MUMBAI
“I want to crush my dreams to fulfil yours” was a statement that set me thinking.
Prima facie, a well-meaning statement. But why did it come across as inappropriate? This was said last week by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in his inaugural address to his party workers in Jaipur where he kick-started his campaign for 2014 and the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections. The statement is still trending in the social networking sites. Any political party leader’s expected role is to serve the nation and its people.
Burdensome as it may sound, the politico is not expected to have any personal dreams since his only legitimate dream should be that of fulfilling the dreams of his electorate. Hence, the complete inappropriateness of the remark. When Martin Luther King said, “I have a dream…”, he was talking about a dream he had for America “as a nation that must rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed”. A speech that is the most acclaimed speech till date and leaves one gobsmacked even now.
One more reason for it being trolled for this long could be source credibility and promise mismatch. But there is another kind of mix up that we seem to be doing inadvertently. We are not sure if Rahul Gandhi is a leader or a celebrity.
Perhaps even he himself is not clear on the same. He has been anointed the leader, but all this while, it seems, he has believed he is a celebrity.
Wikipedia defines a celebrity as a person who has a prominent profile and commands some degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day news media. The term is often synonymous with wealth (commonly denoted as a person with fame and fortune), implied with great popular appeal, prominence in a particular field, and is easily recognised by the general public. Perfectly fits Rahul Gandhi, give or take a few words.
The same Wikipedia describes a leader as someone who influences and directs people in a way that wins their obedience, confidence, respect, and loyal cooperation in achieving a common objective. Does Gandhi not come to mind without the Rahul in it?
Both a leader and a celebrity have followers. We like a celebrity for his/her body of work and talent. We follow him when he has consistently delivered on what was expected from him. We follow him to celebrate his success. On the other hand, we like a leader for his ideology, his philosophy and out of the box thinking to effect change. We follow him because we hope that there shall be a better future for us.
When a celebrity spouts leadership lessons it is bound to sound vacuous and horribly clichéd which is what happened with Rahul Gandhi when he addressed industry leaders at the CII Summit earlier this year.
The trouble with today’s electorate, especially the first-time voters is that a large majority may vote for a personality and not an ideology. This may not be a bad thing.
I wonder whether any political party anywhere in the world has won only because of its manifesto and philosophy alone without the personality of the leader-in-waiting influencing it in any way?
This is true not just in India. The world is smitten with celebrities. It would be difficult to say whether it was his ideology that influenced Americans to bring Obama back to power or was it his personality? But, at least, he had an opportunity to present his ideology. It was his personality that connected his vision with the larger masses. In a way, it was his body of work that spoke for him and how he spoke about it through the Primaries and the ultimate face off, that made people like him follow him, and elect him twice in the hope of achieving a common goal.
So, it is not a bad thing, really, if people get influenced by personalities more than ideologies. If the times are such that today all of us follow a person depending on his/her celebrity status, then it is only expedient for political parties to realise that charisma does work in party cadres. Hence, they must field a candidate who has the pizzazz to do so. But never forget that a celebrity is liked by millions only because of the body of the work and talent. If a political leader has neither, he can at best be termed a ‘sell-a-pretty’.
It is time we started evaluating a leader as a true celebrity — one who has talent and has done great work to prove his celebrity status.
(The writer is managing consultant of The Key Consumer Diagnostics Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based qualitative research company)
DNA TV Show: Conflicting data on Delhi station stampede reveals communication gap
WATCH: Baba Ramdev at 59 takes part in race with horse, netizens say 'Olympics me chalo'
Delhi woman turns auto driver to support daughter, her story goes viral
Viral video declares Rajat Patidar ‘Captain of Captains’ after RCB names him Skipper, here's why
Indian Army havildar loses teen son, saves others’ lives by...
WPL 2025: Smriti Mandhana creates history during RCB vs DC match, becomes first player to cross...
Ronit Roy says he was the first choice for Pardes but he was replaced by...because...
‘Papa killed mummy': 4-year-old's drawing creates suspicion over woman’s alleged suicide
Sunil Mittal gets Rs 8486 crore after selling....; still seeks funds for newer...
How a low cost floor cleaning robot revolutinising home automation – Check details
Harvard Alum Aayush Puri: Move back to India, the future is here
Vicky Kaushal reveals how his fight scene with lion in Chhaava was shot: 'We were all so...'
Shabana Azmi holds her ears, issues public apology to Dabba Cartel co-star Jyotika; here's why
Meet Arvind Kejriwal’s daughter, who cracked IIT-JEE Advanced, went to IIT Delhi, now working as...
'Kohli never said a word': Pakistan's Haris Rauf on Virat Kohli hitting sixes against him in...
Bengaluru to witness hottest summer says IMD, recorded season’s highest temperature at...
Ranveer Singh to venture in production amid box office slump? Here's the truth
Where to Buy Testosterone in the USA? Top 3 Best Brands of Testosterone Cypionate in 2025
Pregnant woman employee gets Rs 1 crore compensation after being fired through...
ELECRAMA 2025: Powering the Future of Energy
Steroids for Sale in the USA: Buy Steroids Online in 2025
How to Choose Trenbolone for Sale Online? Review of Popular Trenbolone Manufacturers
After disrupting Indian market, Mukesh Ambani takes THIS popular brand to...
Remedium Lifecare Lands Rs 182 Crore Multi-Year Contract: Stock Set for Major Upturn
Former ISRO chief AS Kiran Kumar visits Goenka Temple, expresses hope for successful Mars mission
Anil Ambani's Rs 9831 crore company set to enter NEW space, makes key...
Vladimir Putin's BIG warning to Ukraine, will negotiate only if...
347 rooms, Rs 22400 crore worth: India's most expensive wedding venue is located in...
Woman constable carries baby on duty, RPSF says, 'she serves, she...', video goes viral
'Caught Red-Handed': Cognizant accuses Narayana Murthy's Infosys of stealing THIS secret in...
'Bharat Jodo Vivah': Wedding invite of Jammu's daughter, Kerala's son wows internet
Pavitra Rishta fame Usha Nadkarni cries inconsolably as she remembers her brother's death, watch
MASSIVE discount on Apple iPhone 16, iPhone 15, check here how to grab this deal
Juhi Chawla takes holy dip at Mahakumbh 2025, calls it 'most beautiful morning in her life'
Deepinder Goyal's Zomato launches first AI product ‘Nugget,’ says will give it for free to…
Champions Trophy 2025: 5 major records that Virat Kohli can break in this tournament
Shweta Basu Prasad says she was bullied on Telugu film set: 'I was called...'
Gujarat: Lion brings traffic to a halt at Bhavnagar-Somnath highway, watch viral video
India's Got Latent row: SC grants interim relief from arrest to Ranveer Allahbadia
Tesla begins hiring in India after PM Modi-Musk meet, announces multiple job roles in...
Gurugram woman shares interview experience at Zomato, CEO Deepinder Goyal reacts, says...
'Sir ek kiss ho jaye': Paps unleash a horror welcome on Udit Narayan
Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt REUNITE for Hollywood thriller, filming begins in Saudi Arabia: Report
Gujarat: Videos of women patients leaked on Telegram, YouTube, probe ordered
South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at home, cause of death revealed
Canada: Delta Airlines plane crashes at Toronto Pearson airport, flips upside down, several injured
Meet Gyanesh Kumar, IIT graduate, who becomes new Chief Election Commissioner
DNA TV Show: RSS' Bihar model ahead of Assembly elections in state
WPL 2025: Renuka, Wareham spark collapse as RCB bowl out Delhi Capitals for 141