Prathibha tai for President

Quite clearly Ms. Pratibha Patil will be the next President. What one can make out is that she does have impeccable credentials, whatever doubt on her individuality one had (since one couldn’t stop wondering whether it is reason for sycophancy) was cleared yesterday when she made statement on Purdah. It is a reflection on her sincerity and speaking the mind without fear, taking that risk is what makes her my favorite. Also the intention of the speech was to encourage girls of the community to come out of conservative hold and constructively participate in progress, she gave example of Kalpana Chawla and so on, clearly the controversy morons are trying to create is taken out of context (Rajasthan is quite a backward state in terms of HDI, it does have some very successful business community though). Quite obviously the reason she has been in significant positions is not because of some packaging or other deviousness, she is genuine. In the world where there is a stampede on ‘political correctness’ at the expense of truth and positioning for gain she does come as healthy respite. It requires immense courage and conviction. She is dignifying and at the same time unassuming also, makes her my favorite. She has been member of State Legislature and Parliament, even as deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha, now Governor. Pratibha Patil is eminently qualified to be the first woman President of India.

There though is factual error in her claim that Mughals where the reason for obnoxious Purdah (veil) system in region of Rajasthan. Ms. Patil is not entirely wrong though, invaders where the reason for some regressive practices is not an uncommon knowledge but Mughals needn't be classified as one. Few years back if such statements were made I would be concerned and would ask to concentrate on real issue than going to the history, now though things have changed with mullahs and their practices being seen as epitomizing ‘secularism’ and quite nauseatingly ‘culture’!!. Not that Indian society was egalitarian before Muslim invasions, it was undoubtedly a patriarchal society but there were large pockets where things were quite open that is beyond Brahminical hold- it definitely was not a closed society like in West during the same period. Patriarchal it was but it cannot be denied that some practices got credence after invasion, in particular of the Muslims. It is not a coincidence that the practice is followed in Rajasthan even now- the main route of the invasions, many were converted but Rajasthanis were stoic. It was to ‘protect women’ as also they gradually followed the elite practices propagated by ruling power (mughals to be specific) that the practice of purdah took root. This blogger had visited many forts in Rajasthan, there are sites referred to as ‘jowar’ where women suicide en masse (one can find parallel in Sikh women jumping into well during partition) to avoid capture. Most medieval invaders were scoundrels but that doesn’t mean a community need be tarnished. There are two points here: one, happenings of medieval period needs to be seen in the context of the time (the same reason why Veil-covering whole face, is disgusting). Second, ordinary people have nothing to do with rulers. So I being a Hindu and therefore somewhere responsible for whatever some scoundrel Maharaja did few hundred years is ridiculous, unless of course I claim pride in him and his actions. The same hold for Muslims. Meaning, the general public did not have anything much to do with intrigues of elite, this true then it is true now.

Bairon Singh Shekawat is an excellent candidate for the post of President, a leader of stature and dignity. I can claim to know him personally!!!. Well it’s like this we were invited for his daughter’s wedding. It was in 1980 or 81 and he was the CM of Rajasthan. I still recall it vividly since it was the most lavish wedding I ever attended. I was also ecstatic since I was wearing new dress, we had purchased it few hours back as there was a realization that I don’t really have a proper cloth for the occasion!!. We kids had some great time running around what seemed to me as never ending pandals and rows of food. We bumped into Mr. Vajpayee (and Mr. Advani), who asked us where we stayed, one of us chided him for not knowing the place. Mr. Vajpayee laughed out loudly (I rate him as the best politician in contemporary India apart from Manmohan singh). It is not always that you bump into future Prime minister!!.