The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Leadership crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Leadership crisis

The article "Indian politics: a crisis of leadership" (April 27) highlights the gerontological woes of our political parties. That the old leaders are a real drag on our polity is all too obvious to everyone except themselves. They insist that once they have occupied a position of authority, they will not accept a position that is perceived to be a peg lower in importance.

Can we expect Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Chandra Shekhar to serve the nation in any capacity other than Prime Minister? Rajaji, who served as Chief Minister of the Madras state after he was the Governor-General of India, was an exception.

B. Sasisekhar,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

We have to suffer the aged and the infirm in the Indian polity because of the absence of a credible second rung leadership in almost all the parties. The reason for this is not far to seek — corruption and moral decadence in politics discourage potential aspirants from jumping into the fray.

M. Anand Ram Seshu,
Secunderabad

* * *

Never mind the age, at this juncture we need inspiring leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi to deracinate self-styled regional parties and form a stable government at the Centre.

Nanthini Harikumar,
Coimbatore

* * *

Leadership in the age group of 40-60 should be tapped to serve as a link between the old and the young. But this will become possible only when the older leaders make way.

Prashant Rahul,
Bangalore

* * *

One has to be careful while making a wish. It is not enough to have a large number of young politicians. They should be encouraged to bring in new ideas, and not forced to follow the old. Otherwise, there will be no improvement in policies and outlook. The young leadership of regional parties is a case in point.

Senthil Kumar,
Ottawa, Ontario

* * *

As in the service sector, there should be an upper age limit in politics too. Leaders aged above 60 should gracefully withdraw from active politics and pass on the mantle to the younger generation. After 60, one tends to become more stubborn and inflexible.

S. Nageswara Rao,
Rajahmundry, A.P.

* * *

The reference to Rajiv Gandhi's period as an exception is not relevant. He was in the saddle not on account of his being young, but because of being a descendent of the Nehru family. In fact he squandered the massive mandate given by the people.

N.R. Sathyamurty,
Bangalore

* * *

The following remarks of Sir Winston Churchill on politicians are relevant: "Till 50, you are a young man of promise. In your sixties, you are in noon-day prime. You begin being an elder statesman in your seventies: and at 80 and thereafter, if you live so long, they come to carry you in a bath-chair to the exercise of your highest responsibilities."

Malaya Krishnamurthy,
Chennai

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

Political morality, law and precedents

A well nuanced credit policy

Can judicial ascendancy be rolled back?

`Huge potential for Japan-India trade ties'

Post-tsunami: waiting for things to happen

A veto proposal for Japan and India

Blogging: next big thing for businesses

The wrong Tory leader