Commentary/Rajiv Shukla

The pragmatic diplomat has turned into a highly image conscious politician

It is disturbing. A wee bit too disturbing for my simple tastes. Suppose you pick up the germs -- and it is not difficult to pick it up these days -- well, then, what are you going to do about it?

More importantly, what can you do about it? The world is yet to develop an antidote to it -- and it looks like it is going to take some developing.

So if you get it, I guess you will have to live with it. And the prospect, on second thoughts, scares the hell out of me.

Luckily, there is one little thing that works in my favour: the bugs of this despicable disease -- Image Syndrome, as I think of it -- seem to prefer politicians. Thank god for that!

As I mentioned, once you get it, you have had it. It makes your life thoroughly miserable. You wouldn't be able to do anything without agonising about it for hours. (Image! My image! How is whatever I am going to do going to affect my image?) Gone will be your carefree days, your impulsive nature, your moment-to-moment life. Image, my image! -- that is what would rule your life from then on.

Deadly, this Image Syndrome, right?

Now that you have understood the seriousness of the disease, let's get down to business. To wit, let's examine the case of a victim, a top politician -- poor chap! -- who is the latest to buy it: Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.

Despite his proximity to politicians all these years, Gujral caught it only recently. But now that he has got it, he is behaving like a veteran who has been living with the darned thing for years.

The pragmatic diplomat of not-so-old has turned into a highly image conscious politician. So much so that his every action, every decision is ruled by thoughts of his Image. What will people think of me?

Right now, Gujral's greatest fear is of being branded pro-Punjabi. (Image!) He is taking every precaution to avoid that image. (Gujral hails from Punjab.) And the result? Punjabis find themselves getting the short shrift from him. If you doubt it, here are some facts to help you get over your disbelief.

Let's first take the appointment of Gujral's principal secretary. It took him a long time to decide that the choice was limited to just two Punjabi IAS officers -- S L Kapur and N N Vohra. (If they weren't Punjabis I guess it wouldn't have taken him that long.) But does he go ahead and appoint one of them? No, not he. He had to drag his foot about it for some more, all the while trying desperately for a non-Punjabi officer! (All this while Satish Chandran was playing a very reluctant soldier at the PMO.) Finally, tired out, Gujral gave in. And Vohra got the job.

Vohra is known for his competence, hard work and clean image and Gujral could have appointed him much earlier. But the question here was not merit, it was Image. Gujral's Image.

Now let's examine another appointment. The law ministry had processed Rajiv Nayyar's appointment as the additional solicitor general of India. Everything was ready and all Nayyar had to do was don the coat. But he never got a chance -- wouldn't people think Gujral was pro-Punjabi if he appointed Nayyar, who is not only from Punjab, but Gujral's good friend Kuldip Nayyar's son?

So the PM stalled the proposal.

Likewise, Kuldip Nayyar was tipped to be the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, but that too has gone out of the window for the same reason. In appointing governors too, the PM is taking the same precaution.

Is this in anyway fair? Gujral knows it isn't. But again, it is not fairness that is important here, but Image. Gujral's non-pro-Punjabi Image.

One thing which Gujral needs to understand is that allegations will always be made against PMs for favouring own people. P V Narasimha Rao faced it -- even when north Indians A N Verma and Surendra Singh were ruling the PMO, it was said it was Rao's Andhra cadre officers who were in the driving seat. H D Deve Gowda too faced similar criticism -- that he brought his principal secretary from Bangalore.

Now let's examine the issue from another angle. Suppose prime ministers bring in own people. What is wrong with that, really? He is the boss and it is the boss's prerogative to choose his staff. Anyway, wouldn't it make more sense for him to work with people whom he is comfortable with? So why the hue and cry?

I suppose this is something which every prime minister will have to live with. But it is disgraceful if they pay attention to it. The PM should not let his Image rule his head -- it should be merit that he counts.

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