White Khadi Brigade

The other day, a friend said - only half-jokingly - that she would like to be in politics. I stopped mid-sentence and re-checked whether I'd heard right. Yes, why not, Monica countered, one can be in politics without being in the dirt. Right, technically speaking, one can. You can do what politicians are actually supposed to do - serve the public, serve the nation, get the 'aam aadmi's' voice heard where it matters, check what is wrong, help set it right, assume the spirit of enquiry, set vision. set roadmaps..... you could go on and on. Lofty? Ummmm... maybe, maybe not.

So, why it it that a mid-career professional like Monica, earning well, well-settled in career and personal life feels the pull, feels strongly enough to dip her toes into the vast murk that befuddles our national governance systems. I believe it is the latent urge that lies deep within a whole lot of us - the urge to spread our wings beyond our immediate horizons, the urge to thrust our head above the hordes and wish to be counted, the urge to bring to command our learning and our experience and deploy it on a larger canvas. The reason why the country's best flock to forums such as the TOI Lead India and strive to be pitted on national platforms.

It is also the climate or the nurturing environment that fosters such desires. The last time we witnessed such a summer was when Rajiv Gandhi played Pied Piper to the 'baba log', leading them into his vision of the 21st century. Technocrats, bureaucrats, film stars, academicians upped jobs and countries and followed him. Today, is it the charisma of another Gandhi that beckons? The promise of grassroot governance, the promise of cure at the core? If that summer the issues were of computerization, globalization and de-abusing consumerism, today the issues are of reconstructing institutions and revitalizing youth to action.

All said and done, then as now, the garb of our netas - old, young and ancient - remains the same. White Khadi is your passport to netagiri. All aspirants need to don the universal uniform of Indian polity. Look at the benefits:

• One style fits all
• You can have one or many and nobody will be the wiser about the state of your wardrobe.
• Crushed, crumpled, even frayed, will just go to show how hard you work.
• Sleep, work, party, travel in it and yet you will never be inappropriately dressed.
• Accessorize it with Nike shoes, Armani glares, Louis Vuitton bags and you declare yourself as one of the breed of the 'upmarket' neta.
• You don't have to worry about changing uniform should you decide to party hop and switch loyalties - the White Khadi is universally welcome.
• Step out in this and you will acquire a few hangers on/henchmen/chamchas, magnetically draw people with please and petitions and elicit a few 'salaams' - you'll know you are in business.

My friend Monica, are you ready and reading?