STATUS OF PRESIDENT OF INDIA.
Within a month the greatest democracy in the world, India will elect its President. This post is not only a ceremonial but also a very crucial for the country. The President of India if he wants he can change the entire outlook of India and convert India to his own choice ignoring all advices and counter advices of the Cabinet because his approval signature is all that matters. Though he can challenge the Prime Minister and his Cabinet and even Musharrafise the country if he acts arrogant, yet no President in the short history of India allowed power to corrupt him though earlier one or two Presidents came closer to wield their authority by not easily yielding to the Cabinet decisions. Being the first citizen of the country, the President of India enjoys highest respect and topmost dignity. For this reason, the person who occupies this position should be of highest stature in the country. It is not only the stature of the President that makes his position dignified but even his Palace, that is, Rastrapati Bhavan that he resides is of highest stature not only in India but anywhere in the World. It is the biggest residence of any President anywhere in the world. It was built in such a way that no steel was used in its construction. With more than 300 Rooms it is staffed by around 10000 persons. It was built 75 years back with an expenditure of 1.4 Crores of Indian Rupees but ironically now it costs the Exchequer more than that amount every month itself for its maintainance.
The first Indian to occupy this huge and luxurious edifice was C. Rajagopalchari as the first and last Indian Governor General and having found this monumental building too rich and too big for the newly independent poor country India, he volunteered to live in it with lot of austerity measures including the discarding of very luxurious Ashoka Suit which was very majestically occupied by the British Viceroys during the colonial rule. Because of its too rich décor, too luxurious and too expensive to maintain Gandhiji suggested to convert this Rastrapati Bhavan into a Museum and instead let Indian President live in a modest residence befitting the normal living standard of an average Indian. But feudal Nehru and his henchmen refused to surrender. For this reason as a dejected man, before his death, Gandhiji uttered this statement “Now this old man - referring to himself - has no value for his views”.
India is a great country since time immemorial and its greatness sustained even after its independence. Its greatness lies not only in its sheer size but also in its great history, culture, tradition and above all unity in the midst of diversity. It has given to this planet great religions namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikkism and Jainism. It has produced the great game of Chess and great Epics in Ramayana and Mahabharata. It has given birth to two great men of this world namely Rabindranath Tagore and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who later on became Mahatma.
After its independence, India gave to its land successively three great educationists and philosopher presidents, all having Doctorates to their credit. No nation in the world had such a great privilege in having such stalwart presidents. One of them, Dr. Radakrishnan was one of the greatest philosophers of this planet and till his death, as informed, was the second greatest philosopher of last century after Betrand Russel. In 1964 Pope Paul VI visited Bombay for Eucharistic Congress and when the President of India Dr. Radhakrishnan went to welcome him first along with Goan Cardinal Valerian Gracias at St. Cruz Airport, His Holiness with all joy on his smiling face said “It was my biggest ambition to meet you. I am happy finally to fulfill my ambition. You are a great Philosopher of this great ancient philosophical country, India”.
In the initial stages the highest status of India’s Presidency was maintained by electing men of highest stature for this position. Even when Dr. Zakir Hussein, the first Muslim President of India was elected there was hue and cry before his election from pro-Hindu lobby against Dr. Zakir Hussein but the then secular Congress Party stood firm and got him elected not only because of Secular attitude of Congress but also because of the high stature of Dr. Zakir Hussein. Later on Indira Gandhi brought disrepute to the position of President of India by inducting on to this chair people with no stature at all. Tin pot politicians like Zail Singh, Fakruddin Ali Ahmed and Sanjivaya Reddy were too small men and too corrupt politicians to occupy the chairs once occupied by their predecessors of highest stature. The greatness of this post lies in those apolitical and upright Indians whose leanings are not on any particular political party. Those persons having involved in political games earlier in their life will surely bring disrepute to the presidency of India, as Zail Singh and Fakruddin Ali Ahmed have done by simply saying “Yes” to Madam Indira Gandhi. If Zail Singh was not a Yes man of Indira Gandhi he would have stopped Indira Gandhi from sending troops to storm the Golden Temple in Amristar to liquidate Bindranwale and of his ilk there leading to the chaos in India in general and amidst Sikh community all over the world in particular. Storming of Golden Temple was an unwarranted act. It was purely a political mischief played by Indira Gandhi for which she had to pay a very heavy price. It was not her blood alone that was shed but the whole India bled profusely leading to chaotic situation all over India.
The current President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam is a great Atomic Scientist and also a great scholar. During his current tenure he brought respect, dignity and honour to India befitting his position. His highest credentials automatically bestow great stature on to his Presidency. Being a Muslim, his elevation to the Presidency of India for the second permissible term should have been facilitated by the Congress Party. The precedent for going for the second term was already created earlier by Dr. Rajendra Prasad even against the wishes of Nehru but Congress Party then had stalwarts in its ranks to over rule Nehru’s brute might. Now the Congress Party under the leadership of naturalized citizen of India, Sonia Gandhi, an Italian daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi, who is ignorant of Indian culture, history, tradition and ethos is opposing the re-election of Muslim Dr. Kalam. By opposing his re-election, she is hurting the sentiments of Muslim community. By supporting him, Sonia and her Congress Party would have gained much sympathies and goodwill not only of Muslims but also of all the minorities in India and men of goodwill all around the world. Along with her a few other smaller parties are also opposing Dr. Kalam including the shame of Indian politics Laloo Prasad Yadav. The Congress backed nominee Mrs. Prathibha Patil who is an unknown entity at all India level is a minnow to occupy the great chair of Indian President. Dr. Kalam is a world renowned personality while Mrs. Patil is like an ant in front of an Elephant. Such ants will, if elected, not only lower the position of Indian President but also lower the stature of India especially in the 21st century when India needs great leaders to tackle and discuss great issues with great world leaders.
I take no pleasure in having a female Mrs. Patil as President of India who is not meant for this post. Empowering women is a good decision but not at the cost of quality. The “pallu” of Prabhitha’s Silk Saree is too modest, it has no stature of Indira Gandhi’s pallu. Under the pallu of Indira Gandhi’s Saree there was something visible in greatness while nobody knows “Mrs. Patil’s Pallu ke piche kya hai”.
On behalf of all the like minded Indians inside and outside India I protest the decision of Congress Party and its backers to oppose re-election of Dr. Abdul Kalam who being a very decent man sensing dirty politics in his re-election opted out of Presidential race thereby succumbing to the desires of Sonia Gandhi. He should have challenged his detractors irrespective of the outcome. But decent people are always shy of giving challenge. For this reason they are not meant for dirty Indian political games.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
