There is no conflict between ideology and governance
Ideology rooted in Indianness has nothing to fear
There is no conflict between ideology and governance
By Arif Mohammed Khan
In public life ideology means not only science of ideas or visionary speculation but certain beliefs, convictions, morals and objectives that inspire and prompt an individual to devote his or her life and resources to translate that speculative vision into reality. This has been so since the inception of civilisation and ideology shall continue to play that role.
I do not subscribe to the view that in the era of globalisation there is no role left for the ideology. To my mind, globalisation, itself, is nothing but the realisation of the age-old Indian ideological dream, that is; Vasudaiva Kutumbkam. In fact, polity sans ideology is something unthinkable. Human beings are not made that way. A nation cannot live by GDP alone. Ideology provides basis, foundation and purpose to human activity. A sense of values that enables one to find happiness within and face odds without, with ease comes from being rooted in ideology.
Since the success of any political party or politician in short term is measured by the outcome of electoral battles, they remain pre-occupied with devising strategies to win these contests. Now this strategy naturally takes into consideration the ground realities and propositions rooted in ideology are formulated to address the popular concerns and spell out the future plans for development and progress in the form of party manifesto. If the party succeeds in winning the popular endorsement, it is fine otherwise the need arises for cobbling a post-election arrangement to carry the work of governance. It is in such situations that the parties are called upon to make ideological compromises and concessions and go for common minimum programmes.
A political party particularly one rooted in a well defined ideology divides people in two categories i.e. supporters and potential supporters. In the event of the formation of a coalition a party may agree not to insist on immediate implementation of some of its programmes but it does not mean the party has jettisoned its ideological stand.
At this stage it is important to keep in mind that in a democracy the struggle to win hearts and minds of people including even those who are bitter opponents never ceases. A political party, particularly one, rooted in a well defined ideology divides people in two categories, i.e., supporters and potential supporters. In the event of the formation of a coalition a party may agree not to insist on immediate implementation of some of its programmes but it does not mean the party has jettisoned its ideological stand. This applies equally to individual members. I remember the day when Muslim Women Bill meant to render the Supreme Court judgment in Shah Bano case ineffective was taken up for voting in the Lok Sabha, I stood up and said that while I shall abide by the whip and vote for the measure, I reserve my right to continue to carry on the campaign to mobilize public opinion against this patently divisive measure.
Basically it must be understood that when we talk of ideology we are giving expression to our political belief, our vision and to put it more succinctly our ambition to achieve certain well specified goals. Now among the electorate there are people who sympathise with our ideology and others who take the opposite view. The most crucial test of a political party is to win enough support to be in a position to put its vision into action and till such time use all the energy and resources to canvass its ideological propositions to mobilize and win public support. If in short term the success of a political party is measured in terms of electoral outcome, in long term the success will be determined by making party ideology peoples' ideology. In short, the real job will be done by bridging the gap between ambition and reality.
I do not see any clash between the challenges of governance and development and the call of ideology. The former places responsibility on the political parties to rise to the occasion in the event of one party failing to secure majority required to form the government and work out an arrangement to prevent the collapse of the constitutional machinery, and the latter prompts and inspires the party to work ceaselessly to organise and mobilize peoples' support to achieve its ideological goals if not today then in as near a future as possible.
The success of any political party or politician in short term is measured by the outcome of electoral battles, they remain pre-occupied with devising strategies to win these contests. Now this strategy naturally takes into consideration the ground realities and propositions rooted in ideology are formulated to address the popular concerns and spell out the future plans for development and progress in the form of party manifesto.
It is true that on the issues of governance and development the area of differences between various political parties has been greatly reduced. This process in fact started with the collapse of communism all over the world. One may recall the famous remark of Mr. Neil Kinnock on the eve of the last election that Labour Party fought under his leadership. After the release of manifesto when the journalists pointed out that there is hardly any difference between the manifestoes of the two major parties, Kinnock said “yes I know, I am aware of that, but we shall govern better.”
But the collapse of the ideology of communism should not give rise to the feeling that the role for ideology as such has come to a naught. Any ideology or creed that becomes static and fails to respond to challenges and requirements of the times meets this fate.
A nation cannot live by GDP alone. Ideology provides basis, foundation and purpose to human activity.
Ideology in the Indian context is altogether a different class. The idea of India does not go with being static or unresponsive. Sir Brajendranath Seal, a former Vice Chancellor of Mysore University, had coined a very appropriate term to describe India as 'ever ageing but never old'. That is also the meaning of Sanskrit word purana which usually means ancient and old. Shankaracharya in his commentary of Gita describes Atman, the infinite self of man as Purana. He says “Pura api, Nava Eveti, Puranah” though ancient, it is always fresh, always new. Like the atman, India also is purana in that sense, ever ageing but never old. The collapse of communist ideology may well be a warning sound for other static ideologies. But an ideology rooted in Indianness need have no such fear. Like India the ideology rooted in Indianness though ancient remains always fresh and always new. If this characteristic of India and Indianness that found expression in the famous couplet of Allama Iqbal:
Kuchh bat hai ki hasti mit ti nahin hamari
Sadion raha hai dushman daure zaman hamara
Sare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara
(The author is a former Union Minister.)
There is no conflict between ideology and governance
By Arif Mohammed Khan
In public life ideology means not only science of ideas or visionary speculation but certain beliefs, convictions, morals and objectives that inspire and prompt an individual to devote his or her life and resources to translate that speculative vision into reality. This has been so since the inception of civilisation and ideology shall continue to play that role.
I do not subscribe to the view that in the era of globalisation there is no role left for the ideology. To my mind, globalisation, itself, is nothing but the realisation of the age-old Indian ideological dream, that is; Vasudaiva Kutumbkam. In fact, polity sans ideology is something unthinkable. Human beings are not made that way. A nation cannot live by GDP alone. Ideology provides basis, foundation and purpose to human activity. A sense of values that enables one to find happiness within and face odds without, with ease comes from being rooted in ideology.
Since the success of any political party or politician in short term is measured by the outcome of electoral battles, they remain pre-occupied with devising strategies to win these contests. Now this strategy naturally takes into consideration the ground realities and propositions rooted in ideology are formulated to address the popular concerns and spell out the future plans for development and progress in the form of party manifesto. If the party succeeds in winning the popular endorsement, it is fine otherwise the need arises for cobbling a post-election arrangement to carry the work of governance. It is in such situations that the parties are called upon to make ideological compromises and concessions and go for common minimum programmes.
A political party particularly one rooted in a well defined ideology divides people in two categories i.e. supporters and potential supporters. In the event of the formation of a coalition a party may agree not to insist on immediate implementation of some of its programmes but it does not mean the party has jettisoned its ideological stand.
At this stage it is important to keep in mind that in a democracy the struggle to win hearts and minds of people including even those who are bitter opponents never ceases. A political party, particularly one, rooted in a well defined ideology divides people in two categories, i.e., supporters and potential supporters. In the event of the formation of a coalition a party may agree not to insist on immediate implementation of some of its programmes but it does not mean the party has jettisoned its ideological stand. This applies equally to individual members. I remember the day when Muslim Women Bill meant to render the Supreme Court judgment in Shah Bano case ineffective was taken up for voting in the Lok Sabha, I stood up and said that while I shall abide by the whip and vote for the measure, I reserve my right to continue to carry on the campaign to mobilize public opinion against this patently divisive measure.
Basically it must be understood that when we talk of ideology we are giving expression to our political belief, our vision and to put it more succinctly our ambition to achieve certain well specified goals. Now among the electorate there are people who sympathise with our ideology and others who take the opposite view. The most crucial test of a political party is to win enough support to be in a position to put its vision into action and till such time use all the energy and resources to canvass its ideological propositions to mobilize and win public support. If in short term the success of a political party is measured in terms of electoral outcome, in long term the success will be determined by making party ideology peoples' ideology. In short, the real job will be done by bridging the gap between ambition and reality.
I do not see any clash between the challenges of governance and development and the call of ideology. The former places responsibility on the political parties to rise to the occasion in the event of one party failing to secure majority required to form the government and work out an arrangement to prevent the collapse of the constitutional machinery, and the latter prompts and inspires the party to work ceaselessly to organise and mobilize peoples' support to achieve its ideological goals if not today then in as near a future as possible.
The success of any political party or politician in short term is measured by the outcome of electoral battles, they remain pre-occupied with devising strategies to win these contests. Now this strategy naturally takes into consideration the ground realities and propositions rooted in ideology are formulated to address the popular concerns and spell out the future plans for development and progress in the form of party manifesto.
It is true that on the issues of governance and development the area of differences between various political parties has been greatly reduced. This process in fact started with the collapse of communism all over the world. One may recall the famous remark of Mr. Neil Kinnock on the eve of the last election that Labour Party fought under his leadership. After the release of manifesto when the journalists pointed out that there is hardly any difference between the manifestoes of the two major parties, Kinnock said “yes I know, I am aware of that, but we shall govern better.”
But the collapse of the ideology of communism should not give rise to the feeling that the role for ideology as such has come to a naught. Any ideology or creed that becomes static and fails to respond to challenges and requirements of the times meets this fate.
A nation cannot live by GDP alone. Ideology provides basis, foundation and purpose to human activity.
Ideology in the Indian context is altogether a different class. The idea of India does not go with being static or unresponsive. Sir Brajendranath Seal, a former Vice Chancellor of Mysore University, had coined a very appropriate term to describe India as 'ever ageing but never old'. That is also the meaning of Sanskrit word purana which usually means ancient and old. Shankaracharya in his commentary of Gita describes Atman, the infinite self of man as Purana. He says “Pura api, Nava Eveti, Puranah” though ancient, it is always fresh, always new. Like the atman, India also is purana in that sense, ever ageing but never old. The collapse of communist ideology may well be a warning sound for other static ideologies. But an ideology rooted in Indianness need have no such fear. Like India the ideology rooted in Indianness though ancient remains always fresh and always new. If this characteristic of India and Indianness that found expression in the famous couplet of Allama Iqbal:
Kuchh bat hai ki hasti mit ti nahin hamari
Sadion raha hai dushman daure zaman hamara
Sare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara
(The author is a former Union Minister.)
posted by Inquiring Mind at 11:06 PM
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