RE: No Subject

["Tiwari, Umesh K" <UKTiwari@pcgb.com>]

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Please help make the Manifesto better, or accept it, and propagate it!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
../lists/india_policy/2000/May/msg00018.html

Dear Sanjeev,

I think there is general agreement in almost all of our points except for
the following few:

1. Prescription:
Even though compiling of draft manifesto had its own purpose of showing us
all a work in progress, or at least the fact that whatever we all were
talking had at least something to do with policy making. This by no means
was a "prescription", as there could be no strict prescribed and perfect way
to approach a social problem, and democracy by its very definition allows
people to write their own prescription, and I believed all along that IPI
was advocating strengthening of democracy, which means no prescription.

Our people, in general, are not used to democratic rule from time
immemorial, and instead, have been accepting rule of some crook or other and
living in the mercy of others. What I thought IPI could do was serve as a
vehicle by which our people could begin to start thinking in terms of
writing their own prescriptions and then forcing their legislators to work
on their prescriptions for a change. No doubt the goal is lofty, but I
wouldn't be here talking if it were not so.

2. Research Organization :

Maybe I missed out something in my initial understanding of this "internet
based" organization. When everybody was encouraged and allowed in to talk
and the members were not asked to be experts, I thought IPI was what it
claimed it was, and that certainly was different from a purely "research"
organization. I may have had different, and perhaps more realistic opinion
about what it could achieve on the ground, but I understand many, including
yourself claimed to use IPI as a base to form a political organization in
India!

I have expressed my opinion before on this. While talking about forming
political party is one thing, actually forming one and living up to all of
the expectations raised is quite another thing, and I am acutely aware of
our limitations.

While I was never so upbeat or excited as to start hallucinating about this
ideal political party, at the same time, I am not the kind who gives up
easily. Certainly there are signs that IPI is not going where I would like
it to go, and after a point there could come a question as to whether it
makes any sense for me to continue to hope that IPI will live up to its
claimed objectives.

Most people are well meaning, and they all do a few things on the personal
level like personally influencing others with their ideas and ideals,
donating their time and money to support charitable causes etc. Yet, there
are still things that individuals by themselves cannot achieve, and
community organization of like minded people has been found as one of the
tools to achieve such objectives. What binds such a machine is not money or
technology but leadership and strict adherence to the stated ideals.

In closing I would also like to comment, or rather suggest you to look back
on your own writings when you were here in the United States, not oblivious
of the realities of India, yet, much more positive, full of hope and energy,
betting a lot more then you are prepared to bet on this organization.

The strength of a leadership lies in keeping hope alive, staying positive
even when faced with despair all around. It is easy to find a way out,
reasons why an idea is doomed to fail, and there will be many who can
readily advance their arguments for failure. It takes, on the other hand, a
strong leadership to show everyone a better alternative, and believe me
there are better alternatives.

Everything big starts from a small or zero existence. Ajay Gandhi may not be
in minority, as there are plenty of skeptics, but that is the challenge that
needs to be overcome. Noone needs to wait for another. I suppose you are
based in North East India. If Ajay Gandhi cannot do it, I don't see why the
same funds cannot be used by you to get a few copies of the manifesto
printed and mailed out to several Universities and Think Tanks, other
Citizen's groups. I know asking one individual to do a lot is unfair, but
leaders do get to carry unfair share of burden, and those who seek to see a
great idea see the light of the day, do get inspired to work and keep
working until others fall in line, start following until the goal is
reached.

Sorry for the long talk, but that's all people sitting 10 thousand miles
away can do:-)

Thanks.

Umesh


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the National Debate on System Reform.       debate@indiapolicy.org
Rules, Procedures, Archives:            ../debate/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------