Taking the specific case of Gandhi family, I guess it is more of legacy. And yes a person like Rahul Gandhi faces tremendous pressure that most of us cannot even imagine. Don’t know whether children of high profile politicians like Gandhis or Kennedys or Bhuttos ever had any normal life. In a sense it is tragic. If they are able to negotiate these pressures and are able to take responsibilities then it is admirable.
If media or others have criticism on dynasty politics then its time they do introspection. Agreed that political background gives them upper hand in this career but then who among here is not because of family background or influence?. Competitive jobs are meant for middle and lower middle class. Subjective jobs for suckers and manipulators. Live and let live!!
Why nobody talks about dynasty business (including business of entertainment)?. The whole mumbo jumbo about merit is hollow…since family and influence plays a very significant role. Anything to do with inheritance should be corruption if you look at it in a stricter sense. The reason why caste politics exist has also to do with consolidation through filial/ social bonding what they lack through inheritance. Any guesses why land reforms was never a priority in 1950s (while they were high on Bhoodhan…kind of voluntary patronizing) that should have been the first step towards equitable society.
Why is inheritance not taxed?. That should be the first step towards meritorious society. They put 10% tax on my earning then what I inherit should be taxed 90%. That is merit. If my parents are rich people then where is merit when I inherit the property?. Extending the same logic I can easily conclude that top 5% (also referred to as elite) have nothing to do with merit or competence. Millions of youngsters from elite section in this country have nothing to do with merit, they just inherit the comfort and influence, even if they take risk they have fall back options and rarely face much difficulties. It is the story of every city and every village in this country. The competition is on degree of comfort and greed. It also about mean gene, progenies will be promoted. This blogger has nothing against it but where is merit?
Some very smart IT people have been successful in recent times on their own merit, but what about people who may not have market friendly skills?. So before anyone start to take high moral ground on dynastic politicians, try shut up and do introspection. People staying in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones is an old saying in English. A Kalam, a Narayanamurthy, a Rajnikanth, a Rehman (taking examples from popular contexts) are very few examples from highly successful people who rose on pure merit. In a nation of billion these are very few people whom we admire is a statement on the society. But these examples also hide some seriously incompetent system of positioning and incidental gaining. Incidentally did you note most of these examples are from south
