan's succession is good or bad. Actually, the deeper I go into politics, I tend to lose my sense of good and bad. I now assess a politician depending on his capability (that what he does is good or bad is the toss of a coin :P :P).

But when such successions take place, the momentum is so overwhelming that you hardly see any other suitors (I am not sure of the amount of momentum in the current case though). I do believe that dynasty politics, in general, is not to be encouraged as such. We see some awareness about this spreading among the public. But with a country with around 70% of rural population, it will require more than just awareness. I mean to say, if it happens, let it be. But don't try hard to make it happen in every case, just don't just push someone onto the public.