Why “People Like Us” Don’t Care About Politics

I saw this interview of Shashi Tharoor (Minister of State - External Affairs) hosted by Vir Sanghvi on CNBC the other day. Here is a politician who is articulate. Speaks very good English. Has worked abroad. Is comfortable in suits. Doesn’t claim to be a poor man, an oppressed caste, a servant of the people or anything else that all our politicians claim to be. In fact, he is similar to many of us in middle-class and urban India.

His interview reveals a lot as to why “people like us” don’t join politics. Or even care about elections.

Tharoor was frank about the ease of entering Indian politics:

“You need either a family back ground or you need people with some sort of worthwhile political connections to be your mentors or godfathers. It doesn’t work that easily.”

That is so true. People like us, people who share our world view and our concerns are never the candidates. Why then would we feel “represented”?

Asked whether he considered joining Parliament via the Rajya Sabha route, he answered:

“…I thought it’s precisely someone like me coming from long years of residence abroad, who needs to prove that he has the right to speak for his own people.”

Contrast that with a career politician who feels just belonging to a caste or a religion makes him a representative of the masses.

Commenting on how he was ridiculed by his opponents initially, he said:

“…saying things like he only wear suits and ties, he cannot speak Malayalam, he can only live and work in air-conditioned offices and homes”

That accusation can be hurled at most of us. But apparently a khakhi politician who doesn’t speak Hindi or English will be able to participate in Parliament.

On having doubts after signing up:

“There were certainly moments when I thought; (a) am I making an ass of myself (b) can I sustain this indefinitely.”

That’s the other thing. Middle class India often has a decent or well paying job. The stakes are that much higher in joining politics. We have a lot to lose.

About joining the foreign ministry:

“…coming into a new profession is tough enough, coming into a totally unfamiliar ministry as well as managing a constituency would have been quite a challenge”

Ever heard a regular politician say any ministry is a tough job? Obviously not! They never came to govern. They just came to loot.

On instances of getting into trouble repeatedly on account of what he said, he expressed dismay:

“I had such a reputation for choosing the right words that I was asked by Kofi Annan to become Secretary General for Communications and Public Information.”

Some of it, of course, could be a cultural thing. Add using good English to the “problem”. Like the “cattle class” phrase. Good English will get you into trouble. Apparently, middle class India should un-learn its English before joining politics. The same English that gets them jobs!

On the 5-star accommodation controversy:

“I was attacked by my own foolishness in wasting money when I could have found taxpayer subsidized accommodation while my house was being made ready...people who wrongly think I was spending taxpayer’s money in a 5 star hotel. I was not.”

See the hypocrisy? The appearance of poverty is very important. It even trumps spending one’s own money to live well!

Is Tharoor a benami owner of an IPL team?

“I am very proud as a Kerala elected representative and having helped steer some affluent investors towards my own state… I am very glad that they saw a business opportunity there and I will only take credit for pointing out the positives of Kerala to them.”

The concept of a facilitator is apparently alien to the media. Narender Modi did his bit to get the Nano project to Gujarat. Does that make Modi the owner of Tata Motors?!

On being on Twitter:

“The truth is when any thought you express can reach out to almost seven lakh people, wouldn’t any politician kill for an audience like that and particularly when it is an interactive relationship”

Interactive. As in to speak and listen to the response. We relate to that. But we don’t relate to the "I speak, you listen. Or else..." model of most of our politicians.

You can read the entire transcript of the interview at the CNBC site.

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