Fixing the “system” – getting down to the nuts and bolts
Regular readers of this blog know that political reform and improvng governance in India is one of my passions…It is also something on which I have been spending an increasing amount of time over the past few months.
While much of this work has happened in the background, a lot of thoughts and ideas came together over some discussions I had with some various friends in Delhi a few days ago. What follows is a brief summary of these discussions. Please do contribute with your comments, ideas and suggestions…
1. Is forming a separate, new political party really the best approach (considering the massive costs of challenging established pan-India parties in any election)? It is better to consider some kind of a “Trojan Horse†approach wherein members join established political parties but maintain strong links and relationships amongst themselves and work towards a gradual reform of the system?
2. Funds: Where will finds come from? Who will contribute and why? Do we have to organise ourselves as a political party to be able to gathe funds? This is a difficult issue and I still have not found any answer(s).
3. People/ Membership: How do we attract people to become members and be willing to contest for leadership positions? I am sure there are enough committed, credible and passionate leaders amongst us..but how do we reach them and how do we support them?
4. Building bridges with other, like minded groups: We discussed the continued emergence of new political parties (the latest being one announced by Shiv Khera last week) and talked about how do we establish a common minimum platform with other reform-minded groups and associations and form a loose coalition (what I label as “Coalition of the Willingâ€)?
5. The challenge of “packaging†policy and the underlying philosophy in a way that is immediately (and easily) understandable and (is) broadly appealing. How do we define the key messages of our strategy? By the way, I should mention (and some of you may know this already) that at least a few of the new political formations have begun to do impressive work on the ground…Others may already be aware of this.
6. What next? I proposed holding a one day seminar (“Hope Summit“) in Delhi sometime early next year to bring together representatives of all the new political parties (such as Loksatta, Jago Party, PPI, BPD etc). The challenge is to arrange funding for the event (my rough guess of costs is Rs. 15 Lakhs/ $40k, including boarding costs but excl. travel costs of delegated) and develop an agenda that is appealing and substantive enough to make it worthwhile for everyone to attend. Is this practical?
That’s about it. Ideas, reactions, comments and suggestions are most welcome.
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Hi Shanatnu
I think funding for the event should not be a challenge. All like minded who really wants India of their dream will readily like to contribute as per their status. Even a little whatsoever they can. Another thing there are many NRI’s who wants India to be proud of, lets arrange something that even though they cannot attend but atleast contribute and take part in it by far. If you get atleast 20 strong NRI’S hand in it, work will get smoother. Look out for IITians in the US. They earns in millions and interested in politics.
In N. America it is a trend to sell something for the good cause for few days till the amount needed is collected. so selling some kind of usefull items in malls or somewhere at public places. Not enough but whatever collected can be used towards it.
For seminar, one can always go to community hall. Many of us has community hall they can talk to the mamanagement or adminstrator to give in discount rates for one day.
Why not join hands of many hindutva party who can lend some help in whatever way. It seems wierd, but… don’t they need us in the end?.
Creating a site for that special event and circulating through out the like minde people for the purpose of funding.
Though I am not that matured and experienced to suggest great ideas, atleast for brain storming this are my suggestions.
First of all गणपति बापà¥à¤ªà¤¾ मोरिया
The newest entrant is “Praja Rajyam”… a political party launched South Cine Star Chiranjeevi’s. Along with him, joining another powerful bureaucrat(IAS) who i personaly and many people from Thane and Nagpur adore and thank a lot for the beautiful cities he help create is T.Chandrashekhar .
Shantanu .. Partys like BPD,Jago,BUM*,PPI,LP,YFE*,BRSP.. and many others dont have any star leader so chances of not just uniting as allies but over a period of time fighting under one banner can also be possible. And most of the weaker ones or non performers groups active members have already started to enter/merge in Bharat Punarnirman Dal.
But people who already have a public image … even if they lack or faulter i still doubt whether they will forge a coaltion… leave merging into one entity
Just try uniting the following star personalities below
1) Ex- IAS Arun Bhatia’s “People’s gaurdian party”
2) Ex- IAS J.Narayan… “Loksatta”
3) Ex- IAS T.CHandrashekhar “Praja Rajyam”
*not registered or in process of registration
Indian, Mahesh: Thank you both for sharing your thoughts…I will comment on your ideas and suggestions in a day or two…
Please bear with me until then.
@ Indian: I liked your idea of focusing on highly-skilled NRIs abroad…You are right that they have the money and are usually sincerely interested in politics (not that people in India are uninterested in politics – but the challenges of day to day life can be overwhelming and draining for most people)
I also believe – like you said – that I will need to create a different website for the event and then circulate it widely so as to get people interested and hopefully contribuing.
Thanks for brainstorming!
***
@ Mahesh: गणपति बापà¥à¤ªà¤¾ मोरिया to you too!
I am not in touch with Sh Chandrashekhar. Do you (or anyone else on this blog) have his contact/email address/details?
You are right that most new political formations will naturally consolidate around a “star” or someone with charisma and pulling power. Perhaps BPD can be the magnet to precipitate such a move!
Having said that, our biggest challenge will be to get those who already have mass appeal and/or public following (like Chiranjeevi, Dr JP) to align with us…keeping their egos and agenda aside…
I would think even to get them to speak on one platform (as I am planning to do) will be a huge achievement..
By the way, what do you think about the idea of doing an event in Delhi early next year?
Thanks
The idea of an event in delhi is very good. where all the political groups and young political partys get a chance to interact.
And if funding issue is solved for this event then this kind of annual get together is a must.
by the way 15lakhs … sounds too much.
Even a three day event.
Venue cost: 120000
with Air conditioned round table seating capacity of 100 including breakfast,lunch and tea will cost Rs 40000/day
so a total of 120000
Accomodation : a)3star = 4.5lakh
b)Govt Hostel = Rs1.5lakh
Three star hotel in delhi cost Rs3000 for double bed.
for 50 rooms 1.5lac/day or 4.5lac for 3 day.
A govt hostels .. in the likes of IRCTC/IIT hostels/Circuit house wont cost more than Rs1000/day or for 50rooms for 3 days Rs 1.5lakh.
Transportation : Rs90000
(within delhi from hotel to venue)
A 8seater rental A/c Car cost Rs2000/day even 15 cars will cost Rs30000/day.
Total for 100 people for 3days it will cost a minimum of Rs 3.6lacs to 6.5lakhs
Here are links
Venue: Call any of the hotels .. u can easily find the rates.
But one venue i would suggest Money wise,ambience wise and knowledge is MUMBAI at http://www.rmponweb.org/ … Ram Bhau Mhalgi PRabodini managed by RSS is an isolated place near North area of Mumbai near sea. With living,conference and lecture halls at one place. IT is a training school for new politicians. So with a sizeable strenght they deliver excellent indebt lectures on how to manage political orgn ,cadre building etc
Accomodation: http://www.makemytrip.co.in
Transportation: http://www.delhitaxi.co.in/large_vans.html
So many political parties have sprung up, but where are they? So I dont believe we need a new political party. What we need is accountability of political party. I believe the problem is caused due to the following
1. Diversity of our country: We have so many different people groups based on religion, caste, education, language and so on. So these different parties escape by playing to these differences. A responsible middle class can be one solution, but atleast this section must put their differences and gettogether into larger groups – fit into left ideology or right. However currently we have a middleclass that is not bothered about the country, but more about daily grind.
2. Lack of real leaders with darmic ideals, and patriotism. This can only change with education of future generations with less western focus and more pride in india.
Unfortunately current education system only teaches how poor india is, how west is great, etc, not anything to instill pride. I dont know how many even know lot of scientific theories were discovered by Indians long before the western scientist wrote papers on it.
For the immediate future and betterment, I believe we need a strong vote bank, and a powerful lobby. Like the powerful jewish lobby, economically powerful individuals with like minded principals must come together.
Secondly we need to form a large vote bank. Like minded people from across the country can form a vigil group, and do the community level work to create a large vote pool. The vote pool can decide the most important issues that the government must address, and any party seeking the votes must deliver,else that party lose the next elections at all levels.
One of the reasons Barack Obama in US got the nomination during the primaries is the work done at the ground level, organizing a large group of volunteers who worked for him and signed up voters, and added lot of new voters to the democratic party. We need a team of people who can do this ground work, and create this vote bank.
If the existing political parties havent delivered, this group would have done enough work and the people and funds needed to form the political party, and also be able to get a winning chance.
Finally as Vivekananda said, our country is a land of spirituality, and dharma. If we abandon that there is no future for India. So any political solution has to be based on the sound principles of our spiritual nature and dharmic principles.
Vande Mataram
@ Mahesh: Thanks for the revised estimate of costs (and the links)…I think you may be right…The funds needed for this may be much lower than what I had initially estimated.
RMP is excellent from a venue point of view except that it is in Mumbai and may be a bit removed for some people…(on the other hand that may be a blessing since it will promote even more active interaction)…
I will think about this some more.
***
@ Vidhya: Thanks for sharing your thoughts…I liked your idea of creating a ground-level, grassroots support base…Unfortunately this is then a fulltime (24×7) job and unless one has no other commitments or family responsibilities, it is difficult to devote time and energy to it…
Having said that, there are other alternatives…and I believe Loksatta and BPD have both done work at the community level to engage and mobilise people..
That should be encouraged, I feel.
More on this later.
hi shantanu,
to form a effective political party, we need massive workforce, dedicated worker,big money, common agenda or goal, and most importantgood communication system which can reach every part of india.
for all this we need proper work force,a work force which can work 24*7 or who is ready to do anything for our country
. by 24*7 i dosen’t mean one shd be phisically present at office it will be by heart, by mind ready to work for country anytime. it is like we have to create a passion,a strong will,a motivational, or say revolution effect to make any impact. many small parties comes and go, some last for months, some years, some decade wining just 2-3 seats and then just resulting in big bargaing or some doing good work for there area or centre only. but my point is this small blows can never kill the devil.to kill the devil we have to give him strong,heave blows and how we will do that?
we have to attract youths in india. we have to use the understimated youth force of india. every single youth in india or abroad is not happy abt present indian condition. everyone wanna change but change to whom? we have to be that ans. and attracting this youth is not that big problem, cos more then70% of indian youth is educated, we use internet, watch news or are little aware abt our society.it is not that indian youth don’t care abt politics, we care but so far we don’t have any other option that is y youth is just laying low . i m confident once we launch or tieup with political party everyone will take us with full sprits.
santanu for funding like above we have to contact NRI & even indian corporates, cos no one is happy with present infrastructure, corporates are loseing gr8 money becos of lack of proper facilities, we want them to activally support us in building india, and i m sure every indian will support a good cause.
i even feel like leaders like rahul gandhi,naveen jindal,randeep surjeywala,etc. who r young and have some political knowledge can be of gr8 help.groups like youth for equality(YFE) which is youth oriented group which came in exsistence when arunj singh played his reservation card. and many more small perties others have menton or know, many small clubs like rotary club or lions club, many NGO and many more small,big groups are willing to come together. but the main problem is a common party or common platform is missing. once we launch our campain we will getmore and more support. support from many many ppl, even we can’t imagine, but i m sure there is a fire buring in every india abt present political condition.
as per my view if we contact top management of BJP it will be of gr8 help. remember bjp is a national party but it is now strugling to get a star power or leaders.there is no big agenda or issue BJP has to come in power. if there leaders or say top management agree to help us in forming a new party which is youth oriented and consider as bjp’s youth party, it will be like half battle won. i m not saying we will work for bjp or congress, i m saying we will have our own agenda but the platform will be shared. that will reduce our intial expenses and will help us to gain from there experiance. we are not aginst any party we are against there working style. so once we are in the system we will do as we want. so santanu as per my point we shd keep both the options open that we will form a party and shd be ready to tie up with big parties.
I had sent an article to TOI on the presidential system at
the behest of Gurcharan Das who had come to Melbourne a few months ago. TOI has not responded which means they won’t publish it. So I’ve placed it on my website at: http://www.sanjeev.sabhlokcity.com/presidential.doc
I welcome your comments on that article.
Sanjeev: I had a quick look at your article re. the Presidential system…I still have mixed views…that is not to say that the reforms you are proposing are not necessary…The question is not only what should come first (reforms or Presidential system) but what is more “achievable” and realistic…which brings me to the main point…
How exactly are we going to change the status-quo from outside the system when the existing powers that be (that includes all political parties) have absolutely no interest in doing so? Will we not need to be part of the “system”/ Parliament etc to actually bring about most (if not all) of these changes?
Comments and thoughts welcome.
***
Tarun: Thank you for your thoughts…I agree that the youth can be a potent force of change. The challenge is one of mobilisation and then delivering on the promise…
Funds may not be an issue for an event like what I have proposed above but for anything bigger than that (and for contesting elections), we will need massive amounts of funding.
One idea to get people together that I am considering is to start a website just for the event which can also serve as a magnet for attracting like-minded people..
What do others think?
I agree to take help from BJP. I dont have any connection with BJP but I would like to support them and take their help. They have done good for keeping our values and culture intatct. In any case they need our help and support so I would like to go with them, absolutely 2 way system. Giving and taking. I will ask everyone not to abandon BJP at any point of time.
shantanu
a website is very good option to start with. but we need more then website we need to develope a sense of patrotisimin every indian. it is like the soul of indian ppl is dead, we r just satisfy with everything we got. we don’t want to improve or u can say that our will is no more.
we have to wake them up, we have to tell them we are human and deserve a better life then present. i agree with vidya that india is full of rich culture and past. most of foreign reserch and technology is either base on indian principal or is work of indian mind working in there lab.
shantanu wht we need is a big movement , in 1857 we had quit india movement now in 2008-09 we will have to start RAISE INDIA movement.every village,every town,city,state will have to be part of it, we have to make them part of us, every indian will have to come to raise india. for this mass comunication system like tv & radio is must. we need to contact a tv channel or say we have to get some corporates with us if we wanna succeed.
i know it is simple to say then done, but where is will there is way. let’s start with a website let’s see wht reponse we get from indian ppl. then we can take our next step but our main moto shd be every indian is welcome irrespactive of his caste,status,education,age,state,and other things. our main agenda shd be simple and uniform that every policy which make india better will be taken issrespactive of it’s cost.
go ahead shantanu, i m with u always and will try my level best to build our strangh.
Great thoughts. Yes I agree! Lets do it “Raise India” movement. I am ready to help.
The biggest movement India ever experienced was the RAM Mandir movement, where even the south and the north east state people took part into..
The prior independence movement were totally against outsiders.. and post independence KRANTI or a movement only happens either if its communial or based on polarised issues.
“आपली जीठअणि आपलेच ओठ” whom are you going to fight against. Every second relative in the family of anyone who is in govt has accepted bribes.. can you go and tell your uncle and aunties not to take bribes.. only thing we do is talk behind their backs of their black money.
Kranti.. or movement to arise and awake India can happen only when the stomachs are empty!.
Mr. Shailesh Gandhi age(58).. renowened RTI activist since 2003, recently(aug 2008) appointed to Central Information Commission .. has sold of his well doing business to completely concentrate on social work
Mr. Ajit Shukla, Bharat Punarnirman Dal President, an IITian with masters degree, didnot accept the offer of lakhs of rupees and at age of 25 .. and have entered and active in politics from past 4 years.
And there are many other people who have prioritize serving the people of the nation as their 1st thing.
But all of us cannot make that priority since mostly family and supporting the family is first priority which is very much natural…
but how many of us can atleast try to make that priority atleast 2nd or 3rd if not last.
I get shattered when people say politics is my hobby!..
politics is not a hobby, its a duty towards our country.
जय हिंद! जय महाराषà¥à¤Ÿà¥à¤°!!
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Tarun, Indian, Mahesh: Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for your encouragement..
I am having several discussions on these things in the background…so please await more developments over the next few weeks…
In the meantime, I would value any suggestions, advice and comments that all of you may have…
Jai Bharat, Jai Hind!
Am going to meet Mr Rahul Gandhi on Oct 13th (fix an appointment atleast) -have already met Mr Ashok Tanwar (President,Indian Youth Congress) and Mr Pradeep Kumar ( National spokesperson,Indian Youth Congress)
As mentioned in Pt.1 by Shantanu we’ll have to work with them to change things.
For this i need the support of atleast 100 people in Delhi by today evening. Will personally come to wherever you’re and take your signature on a document i’ve prepared.
(Available with Shantanu as a word doc., he or I can mail it to u )
It’s to have a greater voice for the Urban educated youth in polity. Call Me Now – 9871149879.
Email: manujsa@gmail.com
Manu: It would be good if you could post some notes about your meeting and the response you got (assuming you were able to see Rahul Gandhi)
why would anyone want to touch rahul gandhi even with a barge pole??? and last of all seek rahul gandhis help in changing things?
if he had wanted to change india what had stopped him all along? was he waiting for shantanu to give this clarion call?
the congress is a rotting antinational party which is the first enemy.
manu you seriously made me laugh out loud.
leave the queen ( rahul gaaandi) alone.
Dear Shantanu,
The change is taking place, but it is at a very slow pace. To keep India on the move and take it away from the orbit it is today we need radical thinkers not apologists for thinkers.
Not apologists for past acts as it goes to show that they are dyed in th wool politcal dogs.
What we need are persons who are willing to accept responsibility for their actions and ACT responsibily.
Though I do not agree with many thoughts of the Mahatma, I like one aspect of it, the part on responsibility for his action. After the Chauri Chora incident where the police are burnt alive he withdraws his agitation and takes responsibility for his action of organising the agitation.
We need leaders like that.
For a formal sit in dinner, paid for and organised the team may consist of , Shri. Ratan Tata who has taken up the TMC head on, Shri. Narendra Modi, Shri. Swapan Das Gupta, Infosys Shri. Narayana Murthy, Shri. Anil Ambani, I am sure if we can request the founder of BPD, as a past IITian to ask Shri Vinod Dham to attend the meeting at his cost, Ms. Vasundhara Raje, Shri. Naveen Jindal, Shri. Naveen Patnaik, Shri. Chiranjeevi of the PRP, Shri. Cho Ramasamy, Ms. Radha Rajan of Vigil, Offstumped,and a host of others.
The combination should be such that there is a blend of thinking which is not “Secular” but as Mr. Simon has said it should be a group, maybe a motley group which will help Indias to move into the orbit of many of us want “Bharat”.
The cost is immaterial as I feel if we get this group together wwe will end up in the lens of the taxman!
Next year is not far away and let us make a beginning.
We must have some bloggers who must have access to a few of these, let them get in touch and keep it away from the public gaze and keep it with you relatively hush hush so that when the pieces fall into place the action an begin.
Regards,
vck
mahesh ,nobody can disagree with everything u have said .yet i feel charity begins at home . we have to change ourselves first and foremost . i have decided to devote rest of my life to instill a sense of pride and love for india in the children in my own family . i know i will not appeal to the masses of india but atleast my children will care to hear me out .
@ Shantanu.. on ‘satyam’eva jayata blog since we are talking of fixing nuts and bolts and always we talk of introducing proffessional people in politics and we talk of corporate kind of transperency and accountability should be brought in politics …
i think you should express your thoughts on Satyam Computers,Mr R.Raju’s scam … in detail who has eaten up 7000Crores of money and put 53000 heads! at risk..
Thats why i am always of an opinion of govt being in business of business and not just corporates running the economy..
I read some of the ideas and postings.. and fail to understand the idea of new political parties of good people.. Please let it be clear that we still carry that colonial mentality. Government is translated from British times as ‘SARKHAR” which meant ‘Malik or Giver’ at those times. This meaning is still being carried. The Govt officials or even clerks are part of that SARKAR… and are treated like such.
If they are not treated like a public servant… by the public itself..no change can take place. The mentality has to be changed and every one who has some liking for the democracy and the county should try to put this idea in the mind of every citizen.
Once people terat Govt ofifcials as their employees… they would like to know the deatils of work and its relation with their salaries and perks.. I think most of the problem will be over after that
This will not only bring the accountability, it will also check the tendency to loot th country..
Dear fried, I am thinking in similar terms, can you give me your email address so that I can speak to you. I am a working professional and have a faint idea that I wish to do something….
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good article nice read